In previous tips (Quickie Guide to DAW Mixing parts 14 and 15) we discussed some EQ scenarios for electric guitar. Today’s tip concerns EQ for acoustic guitars. When properly miked, acoustic guitars require very little or no EQ. However, if the mic was placed too close during recording, an acoustic guitar can sound boxy. A slight cut at either 100Hz or 160Hz can help to reduce that effect to manageable levels.
The range from 300-350Hz can also be an area where “mud” occurs, although it’s probably more the case with overdriven electric guitars.
For dull and lifeless sounding acoustic guitars, try adding some boost between 5kHz and 8kHz.
To help an acoustic guitar sit nicely in a busy mix, use a high-pass filter to reduce a little of the bottom end.
One of the great advantages of using a DAW to process acoustic guitars is the ability to automate EQ. For example, if you have a small section where the acoustic guitar solos, such as the break in Boston’s “Peace of Mind,” you can automate the EQ to remove the high-pass filter and/or boost certain frequencies to bring back the body of the sound just for that section. Another trick is to automate the EQ to make subtle changes for dynamic effect. For example, you could boost highs subtly during a 2-measure transition to a chorus, thus adding a sense of excitement going into the chorus.