Dermabrasion for Your DAW
Posted on | March 23, 2009 | No Comments
Have you ever looked at a person who’s had cosmetic surgery? If it’s done in small increments it can remove some wrinkles and look really stunning.
But we’ve also all seen the people who’ve had one too many peel, lift, or tuck. We’ve seen them whether we know it or not. Things seem uncomfortably taut, or just out-of-sorts. You can’t even put your finger on exactly what it is…there’s just something wrong with the picture.
IMO, it’s similar with recordings. Think of equalization as dermabrasion for your DAW. In small amounts it can enhance the sound or smooth things out. But overusing it — or focusing too much in one area — can make things stick out in a funky, unnatural way.
There’s no perfect recording…just like there’s no perfect face. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to make the best of what you have. But just like with our bodies, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when you’re making a recording. And sometimes our wrinkles and lines are the character that makes us memorable.
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From Ohm to Om reflects the opinions of mastering engineer Paul Abbott, owner of San Diego's ZenMastering.
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