Complete Guide to Mixing Guitar | The Order of EQ, Compression and Time-Based Effects

"I recorded it, but my guitar sounds kind of scattered..."

After you record guitar at home, the wall you always hit is mixing.

In fact, guitar mixing comes together all at once once you know the order of processing.

In this article, I'm ryo, with 13 years on guitar and 8 years of home recording.

The topic is the order in which to apply EQ, compression and time-based effects, plus tips for the settings.

I have no idea whether to touch EQ or compression first...

Reader

ryo

Don't worry. There's a "pattern" for the order. Once you learn it, you won't get lost.

I explain how to mix a whole band (drums and bass included) in this article.

Guitar Mixing Basics | The Order of Effects

First, the conclusion.

This is the basic order for processing a guitar track.

Why This Order?

The reason is simple.

Remove the unwanted sound first, even out the level, and decorate last.

That flow wastes the least effort.

For example, what happens if you compress with muddy lows still in place?

The compressor reacts to the muddy low end.

As a result, the mids you want to bring out don't lift well.

That's why cutting EQ comes before the compressor.

ryo

At first I loaded plugins on a whim. I'd cut the lows after the compressor, with the order all over the place. Just fixing it to the pattern made the result stable, even with the same plugins.

Step 1: Preparation Before Mixing | Gain Staging

There is something to do before you load any plugins.

That is gain staging (preparing the levels).

Even out the level of each track

Here is the only guideline you need.

If the level is too loud, the plugins after it won't work properly.

If it is too quiet, noise stands out.

What if the sound was already too loud when I recorded it?

Reader

ryo

Just put a "Gain" plugin at the start of the track and turn it down. The trick is to leave the fader untouched.

80% Is Decided at the Recording Stage

To be strict about it, mixing is not magic.

If the recorded sound is bad, EQ can't fully fix it.

ryo

I used to spend hours trying to fix a mediocre recorded sound with EQ. Now I've decided that if the recorded sound is off, I play it again. In the end that's faster.

If you're unsure about shaping your amp simulator sound, check these first.

Step 2: Guitar EQ Tips | Start with Cuts

There is one iron rule of EQ.

Cut before you boost.

A low cut is the basics on every guitar track

The sweet spot of a guitar sits higher than you'd expect.

Below 80 to 100 Hz is almost entirely the territory of bass and kick.

Cut it off decisively.

Won't the sound get thin if I cut it?

Reader

ryo

It sounds thin when you solo it, but in the whole band it actually gets clearer and cuts through. What matters is to always judge in the context of the whole mix.

ryo

Once I learned the low cut, the murkiness in my mixes dropped at once. Just remember it as "put it on every guitar track."

Guitar EQ Frequency Quick Reference

If you're unsure, look at this table.

Don't compete with the vocal for frequencies

Most of the time, a guitar feels too loud because it clashes with the vocal.

The sweet spot of a vocal is around 1 to 4 kHz.

For a song with vocals, give up just 1 to 2 dB in this band on the guitar side.

That alone pushes the vocal forward.

ryo

When I struggled with vocals getting buried in my own songs, the cause wasn't the guitar's volume, it was overlapping frequencies. Just giving way a little on the guitar side lets both be heard.

Step 3: How to Use a Compressor on Guitar

Next is the compressor.

Its role is to even out the swings in level and make it easier to listen to.

Does distorted guitar need a compressor at all?

In fact, heavily distorted guitar is already compressed.

The distortion itself works like a compressor.

So the guideline for deciding is this.

What should I look at for the reduction?

Reader

ryo

The gain reduction meter on the compressor. It shows how much you're squashing. Starting with about 2 to 3 dB of squash is a safe way to begin.

Know the signs of overdoing it

If you compress too much, the sound dies.

If this happens, you've squashed it too far.

ryo

I used to think the deeper I compressed, the better it sounded. It's the opposite: you just lose the attack and it goes flat. Stopping where it feels slightly not enough was the right answer.

Step 4: Order and Use of Time-Based Effects (Reverb and Delay)

Once EQ and compression have things in shape, time-based effects come last.

Use sends, not inserts

Don't insert reverb and delay directly on the track.

The basic way is to use a send (bus).

There are three reasons.

How do I make a send?

Reader

ryo

In Logic Pro, just choose a bus from "Send" on the channel strip. Load a reverb on the AUX track that gets created, set Wet to 100%, and you're done.

Using delay and reverb differently

Roughly speaking, it goes like this.

Delay is depth and width. Reverb is air and cohesion.

If you add deep reverb to a song with lots of parts, the whole thing turns muddy.

In that case, a short delay (slapback) is an effective way to create depth.

ryo

In songs with lots of parts, I make the reverb quite shallow and use a short delay for depth. It spreads without turning muddy, so give it a try.

Finishing: Spread Two Guitars Left and Right

A classic band-sound technique is doubling.

Record the same part twice and pan the takes left and right.

Why not just duplicate the same track and pan it left and right?

Reader

ryo

Even if you put the exact same sound left and right, it sounds the same as if it were playing in the center. The subtle "differences" in your playing create the width, so always play it again.

ryo

The first time doubling worked, I was moved. I finally got that "left-and-right width like a CD" I could never get, just by playing it twice.

I plan to go deeper on stereo widening techniques in a separate article.

Guitar Mixing FAQ

Q. Do I need a monitoring setup?

For accurate judgments, you need monitor headphones or monitor speakers.

With listening earbuds, the low and high ends are exaggerated and you misjudge.

Q. Is it okay to use presets?

Absolutely.

But a preset is a "starting point."

Adjust at least the low-cut position and the amount of reduction by ear.

ryo

I started from presets of Logic's stock EQ too. Moving a preset toward your own song is overwhelmingly faster than building from zero.

Q. What should I do after mixing?

Next is mastering, which shapes the loudness and texture of the whole 2-mix.

ryo

I handle everything from mixing to mastering in T-RackS 5. It's a plugin included in Total Studio 4 MAX.

You can check the price of Total Studio 5 MAX at Plugin Boutique.

Summary: Guitar Mixing Isn't Scary If You Keep the Order

Finally, here are the key points of this article.

You won't get good at mixing in a day.

But with just a pattern for the order, the time you spend lost drops sharply.

Try finishing one song by following this pattern.

ryo

At first I boosted EQ blindly and made my sound muddy. After I learned "cut first," mixing suddenly became fun.

For how to mix a whole band, see this article.