jayhill
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When to use Shelf EQ?
Over the last year, it's become apparent that I do not use the Shelf EQ's much. I'm using mostly high-pass, bell, and some low-pass.
I'm wondering, in what situations do you find yourself using the Shelving EQ type?
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themidiroom
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/18 14:11:45
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I use high shelves quite a bit on vocals. Every once in a while, I'll use a low shelf on something like solo acoustic guitar, strings, or something that needs that low end presence.
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ohhey
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/18 15:11:38
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ORIGINAL: jayhill
Over the last year, it's become apparent that I do not use the Shelf EQ's much. I'm using mostly high-pass, bell, and some low-pass.
I'm wondering, in what situations do you find yourself using the Shelving EQ type?
When it works ? I think the idea is to get the tone right, the tool you use is just a means to an end. I have found a shelf bass control can work very well to take the low end out of a track that is swamping the mix, quick and easy and sounds natural if the slope is right.
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fooman
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/18 15:12:55
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When controlling the low-end, why use a shelf and not a high-pass?
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jayhill
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/18 15:47:02
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I use high shelves quite a bit on vocals. Every once in a while, I'll use a low shelf on something like solo acoustic guitar, strings, or something that needs that low end presence. Midi - Thanks for the info. It sounds as though I should be thinking of shelves as a "boosting" tool and not a "cutting" tool ??? That helps. Thanks.
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mlockett
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/18 18:36:10
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I often use high shelves on vocals, sometimes acoustic guitar, or even piano when I want it to cut thru the mix. I think of a high shelf as a brightener... a little goes a long ways). I would usually reach for a hpf for cutting lows, and would probably never use a shelf to boost lows (I'd use a bell since I'm never interested in boosting anything below 40hz).
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slim62r
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/18 19:04:04
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would someone mind telling me just what a shelf is? both high and low. I came to understand what a high and low pass are, not up on the total loose but at least I understand it but not a shelf.
Richard
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ohhey
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/18 21:35:41
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ORIGINAL: fooman
When controlling the low-end, why use a shelf and not a high-pass?
I don't want to cut off the low end just roll it off a bit.
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mlockett
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/19 11:37:28
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ORIGINAL: slim62r
would someone mind telling me just what a shelf is? both high and low. I came to understand what a high and low pass are, not up on the total loose but at least I understand it but not a shelf.
Richard
A high shelve raises or cuts all freqs above the given freq; a low shelve cuts all below a given point so it looks like a shelf. A boost with a high shelf would look like this... _______-----
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slim62r
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/19 19:50:16
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Ok I started to do a comparision to see if I was right in my thinking but got stopped half way because I really didn't. Could you give me an example of what I might be trying to do that would call for a high shelf as opposed to a high pass then also what I would be trying to do using the opposites low shelf and high shelf. Also I will tell you that I have the tracks down for the snare and the high hat which are together each to its own track mic'ed. and I can not seperate the snare out of the highhat track. If this woulod be a good example please use it if not use what ever example you think would teach a thick headed old fart ha ha ha.
thank you very much
Richard
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fooman
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/19 19:58:21
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If i had a seperate hi-hat or overhead track, I may very well use a high-shelf to bring out the high-end if needed. I'd raise it by a few db. You could use a highpass on the guitar track of a song to cut out the rumbling mess below 60hz that you may wanna clear up.
If you have any software EQ available, bring it up. Most have graphic user interfaces that you can select a shelf curve, play with it, and see what it does. Try the same for a low-pass or high-pass filter!
Think of the things you can do bassed on the name of the curve type. A shelf create a shelf, and a hi-pass lets all hi-frequencies pass. I don't know how else to explain it haha sorry.
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slim62r
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/23 06:46:04
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Fooman,
I think that was enough to give me a mental picture to experiment with to learn the difference. Thank you.
Richard
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D K
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/26 14:32:59
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ORIGINAL: slim62r
would someone mind telling me just what a shelf is? both high and low. I came to understand what a high and low pass are, not up on the total loose but at least I understand it but not a shelf.
Richard
In my opinion the shelf EQ has more "natural" sound on basses and drums - I like HPF and LPF on keys & guitars when I absoloutely want to kill the frequency range
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slim62r
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/26 19:21:37
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O K,
Thank You also, so at the same time I am trying to keep the sound with the shelf while getting rid of the snare that was picked up in the mic where a high pass could very well change the tone while trying to do so.
Think that is the first thing to try before Hi Pass. I will have to give a try.
Richard
Dell Inspiron 5100 Intel P. 4 2.4 GHz 1 gig ram Fostex VF 160 EX (for Recording) Behringer Ultragain Pro 8 ( for recording 16 channels at once) Sonar 4Hs (for mixing)
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chaz
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/27 10:00:26
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I mostly use high/low pass, bell & notch filters when mixing. Yes, I will use a shelf filter if I have to, but that is a last resort for me when all else fails and I cannot get a track to sit like I need it to in a mix or I need to remove boominess from a track.
post edited by chaz - 2006/10/27 10:17:53
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boten
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/10/27 12:00:20
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Yes, I will use a shelf filter if I have to, but that is a last resort for me when all else fails and I cannot get a track to sit like I need it to in a mix or I need to remove boominess from a track. Chaz, what is the issue that you see on Shelf filter?. I do not use it that often either but it has helped me a lot many times
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TheFingers 
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/11/08 01:50:36
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ORIGINAL: fooman
When controlling the low-end, why use a shelf and not a high-pass?
Sometimes, using both in combo is the ticket. Some mics seem to need that combo. PLParEQ3 works well for that.
1973 "A" neck. I'd rather be playing Bass:
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TheFingers
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/11/08 02:00:32
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ORIGINAL: D K
ORIGINAL: slim62r
would someone mind telling me just what a shelf is? both high and low. I came to understand what a high and low pass are, not up on the total loose but at least I understand it but not a shelf.
Richard
In my opinion the shelf EQ has more "natural" sound on basses and drums - I like HPF and LPF on keys & guitars when I absoloutely want to kill the frequency range
I agree, good point, shelving (low cut) maintains a more natural sound compared to HP, when applying HP, the settings seem more cut and dry, but (IMO)when using shelving, there seems to be room for a little more creative variance. (gain, Q and freq) And why just throw away all that juicy low end?
1973 "A" neck. I'd rather be playing Bass:
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D K
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RE: When to use Shelf EQ?
2006/11/14 10:07:25
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ORIGINAL: TheFingers
ORIGINAL: D K
ORIGINAL: slim62r
would someone mind telling me just what a shelf is? both high and low. I came to understand what a high and low pass are, not up on the total loose but at least I understand it but not a shelf.
Richard
In my opinion the shelf EQ has more "natural" sound on basses and drums - I like HPF and LPF on keys & guitars when I absoloutely want to kill the frequency range
I agree, good point, shelving (low cut) maintains a more natural sound compared to HP, when applying HP, the settings seem more cut and dry, but (IMO)when using shelving, there seems to be room for a little more creative variance. (gain, Q and freq) And why just throw away all that juicy low end?
That's exactly what I am hearing Fingers - By the way - I might want to do some work with you - Maybe we can discuss off line?
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