EQ fixing DT12

[erwinrafael]

I am generally happy with DT12, but one of my problems with it is the muddy mix. Yesterday, I played around with the EQ and the mix I find best to my tastes is when I cut really sharply at the lower-mid range (around a 6 dB drop at the 250 Hz) and a slight cut at the midrange (around a 3 dB cut at 1 kHz). I did not adjust the bass, the upper mids and the treble. It really sounded very good to my ears, the clarity is greatly improved.

Which only means that JP is really just mixed too loudly. Maybe the loud lower-mid mix could have worked with their earlier heavier albums, but the songs in DT12 is really not fit for lower-mid heavy mix.

I am listening to HD Tracks and am using in-ears, so I don't know if the same EQ fix would work with the mp3s and a different listening equipment.

[lumpy33]

i'll have to try doing that.  i've thought that the mix for dt12 is a bit dark myself. 

what would you do with the mix for falling into infinity?  it sounds like the guitar was recorded under water or something.

[wolfking]

I have never thought that the production was muddy at all.

[bl5150]

I have never thought that the production was muddy at all.

I'm not as fussy over sound these days as most modern albums sound shit  (albums like VH 1 recorded in the 70's over a few days are miles ahead of most) but I really did notice how muddy DT12 was when I played it after Images and Words.   Chalk and cheese in terms of sonics.

[wolfking]

I have never thought that the production was muddy at all.

I'm not as fussy over sound these days as most modern albums sound shit  (albums like VH 1 recorded in the 70's over a few days are miles ahead of most) but I really did notice how muddy DT12 was when I played it after Images and Words.   Chalk and cheese in terms of sonics.

I agree if you compare it to I&W.  I don't think you even need to listen to know that's the case.  But as you said, by today's production standards, it's definitely worlds apart.  I still think it sounds good though.

[seasonsinthesky]

what would you do with the mix for falling into infinity?  it sounds like the guitar was recorded under water or something.

are we listening to two different albums?

[Xenon]

what would you do with the mix for falling into infinity?  it sounds like the guitar was recorded under water or something.

are we listening to two different albums?

FII is one of dt's best sounding albums to me.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I think this mix is not muddy at all (like Octavarium's mix). Every instrument is super clear and within its respective space. The problem is the excessive compression and the crappy snare sound.

[Zook]

How could I do this using a program like Audacity? I don't really have a problem with the mix that much, but I'm curious as to how this sounds.

[hefdaddy42]

what would you do with the mix for falling into infinity?  it sounds like the guitar was recorded under water or something.

 

[rumborak]

I really hope lumpy isn't referring to the Peruvian Skies effect on the guitar. Because, that's intentional.

[hefdaddy42]

Not to mention that it is by far the best mixed, best sounding DT album.

[TAC]

Not to mention that it is by far the best mixed, best sounding DT album.

[YtseJamittaja]

Not to mention that it is by far the best mixed, best sounding DT album.

Naah, I disagree with you. It doesn't sound heavy enough where it should. BC&SL is the best mixed album IMO. (just the songs are too bad...)

[hefdaddy42]

Not to mention that it is by far the best mixed, best sounding DT album.

Naah, I disagree with you. It doesn't sound heavy enough where it should. BC&SL is the best mixed album IMO. (just the songs are too bad...)

Wow.

[erwinrafael]

I think this mix is not muddy at all (like Octavarium's mix). Every instrument is super clear and within its respective space. The problem is the excessive compression and the crappy snare sound.

The EQ adjustment to my ears really separated JP's guitars from JM's bass. Try it on TLG.

[Skeever]

I am generally happy with DT12, but one of my problems with it is the muddy mix. Yesterday, I played around with the EQ and the mix I find best to my tastes is when I cut really sharply at the lower-mid range (around a 6 dB drop at the 250 Hz) and a slight cut at the midrange (around a 3 dB cut at 1 kHz). I did not adjust the bass, the upper mids and the treble. It really sounded very good to my ears, the clarity is greatly improved.

Which only means that JP is really just mixed too loudly. Maybe the loud lower-mid mix could have worked with their earlier heavier albums, but the songs in DT12 is really not fit for lower-mid heavy mix.

I am listening to HD Tracks and am using in-ears, so I don't know if the same EQ fix would work with the mp3s and a different listening equipment.

This is honestly one of the biggest problems with DT sound since JP has stepped into the role of producer, and since he loves that role so much, I doubt it is going to change.

[BlobVanDam]

Not to mention that it is by far the best mixed, best sounding DT album.

By far. Aside from slightly clipping off the bass drum in the mastering stage, the album sounds damn near perfect, especially compared to the last few DT albums.

[lumpy33]

don't get me wrong, guys.  i think the mix for falling into infinity is excellent.  it's the guitar SOUND i've always found to be a bit too murky/low-endish on that record for my tastes.  i like a more crisp, compressed, almost mid-range sound that you can really hear the attack of and separation on faster rhythm crunch patterns.  new millennium is ass-kickingly great, but it would kick even more ass if the guitar sounded like it does on train of thought.  just my personal taste i guess.

[erwinrafael]

Not to mention that it is by far the best mixed, best sounding DT album.

By far. Aside from slightly clipping off the bass drum in the mastering stage, the album sounds damn near perfect, especially compared to the last few DT albums.

Yep. FII is really the best sounding DT album. The instruments are just ridiculously crystal clear. I would say the best drum sound is still Awake, although the cymbals sound (specially those damn hi hats) in FII is tops.

[Sycsa]

Not to mention that it is by far the best mixed, best sounding DT album.

By far. Aside from slightly clipping off the bass drum in the mastering stage, the album sounds damn near perfect, especially compared to the last few DT albums.

Since we're talking bass drum, I recently had a chance to listen to the alternate SFAM mixes and the bass drum sounds very different, more natural with much less attack. I think it's closer to the actual bass drum sound and the clicky one we hear on SFAM (and a similar one on FII and Live Scenes) was tempered with in the studio (although I wouldn't do that for a live album, it seems very plausible). I've been to a couple of recording sessions and they always add some triggered bass drum effect to the raw signal (if it wasn't triggered to begin with).

[drod1985]

don't get me wrong, guys.  i think the mix for falling into infinity is excellent.  it's the guitar SOUND i've always found to be a bit too murky/low-endish on that record for my tastes.  i like a more crisp, compressed, almost mid-range sound that you can really hear the attack of and separation on faster rhythm crunch patterns.  new millennium is ass-kickingly great, but it would kick even more ass if the guitar sounded like it does on train of thought.  just my personal taste i guess.

I agree with you 100%. There are some great songs in FII, but I'd enjoy them more if the guitar sounds were more articulate and defined.