Frequency Reference Sheet for Music Production & Mixing/ Mastering

Frequency Range Description Common Elements Potential Issues Mixing Techniques

Muddy mix if High-pass filter non-bass
Sub-Bass: Deep, rumbling Kick drums, bass guitars, sub-
20 Hz - 60 Hz overemphasized; translation instruments; careful boost to
frequencies felt more than heard. bass synths, 808s.
issues on smaller speakers. enhance depth.
Cut unnecessary low-end from
Bass: Adds warmth and fullness; Bass guitars, low-end drums, Boomy or muddy mix when
60 Hz - 250 Hz non-bass elements; keep bass
crucial for mix foundation. low vocals, pianos. overused.
centered.
Low Mids: Body of most Subtractive EQ to reduce
Guitars, pianos, vocals, synths, Muddiness or boxiness if
250 Hz - 500 Hz instruments, can cause boxiness; multiband
snare drums. overcrowded.
congestion. compression for clarity.
Harshness if boosted too
Midrange: Fundamental tones; Vocals, guitars, pianos, most Balance and carve out space
500 Hz - 2 kHz much; hollowness if cut too
key for intelligibility. melodic instruments. with EQ; avoid clashes.
much.
Upper Midrange: Adds presence Listener fatigue and
Vocals, snare drums, guitars, Boost for clarity and presence;
2 kHz - 4 kHz and definition; helps elements harshness if overdone;
cymbals, synths. cautious not to overboost.
stand out. dullness if underdone.
Presence: Influences brightness Vocals, guitars, cymbals, hi- Piercing sounds or sibilance Use de-essers for sibilance;
4 kHz - 6 kHz
and clarity. hats, strings. in vocals if overemphasized. moderate boost for brightness.
Brittle or overly bright mix if Subtle boosts for airiness;
Brilliance: Adds shimmer and Cymbals, hi-hats, high-end
6 kHz - 10 kHz overdone; dullness if dynamic EQ to manage
sparkle; high-end detail. vocals, effects.
underdone. brightness.
Harshness if Gentle boosts for high-end
Air: Openness and high-end Cymbals, hi-hats, reverb tails,
10 kHz - 20 kHz overemphasized; lack of polish, balance across the
detail; crucial for polish. high-frequency textures.
openness if underdone. spectrum.

Special Considerations
Aspect Description Techniques
When multiple elements overlap Use EQ to carve out space;
Masking in frequency, causing some focus on low-mids and
sounds to be masked. midrange to avoid congestion.
Spatial placement of sounds in Keep low frequencies centered
Stereo Imaging the stereo field; low frequencies to avoid phase issues; use
should be centered. panning for higher frequencies.
Ensuring no frequency range Use reference tracks and
Frequency Balance dominates or is frequency analyzers to maintain
underrepresented in the mix. balance.
Comparing your mix with Regularly compare with similar
Referencing professional tracks to gauge genre tracks to ensure industry-
balance and quality. standard quality.

