Critical Listening: How to Hear Subtle Changes in High Frequencies
Shaping high frequencies is one of the more challenging aspects of mixing and mastering, especially when the changes are subtle. Small adjustments to high-frequency dynamics can have a significant impact on how we perceive the overall sound of a record.
Unlike low frequencies, where changes in energy can often be felt physically, high-frequency dynamics can be much harder to perceive. We are often listening for changes that occur in just a few milliseconds, sometimes less than five. These differences become even more difficult to identify with processors like HiFAL 2, which can control high-frequency dynamics without introducing significant distortion or additional harmonics.
In this video, I walk through five different mixes using HiFAL 2 to explore critical listening and how subtle changes in high-frequency processing can influence the character, density, and presence of a mix.
Some of these differences are incredibly subtle, and that is the point. Developing your critical listening skills means learning to recognize these brief changes in the natural dynamics of a sound and understanding how they influence the overall listening experience.
I recommend listening with headphones or a monitoring system you know well. Pay attention not only to the high frequencies themselves, but also to how these adjustments change your perception of the entire mix.
Take a listen and see what you can hear.
Tag me on my @SchwabeDigital instagram and let me know what you think..
Be well,
Ryan Schwabe
Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum mixing & mastering engineer
Founder of Schwabe Digital
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Here is the alternative:
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We measure sound frequencies on a logarithmic scale in Hertz (Hz), or cycles per second. While essential for describing audio, this unit can feel abstract and disconnected to how we think about and create music. For example, a frequency of 100 Hz means a sound wave vibrates or oscillates for one full cycle at 100 times per second.
Last time, we explored how thinking in octaves can simplify your EQ process, making it feel more musical and intuitive. Today, we’ll take that concept further by dividing the 10 octaves into 5 key frequency bands—low, low-mids, mids, high-mids, and highs—and discussing how each band shapes our perception of sound. This week, we’ll focus on the first three bands and cover the remaining ones next week. Conveniently, each of the 5 bands spans roughly two octaves. Let’s explore them.
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Shaping high frequencies is one of the more challenging aspects of mixing and mastering, especially when the changes are subtle. Small adjustments to high-frequency dynamics can have a significant impact on how we perceive the overall sound of a record.