Mixing with EQ flat - Please advise me

All my gears going thru a aiwi hi-fi till I get me some monitors. Its an old one with a graphic on it which I keep completely flat while making music. I am assuming this is the sensible thing to do...

Ive just noticed I'm putting all frequencies down to minus10. Should I have it in the middle at 0 to get the most realistic version of what my final mix will sound like...

I mean if I start doing this now I will obviously be tempted to start turning eq levels down on my mixer a bit to compensate.

I know theres not really a right and wrong but any advice would be appreciated...

Thanks

Sid

Your eq may be flat, but I'm sure your hifi speakers ain't. On the next site you;ll find a sine wave sweep. http://hometheaterhifi.com/down/
With this you can test the frequency response of your gear and your room. In an ideal situation each frequency should have the same volume. If not you could compensate (a little) with eq.

Hey dubnov - very useful link. thanks for the post..

Thanks Dubnov - not quite what I meant though....all a bit technical for me. (unless someone can explain) - I didnt mean my eq was flat, I meant I am putting it flat rather than letting it enhance any frequencies....should I be running this sine-wave test and then adjusting the eq to compensate to get the most realistic sound?? or would I be as well just leaving it all at Zero?

This is all re. mixing tunes not enjoying other peoples music

Thanks for yer time.

NEVER EVER EVER expect to be able to mix or monitor if you are using some graphic eq at the amp stage...

in fact remove the graphic eq from your chain....all you are doing by using this is making life hard for yourself...if you dont like your speakers get some new monitors, or if you cant afford them learn what you have- listen to what your fave tunes sound like through it and mix to that....

if your speakers are shite putting an eq at the amp stage is confusing the issue further- the speakers are already not representing the sounds accurately so using an eq to compensate is just changing the sound at listening stage and not in the mixer- you could essentially put a tune through it- spend all your time tweaking the eq so it sounds ok on those monitors and then realise all was for nothing when you play on a different system,

eq for recording through, not listening through- hope that helps

greg

Nice one Dub that's answered my question. I cant physically remove the eq but I will continue leaving it all at zero when mixing.


Appreciated.

uhhh, zero (faders in the middle) is flat. not down. you're actually 'cutting' all your freqs.

yup no eq, bass bost, brilliance, or treble boost controls, stay away from built in loudness maximisers and anything that shifts the stereo spread...so your eq is part of your amp?

greg

yeah, my ex kicked a pint into my rotel power amp so its a dodgy aiwi hi fi till I get a job....

shit you must have had the amp on the floor or sommat-

sonic impact t-amp- looks like a toy but even htinking of getting rid of my servo after hearing this...oh did i mention it's only £30!!

greg

that the one that takes batteries? Sounds brilliant....I'll have to look into that.

yeah but use a power supply- better sound

greg