Frequency & Panning Cheat Sheet

Instrument/Sound Frequency Range Adjustment Effect Panning
Center or Wide Stereo (L50 to
Piano 100-200 Hz Cut Reduces muddiness.
R50)
Center or Wide Stereo (L50 to
2-4 kHz Boost Adds attack and clarity.
R50)
Center or Wide Stereo (L50 to
10-12 kHz Boost Adds air and sparkle.
R50)
Adds presence and Center or Slightly Off-Center
Synths (Leads) 2-5 kHz Boost
definition. (L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Center or Slightly Off-Center
5-10 kHz Boost Adds air and brilliance.
(L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Synths (Pads) 200-400 Hz Cut Reduces low-mid clutter. Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
Adds presence and cuts
1-3 kHz Boost Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
through mix.
Left/Right (L40 to L60 or R40
Acoustic Guitar 80-120 Hz Cut Reduces boominess.
to R60)
Left/Right (L40 to L60 or R40
2-5 kHz Boost Adds brightness and clarity.
to R60)
Center or Slightly Off-Center
Flute 500 Hz - 1 kHz Cut Reduces nasality.
(L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Adds presence and Center or Slightly Off-Center
5-7 kHz Boost
brilliance. (L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Center (0) or Slightly Off-
Dhol 50-80 Hz Boost Enhances thump and impact.
Center
Center (0) or Slightly Off-
200-300 Hz Cut Reduces boxiness.
Center
Slightly Off-Center (L10 to L20
Tabla 200-400 Hz Boost Adds body and warmth.
or R10 to R20)
Slightly Off-Center (L10 to L20
2-5 kHz Boost Enhances clarity and attack.
or R10 to R20)
Enhances midrange Center or Slightly Off-Center
Tumbi 2-4 kHz Boost
presence. (L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Center or Slightly Off-Center
5-8 kHz Boost Adds brightness.
(L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Center or Slightly Off-Center
Harmonium 100-200 Hz Cut Reduces muddiness.
(L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Center or Slightly Off-Center
2-4 kHz Boost Adds presence and clarity.
(L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Mandolin 200-400 Hz Cut Reduces low-mid clutter. Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
 3-6 kHz Boost Enhances pluck and clarity. Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
Left/Right (L40 to L60 or R40
Dilruba 200-400 Hz Cut Reduces muddiness.
to R60)
Adds presence and Left/Right (L40 to L60 or R40
4-6 kHz Boost
brilliance. to R60)
Sitar 100-200 Hz Cut Reduces low-end clutter. Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
3-5 kHz Boost Adds clarity and presence. Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
Center or Slightly Off-Center
Sarangi 200-400 Hz Cut Reduces muddiness.
(L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Adds brightness and Center or Slightly Off-Center
5-7 kHz Boost
articulation. (L10 to L20 or R10 to R20)
Dholak 100-200 Hz Boost Enhances body and thump. Center or Slightly Off-Center
200-300 Hz Cut Reduces boxiness. Center or Slightly Off-Center
Kick Drum 50-60 Hz Boost Adds sub-bass and thump. Center (0)
Reduces muddiness and
100-150 Hz Cut Center (0)
boxiness.
3-5 kHz Boost Enhances click and attack. Center (0)
Slightly Off-Center (0 to -5 / 0
Snare Drum 150-250 Hz Boost Adds body and warmth.
to +5)
Slightly Off-Center (0 to -5 / 0
500-700 Hz Cut Reduces boxiness.
to +5)
Enhances snap and Slightly Off-Center (0 to -5 / 0
4-6 kHz Boost
presence. to +5)
Hi-Hats 8-10 kHz Boost Adds brightness and air. Hard Left/Right (L80 to R80)
200-400 Hz Cut Removes low-mid clutter. Hard Left/Right (L80 to R80)
Adds brightness and
Open Hats 8-12 kHz Boost Hard Left/Right (L80 to R80)
airiness.
200-400 Hz Cut Removes low-mid clutter. Hard Left/Right (L80 to R80)
Left/Right (L60 to L80 or R60
Cymbals 8-12 kHz Boost Adds shimmer and brilliance.
to R80)
Left/Right (L60 to L80 or R60
300-500 Hz Cut Reduces midrange clutter.
to R80)
Enhances presence and Left/Right (L60 to L80 or R60
Crash 5-8 kHz Boost
brightness. to R80)
Left/Right (L60 to L80 or R60
200-400 Hz Cut Reduces low-mid clutter.
to R80)
Left/Right (L20 to L50 or R20
Toms 80-120 Hz Boost Adds low-end impact.
to R50)
Left/Right (L20 to L50 or R20
400-600 Hz Cut Reduces boxiness.
to R50)
Slightly Off-Center (L10 to L20
Rimshots 2-5 kHz Boost Adds presence and clarity.
or R10 to R20)
Enhances snap and Slightly Off-Center (L10 to L20
5-10 kHz Boost
definition. or R10 to R20)
Left/Right (L40 to L60 or R40
Claps 1-3 kHz Boost Adds snap and clarity.
to R60)
Adds presence and Left/Right (L40 to L60 or R40
5-8 kHz Boost
crispness. to R60)
Varies, but generally Off-
Percussion 150-300 Hz Boost Adds body and warmth. Center (L10 to L30 or R10 to
R30)
Varies, but generally Off-
5-8 kHz Boost Adds presence and snap. Center (L10 to L30 or R10 to
R30)
Transitions 200-400 Hz Cut Reduces low-mid clutter. Depends on Effect Type
Enhances presence and
1-3 kHz Boost Depends on Effect Type
definition.
Pads 200-400 Hz Cut Reduces low-mid clutter. Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
Adds presence and cuts
1-3 kHz Boost Wide Stereo (L50 to R50)
through mix.
Left/Right (L40 to L70 or R40
Strings 250-500 Hz Cut Reduces muddiness.
to R70)
Adds presence and Left/Right (L40 to L70 or R40
2-5 kHz Boost
articulation. to R70)
Vocals 100-200 Hz Cut Removes low-end rumble. Center (0)
1-3 kHz Boost Adds clarity and intelligibility. Center (0)
5-8 kHz Apply De-esser Controls sibilance. Center (0)
10-15 kHz Boost Adds air and openness. Center (0)
Adds brightness and
Shakers 8-12 kHz Boost Hard Left/Right (L80 to R80)
airiness.
200-400 Hz Cut Removes low-mid clutter. Hard Left/Right (L80 to R80)
Bass Guitar 60-100 Hz Boost Enhances low-end presence. Center (0)
250-500 Hz Cut Reduces muddiness. Center (0)
700-1.5 kHz Boost Adds midrange definition. Center (0)