I feel like I'm hitting a wall with my mixing because I don't really understand EQ and compression at a deep level. I've watched some EQ and compression tutorials but they all seem to either be too basic or too advanced.
I'm looking for tutorials that actually explain WHY you use EQ and compression in certain situations, not just HOW to use the plugins. Like, what are you actually listening for when you make EQ cuts or boosts? How do you know when something needs compression versus just being turned down?
Are there any channels that do a particularly good job with EQ and compression tutorials that focus on the listening skills and decision-making process? I want to develop my ears and my understanding, not just learn which knobs to turn.
Also, are there tutorials that show common mistakes people make with EQ and compression? I feel like I might be doing things wrong without even realizing it.
For EQ and compression tutorials that focus on the why rather than the how, there's a channel that does mix breakdowns" where he analyzes professional tracks and explains every EQ and compression decision. He talks about what he's listening for and why he makes certain choices, which has been incredibly educational.
Another channel focuses specifically on common EQ and compression mistakes. He shows examples of over-EQ'd tracks, over-compressed tracks, and explains how to avoid these problems. Seeing the mistakes in context makes them much easier to understand and avoid.
There's also a channel that teaches EQ and compression through "before and after" examples. He takes poorly mixed tracks and fixes them while explaining his thought process, which shows the practical application of these tools.
I've found some great tutorials that focus on listening skills for EQ and compression. One creator does exercises where he plays the same sound with different EQ settings and asks you to identify what changed. This has really helped develop my ears.
Another channel focuses on the different types of compression and when to use each one. He explains the musical applications of different compression styles rather than just the technical settings. This helped me understand when to use fast attack vs slow attack, hard knee vs soft knee, etc.
There's also a channel that shows how to use EQ and compression together effectively. He explains how they interact and how to use them as complementary tools rather than separate processes.
For hip hop specific EQ and compression techniques, there are channels that focus on processing drums, vocals, and 808s. One creator shows how to use EQ and compression to make drums hit harder in hip hop tracks, which is a common challenge.
Another channel focuses on vocal processing for rap and singing. He shows different EQ and compression approaches for different vocal styles and recording conditions. This has been super helpful since vocals are so important in hip hop.
There's also a channel that shows how to use parallel compression on drums and how to EQ 808s to sit in the mix properly. These are specific techniques that are crucial for modern hip hop production.
I've found tutorials that focus on the technical aspects of EQ and compression to be really helpful. One channel explains the science behind how EQ and compression work, which helps you understand what you're actually doing to the audio.
Another channel focuses on using EQ and compression as creative tools rather than just corrective ones. He shows how to use extreme settings for sound design purposes, which has opened up new creative possibilities for me.
There's also a channel that compares different EQ and compression plugins and shows when to use each type. This has helped me understand that different tools have different characteristics and are suited for different tasks.
These all sound like exactly what I need. The channel that focuses on listening skills and ear training for EQ and compression sounds particularly valuable. I think my main problem is that I don't really know what I'm listening for when I make adjustments.
The hip hop specific techniques also sound useful since that's one of the genres I work in. Getting drums to hit hard and vocals to sit right are constant challenges for me.
I'll start with the mix breakdown channel and the listening skills channel. Developing my ears seems like the most important first step. Once I can hear what needs to be fixed, then I can work on learning how to fix it.
Thanks for all the specific recommendations. This gives me a clear path forward for improving my EQ and compression skills.