Sculpting the Perfect Vocal: A Smart Guide to Vocal EQ

Start by filtering out unnecessary low-end rumble. Frequencies below 85 Hz rarely carry any useful vocal information and are often just noise - like mic stand bumps or ambient hums. A high-pass filter set somewhere between 50 - 85 Hz with a steep slope is your friend here. 

This is where the vocal gains its sense of closeness and warmth. Boost gently if a vocal sounds thin or lacks body. On the flip side, if the voice is muddy or overly thick, a cut in this range can clean things up. Think of this range as the vocal's “core.” 

This zone often houses the room’s character (sometimes too much of it). If your vocal sounds like it was recorded in a box or small closet, a subtle reduction here can help. However, be cautious: too much cutting can rob the vocal of its natural fullness. 

This wide mid-range region determines how well your vocal cuts through the mix. Around 1–2.5 kHz is especially sensitive to the human ear. Boosting here can bring the voice forward, while too much can make it harsh or "telephonic." Reducing around 2.5–4 kHz may help soften sharp, biting consonants.

Want a touch of brilliance? A boost in this range can make a vocal shimmer. But beware: this is also where sibilance lives - those sharp “S” and “T” sounds. Use a de-esser or dynamic EQ to control this when boosting the brightness. 

This top-end boost isn’t about volume; it's about depth and dimension. Gently lifting the “air” frequencies can give the vocal a polished, studio-quality feel, like lifting a veil. Shelving EQs or vintage-style units like the Pultec can work wonders here.