A common issue with mixing is coping with tracks where there is a frequency overlap. A good example of this is with vocals and a string pad. When the strings are turned up it makes the vocals sound muddy and indistinct, so you boost the vocals and now they are just too loud in comparison to the rest of the mix. You bring the strings and vocals down and the strings are too quiet again. It's a frustrating loop.
The solution is pretty straight forward. Using EQ you cut holes in the less important instrument, in this case the strings, in order to let the vocals pop through. You only need to know what frequencies to cut and by how much.
Both can be worked out by ear but most DAWs now include a spectrum analysis. This allows you to see exactly where the vocal frequencies lie. Then using EQ you cut those frequencies, using a notch filter, in the string track. Use your ears to set the cut level.
This will allow the strings to be turned up without making the vocals muddy.
You will notice the effect on the strings when the vocals aren't singing. You can either manually go through the track applying the effect or a better solution is to only apply the EQ to the strings when the vocals are being sung using a noise gate to trigger the EQ.
You might also find this EQ Frequencies article a useful guide when using EQ. It doesn't exactly cover instrument rangesbut it does give you a guide to frequencies targetted at specific characteristics of each instrument and EQ holes can of course be applied to just those specific frequencies too.
Just a quick post to mention a topic that really deserves a fuller article to explain it properly. With limited time however a quick post is all yo uwill get today with a promise to re-visit the topic at a later date.
