Engineering Tip of the Week

The Hi Pass Filter Myth

This is one of those things that started during the vinyl era and never stopped being a thing with lower level professional engineers. It used to be a very useful thing to do, but please stop putting a high pass filter on your master bus. The reason they used to do it in vinyl was because it created headroom and Vinyl records couldn't handle the bass below 20Hz anyway on the recording. In the digital age we don't have the restrictions that vinyl had, yet a lot of hip hop producers and engineers still do it to create the illusion of a "cleaner and less muddy" mix. Yes it creates headroom, that is true, but it's more detrimental to our mix than the issue it solves. You have to understand, your mix will be played on other things besides laptops and headphones! Your song will be played in the club, cars with subwoofers, stadiums, etc. so when you take that 20-30hz cut on the hi pass, you end up with a very empty mix. Now when the DJ plays it in these venues, it sounds empty and unprofessional. You wonder why the bass doesn't hit in the club like Future. It's because Future's engineer ain't hi passing away all the lows. That 20hz is there for you to feel that 808 in your chest. Not to hear it in your ears. Music is a feeling. Not just a listening experience. 

Now go make good music! We all need more dope shit to bang out the trunk! Let's Get it! Love.