{"id":4807,"date":"2023-02-02T05:47:27","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T05:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talkinmusic.com\/?p=4807"},"modified":"2023-02-02T05:47:37","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T05:47:37","slug":"audio-pass-filters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talkinmusic.com\/audio-pass-filters\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Audio Pass Filters? (Complete Guide 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are many tools that are essential to music production and are necessary to get the best quality of audio possible. One of these tools is the audio pass filter, which helps attenuate the range of frequencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will be explaining what an audio pass filter does and the difference between the two types of filters, low pass filters, and high pass filters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in music production or you want to know about the whole process then it\u2019s vital that you understand all the purposes this tool serves since it has been used for a long time and still is, to this day, a powerful tool in the music industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an Audio Pass Filter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An audio pass filter will attenuate a range of frequencies, this is achieved by using both high pass filters and low pass filters, the first one will let the higher frequencies through the filter and attenuate everything below a cutoff frequency, while the latter will attenuate above the cutoff frequency, letting all the lower frequencies go through the filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may sound a bit confusing at first but it\u2019s actually a straightforward process, and it gets even simpler when you know why and when to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to Use Audio Pass Filters?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we stated before, this is a very common tool for a music producer, since it\u2019s very useful in order to control high and low frequencies to get the perfect mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removing Low or High Frequencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you record a bassline, you will probably get more low frequencies than if you record with your guitar, but sometimes there is too much bass in relation to the rest of the instruments, so what you would have to do is get rid of some of those lower frequencies in order to have a clearer mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where the high pass filter comes in, the idea is that you use the filter and adjust the settings in a way that you remove every frequency that is just too low for your mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can adjust these settings before or after having all your tracks but if you can set it from the beginning, you might be able to get a better idea of what you want everything to sound like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes the same way for higher frequencies, you would just have to use a low pass filter and you will be able to get rid of unwanted higher frequencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This has always been a big problem when recording music, and even in these modern times, sometimes there is no way to avoid having wind or sounds from the environment in your recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not in a room that has been specifically made for recording and is free from any external noise, then you might want to avoid any external noise you can get, this includes fans, refrigerators, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However we are aware that sometimes we can\u2019t have any control, for example, traffic noise, dogs barking, and maybe even the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case, a high pass filter will do the trick, as most of the time these sounds are mainly around the low frequencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you can\u2019t fully get rid of these unwanted sounds, you will be able to reduce their presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removing Plosives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether you are dealing with singing or talking for podcasts, videos, or any type of voice recording, there is always the risk of plosives, these are low-frequency audio peaks that occur when a person makes a sound with letters like p, t, k, b, d, g, in which the air in the lungs is blocked by a brief moment which results in a burst of air being released that gets picked up by the microphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, before we talk about how to eliminate it, the ideal way to deal with this issue is to prevent it, with good quality microphones and better technique while speaking or singing, or even using a pop filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If for any reason, you have a recording with plosives and there is no other option, then you can use a high pass filter. As you keep getting rid of the lower frequencies you\u2019ll notice that the popping sounds will start to \u201cgo away\u201d since you are taking away the lower frequencies that make them stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, keep in mind that if you overdo it with the high pass filter, you might end up removing some of the vocal signals from the recording, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improving the Mix<\/h3>\n\n\n
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The best scenario for mixing is when you get the best recording possible, and once you have that, you get access to full-range monitors and a good room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will not only allow you to get a better idea about how the final product should sound but also be able to notice the little but important things in the mix you might need to correct. If you don\u2019t have the best quality possible for mixing you might encounter some issues when playing the track such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n