Frequencies In Music Production

Understanding frequencies is a foundational concept in music production. Frequencies define the pitch and character of sounds, and mastering how to work with them allows you to create clear, balanced mixes and designs. Let’s break down frequencies in music production, exploring the various types of frequencies, their roles, and how to manage them in your production process.

1. What Are Frequencies?
In music production, frequency refers to the number of vibrations or cycles a sound wave makes per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz), this determines the pitch of the sound. Higher frequencies produce higher-pitched sounds (like a whistle), while lower frequencies produce lower-pitched sounds (like a bass drum).
• 1 Hz equals 1 cycle per second.
• 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz (kilohertz)) is the typical hearing range for humans. Sounds below 20 Hz are subsonic, and above 20 kHz are ultrasonic, which are generally inaudible to the human ear but can still affect the overall sound experience.

2. The Frequency Spectrum: Key Ranges
The frequency spectrum is divided into various ranges that correspond to different types of sounds and instruments. Here’s a breakdown:
• Sub-bass (20 Hz - 60 Hz):
- Description: These are ultra-low frequencies that create rumble and depth. You often feel them more than you hear them, especially with a subwoofer.
- Instruments: Kick drums, sub-bass synths, and some bass guitar notes.
- Mixing Tip: Careful with sub-bass – too much can muddy your mix, while too little can make it sound weak.

• Bass (60 Hz - 250 Hz):
- Description: This range adds warmth and fullness to a track. It’s where the body of most bass instruments and kick drums lie.
- Instruments: Bass guitar, kick drum, lower-end of a snare, and synth bass sounds.
- Mixing Tip: The fundamental frequencies of most bass sounds lie here, but if too many instruments crowd this range, your mix can become unclear. Use EQ to carve out space for each element.

• Low Midrange (250 Hz - 500 Hz):
- Description: The low midrange adds warmth but can also make the mix sound "muddy" if overemphasized.
- Instruments: Acoustic guitars, piano, low-end of vocals, toms, and horns.
- Mixing Tip: Cut or control the low midrange if the mix sounds thick or muddy, especially with vocals and guitars.

• Midrange (500 Hz - 2 kHz):
- Description: The midrange is the most critical range for most instruments. It provides the body and presence of a sound.
- Instruments: Guitars, vocals, snare drums, pianos, and strings.
- Mixing Tip: The presence range (around 1-5 kHz) is where most vocals and lead instruments shine. Boosting slightly here can bring vocals forward in the mix, but too much can make things sound harsh.

• Upper Midrange (2 kHz - 4 kHz):
- Description: This range is crucial for clarity and presence but can also sound harsh if boosted too much.
- Instruments: Electric guitars, vocals, snare drum, and other percussive instruments.
- Mixing Tip: Use EQ to cut if harshness appears, or boost slightly to add definition to vocals or guitars.

• Presence (4 kHz - 6 kHz):
- Description: This range is important for the clarity of many sounds. It’s where a lot of the articulation in vocals and instruments comes from.
- Instruments: Vocals, snare drum, cymbals, and guitars.
- Mixing Tip: Be cautious here, as over-boosting can lead to a piercing sound. Properly controlling this range helps your track feel sharp without becoming shrill.

• Brilliance (6 kHz - 20 kHz):
- Description: These are the high frequencies responsible for the airiness or sparkle of a sound.
- Instruments: Hi-hats, cymbals, strings, and upper-end vocals.
- Mixing Tip: Boosting this range can add shine to a mix, but too much can cause sibilance or an overly bright sound. These frequencies are often controlled with high-shelf EQ.

