Frequency carving is the practice of restricting instruments to dedicated frequency bands using filtering and equalization to prevent overlapping elements from masking each other. By filtering out unwanted low or high frequencies from dense sounds, engineers reserve clean sonic space for other featured elements. This separation keeps the overall mix transparent and allows individual parts to sound prominent and uncluttered.
How the songs in the archive use it
In Blinding Lights by The Weeknd, the kick drum and sub-bass are bracketed to the 30 to 80 Hz range to leave the low-midrange clear for the synth bass. Black Milk by Massive Attack applies a low-pass filter to the drum sample to cut high frequencies, keeping the top end open for heavily reverberated vocals.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Frequency carving carves out conflicting frequency bands from competing instruments to clear sonic space across the mix. Use it when two elements, such as a kick and bass or guitar and vocals, mask each other in the same range.
Insert Channel EQ on the track you want to carve space from.
Click Band 1 On/Off to activate a high pass filter and trim unnecessary low-end rumble.
Click Band 4 On/Off to enable a parametric EQ band.
Adjust Frequency to the area where the competing instrument needs room, then reduce Gain/Slope to cut.
Plug-in
Control
Value
Listen for
Channel EQ
Band 1 On/Off
On
sub-bass rumble disappearing
Channel EQ
Low Cut Frequency
80 Hz
cleaned-up low frequencies
Channel EQ
Band 4 On/Off
On
midrange cut engaged
Channel EQ
Peak 2 Frequency
450 Hz
clarity emerging for the competing track
Channel EQ
Peak 2 Gain
-4 dB
reduced masking and cleaner separation
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (1)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
Black Milk by Massive AttackThe track utilizes extreme "dark/light" dynamics—a signature of trip-hop—achieved by low-pass filtering the drum sample to remove high-end transient clash, leaving the upper frequency spectrum entirely open for Elizabeth Fraser's heavily modulated, reverberant vocals.Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques