Frequency Character Guide

Felt more than heard — weight, rumble, power.

Kick fundamental, 808s, sub synths, low pipe organ.

High-pass everything that doesn't belong here. Too much = boom on big systems, nothing on phones.

Fullness, warmth, the body of a mix.

Bass guitar, kick body, low toms, male vocal root.

The 'big or thin' band. Too much turns it boomy; too little leaves the mix lightweight.

Warmth that tips into mud.

Guitar & snare body, room tone, piano lows.

The classic mud zone. A gentle cut here is the fastest way to clear up a dense, dull mix.

Tone and character of most instruments.

Vocals, guitars, snare crack, the 'voice' of synths.

Boost for forwardness; too much around 800 Hz–1 kHz sounds boxy or honky.

Presence, attack, intelligibility.

Vocal consonants, guitar pick, snare snap.

Your ear is most sensitive here — boost to cut a vocal through, but easy: it fatigues and turns harsh fast.

Definition, clarity, detail up front.

Vocal sibilance, hi-hat edge, string articulation.

Adds 'in the room' clarity. Overdo it and you invite sibilance — reach for a de-esser, not a cut.

Air, sparkle, openness, expensive sheen.

Cymbal shimmer, breath, reverb tails, vocal 'silk'.

A gentle high-shelf opens a mix up. Too much turns brittle and brings hiss with it.