Resonances are narrow peaks that stick out and make a track sound harsh or nasal. They cannot be fixed with broad EQ moves; you need surgical cuts that keep the original tone intact.
What resonances are
They are energy buildups in very specific bands caused by the room, the instrument, or the microphone. When stems stack up, those frequencies become fatiguing.
Why they are a problem
- They tire the ear in long listening sessions.
- They mask vocals and key elements.
- They force you to turn the mix down.
How to detect them
- Use an analyzer and find narrow peaks.
- Sweep with a parametric EQ at high Q.
- Confirm the peak is persistent, not a single hit.
How Piroola does it
S4_STEM_RESONANCE_CONTROL.py detects persistent resonances and applies gentle reductions per band. Then S4_STEM_HPF_LPF.py cleans the extremes to leave space for the rest of the mix.
- Finds narrow peaks per stem.
- Applies small cuts with high Q.
- Protects the core tone.
Manual workflow
- Insert a parametric EQ before compression.
- Boost and sweep with +6 dB and high Q.
- Cut 2‑4 dB on each detected peak.
- If it is intermittent, use dynamic EQ.
Common mistakes
- Over‑wide cuts that thin the sound.
- Removing resonances that define character.
- Correcting after compression and making it worse.
Checklist
- Less harshness without losing presence.
- Narrow, controlled cuts.
- Dynamics intact before compression.