3. The Role of Frequencies in Different Instruments
Each instrument has its primary frequency range where its sound is most dominant. Understanding these ranges helps when mixing or arranging.
• Kick Drum: Primarily in the sub-bass to bass range (20 Hz - 100 Hz).
• Snare Drum: The fundamental is around 120 Hz - 250 Hz, with snare "snap" in the 2 kHz - 5 kHz range.
• Bass Guitar: The fundamental sits in the 60 Hz - 250 Hz range, with harmonics in the higher midrange for definition.
• Vocals: Vocals have their fundamental frequencies between 100 Hz - 1 kHz but often require attention in the 2 kHz - 5 kHz range for presence.
• Piano: A full-range instrument spanning from 27.5 Hz (A0) to 4,186 Hz (C8), with different parts of the piano hitting different frequency ranges. For example, the lower registers occupy the bass range, while the upper registers sit in the mid and treble ranges.
• Guitars: Electric guitars generally sit between 80 Hz - 2 kHz, but the higher-end harmonics and overtones can reach the 5 kHz - 10 kHz range.

4. Working with Frequencies in Music Production
Understanding and manipulating frequencies is essential for achieving a clean and balanced mix. Here are key tools and techniques for managing frequencies:


1. Equalization (EQ)
EQ is the most common tool used to adjust the frequency balance of sounds in a mix. With EQ, you can cut or boost specific frequencies to achieve clarity, separation, and balance.
• High-pass filter (HPF): Removes low-end frequencies below a set threshold (e.g., cutting out everything below 80 Hz from a vocal).
• Low-pass filter (LPF): Removes high-end frequencies above a certain threshold (e.g., cutting everything above 10 kHz from a bass sound).
• Band-pass filter: Isolates a specific frequency range.
• Shelving EQ: Boosts or cuts all frequencies above or below a set point, often used for the high or low end.
• Parametric EQ: Allows for detailed control over the bandwidth (Q) and frequency of boosts and cuts.

2. Compression
Compression works by controlling the dynamic range of a sound (the difference between the loudest and softest parts). It doesn’t directly alter the frequencies, but it can affect how certain frequencies are perceived by balancing the loudness of various elements in the mix.

3. Panning and Stereo Imaging
While EQ deals with the frequency spectrum, panning deals with the stereo field. Properly panning instruments across the stereo image can help them occupy different parts of the frequency spectrum without overlapping. For example, you might pan a guitar to the left and a piano to the right to give them space.

4. Stereo Width and Spatial Effects
To enhance the perceived stereo width, producers use effects like reverb and delay, which can emphasize different frequencies in the left or right ear. For example:
• Reverb adds a sense of space and depth, often boosting high frequencies for a sense of "air."
• Delay can create a sense of movement, especially in the mid-to-high frequencies.

5. Frequency Masking
Frequency masking occurs when one sound in the mix is too dominant in a particular frequency range and makes it difficult to hear other sounds in the same range. To avoid masking:
• EQ to carve out space for different instruments.
• Sidechain compression can help the kick drum and bass work together by ducking the bass frequencies whenever the kick hits.

6. Harmonics and Overtones
Every sound is made up of a fundamental frequency (the primary pitch) and a series of overtones or harmonics that give the sound its timbre (or color). For instance, a guitar’s sound consists of the fundamental note plus harmonics that occur at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Understanding this allows you to shape the timbre of a sound using EQ and other tools.

7. Practical Tips for Managing Frequencies in a Mix
• Identify problem frequencies: If something in your mix sounds muddy, overly harsh, or unclear, use EQ to identify and fix problem frequencies.
• Use reference tracks: Compare your mix to professional tracks to ensure your frequency balance is in line with industry standards.
• Solo and A/B comparisons: Solo individual tracks while applying EQ and use A/B comparisons to make sure you’re enhancing the mix in the right way.

Conclusion
Frequencies are at the core of music production, and understanding them is essential for creating clear, dynamic, and balanced mixes. By mastering the frequency ranges of different instruments, learning how to use EQ effectively, and understanding how frequencies interact in a mix, you’ll be able to produce professional-sounding music.
Feel free to dive deeper into any of these concepts or ask for more specific examples on managing frequencies!