A good general rule for EQ: Make your cuts narrow and your boosts wide.
That is, when removing frequencies, remove only what you need to. On a parametric EQ, use a high Q value, and identify specific problem frequencies. The less you cut, the more natural the result will sound. Conversely, when you boost a frequency range, narrow band EQ filters can introduce ringing. Broad, gentle boosts (i.e. low Q value) are less obvious, which again yields a more natural sound.
If you can’t play a part, don’t record it.
Practice until you can play it, or change the part so it’s easier to play. If you don’t nail the performance, it will show in the recording.
Stock your recording space with spare parts
Stuff breaks, but with a good emergency kit on hand, it doesn’t have to mean the end of a recording session. This is especially true if you record other people: Don’t trust the guitar player to remember a spare E string, but count on him breaking the one on his guitar.
The essential emergency kit: A multi-tool (like a Leatherman,) guitar strings and picks, drum sticks, band aids (!), instrument and microphone cables. And duct tape. No recording studio should be without several rolls of duct tape. You can keep a busted guitar together with enough duct tape. (Don’t ask.)
See Also: More Recording and Mixing Tips, Cut narrow, boost wide
Tags: EQ, tips-digest
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Good tips! I misread the last one at first, but I misread it as another good tip. When recording (especially solo), stock your project with spare parts as well. Thought you nailed that guitar part on the first take? Good, mute it and record another one as another clip on the same track. If you hear a flubbed note later, you can snip it from the backup tape. I went far too long without doing this for anything (aside from vocals), and it’s saved my ass many times since!