Equalizer Mixing Tips

  General Guidelines

When EQing it is easier to hear the change when you boost rather than cut a frequency. One technique that is common to use, is to get a narrow band Q, boosted 6-12db and then sweep it back and forth to find the offending frequency. Once found you can cut it. Also generally use a narrow Q when cutting and a wide Q when boosting. Also cutting is more common to try and improve the sound, while boosting can be used to make it sound "different". Also with Synths, remember than you can't boost something that doesnt exist in the first place. Higher frequencies or a rolled off low end will make something stand out, cutting highs will make something blend in. If you have alot of elements, its usually good to make them take up less space, if you have only a few it's good to make them big.
Amplified Electric Guitar EQ

Close mic EQ
For low end grunt or warmth boost 100hz
for body boost 500hz-600hz
for edge boost 3-4k
for string boost 5-8k
for clarity boost 10k

Distant Mic EQ
boost 10k
cut 200hz

Direct Input (DI)
boost 10k, 3-6k, 1-3k, and 500hz Direct Input Combined with Amplifier
Direct: (EQ for clarity) boost 10k and 6k
Amp: Cut 6k
Acoustic Guitar EQ

Close Mic EQ
for more Sparkle: boost 10k
For more strings and a crisper sound: boost 5-8k
For more Body: boost 300-500hz
To remove muddiness:reduce 200-300hz

Distant Mic EQ
Boost 10k-15k and 7k-9k
Electric Bass EQ

Use high Q boosts and avoid boosting 200hz
boost 100hz (no lower than 80hz), 800hz, and 3k (lightly) and 5k (lightly)
Secondary Bass EQ (for second signal)
boost 800Hz, 2.5k-3k, and 5k (a bit)
Upright Bass EQ

Boost 100Hz, 800Hz, 3k and 5k
Piano EQ

Pianos can vary a lot so really listen and compare
Piano sounds muddy
boost 10k and cut 200hz

Rock Piano EQ
boost 10k, 3k, and 100Hz

Piano with Vocal Accompaniment
Boost 10k, 5k, and 250Hz
Cut, 300Hz-500Hz

Vocal EQ
EQ gently with narrow bandwidths.
boost 12-15k, 5k, 200-500hz (a bit),
cut 500hz-800hz (only if needed)
If high notes pierce
male vocals reduce 900hz, female reduce 3k.
to de-ess a vocal
reduce 7k

Drum EQ

Avoid low-end boosts in the overheads.

Room Overheads EQ
For more reverb boost 10-15k
More cymbals: boost 9k
More crack from heads: boost 5-7k
More snare wires: boost 5-7k
More bang boost: 1k
More drum resonance: 250-300Hz
More body: boost 100hz or 250hz

Close Mics overheads
Boost:10k-12k
Cut: 3-5k

Room Mics
Boost 15k
Cut 200Hz

Toms
Boost 7-8k, 3k for "transparent" toms, or 500Hz (for "opaque") and 100Hz

Snare Drums
Boost 10k (a bit), 5k, 1-2k, and 100Hz

Kick Drum
Boost 3k for hit/click, boost 6-8k (a bit) and 100Hz

High Hat
varies but: Boost 7-10k, 5k, and 500Hz