High-pass and low-pass filters in audio mastering?

[Numero Uno]

How should you set a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter when mastering music?

 

[Goldmidi]

Like everything in music production it all varies from each project, you are working on. However, it is perhaps much better to use high-pass filters or low-shelf filters on individual mixer tracks rather than using them on an entire mix.

Furthermore, you may want to avoid using steep or gentle low-pass filters (LPF or high-cut filters) because it's often not necessary to utilize them for audio mastering assuming the mix is within a reasonable commercial ballpark.

But for your high-pass filter (HPF or low-cut filter) set it around 20 Hz or 25 Hz and always make sure it's a minimum-phase filter because a linear-phase HPF may change things in a weird way down there (i.e. the pre-ringing produced by ripples in the filter's impulse response), particularly transients. Sometimes it may give you the sound you want. It's all up to you to decide on that.

You may also want to use a gentle slope for high-pass filters. For example, you ought to use either a 6 or 12 dB/octave HPF instead of something as steep as 18 dB/octave or 24 dB/octave and upwards. Nonetheless, it all depends on the context.

 

[Xena]

@Numero Uno you should be aware of the fact that an audio software minimum-phase equalizer or even a hardware analog equalizer will generate additional gain (about a few dBs in level) even if you're cutting frequencies out using a low-cut filter. Generally speaking, the steeper the slope e.g. 24 dB per octave, 36 dB per octave, or 48 dB per octave, etc the higher the gain generated.

 

[Kudzai]

Does a low-shelf filter remove DC offset?

 

[Munyaradzi Mafaro]

Does a low-shelf filter remove DC offset?

No, it doesn't. You have to use a high-pass filter to get rid of the DC offset.

 

[Benzorghini]

Does a low-shelf filter remove DC offset?

A low-shelf filter does not specifically target DC offset, which is a constant shift in the average level of an audio signal. Although, depending on the settings of the low-shelf filter, it may have some effect on the DC offset of the signal. For example, if the low-shelf filter is set to cut the low frequencies by a significant amount, it may also reduce the overall level of the signal and thereby reduce the DC offset.

 

[Mufushwa]

What is DC offset?

 

[Widzo]

What is DC offset?

DC offset is a term used in audio engineering to describe a constant shift in the average level of an audio signal. Imagine that you have a toy car that you want to move along a track. If the track is perfectly level, the car will move smoothly and evenly from one end to the other. But if the track is not level and has a big bump in the middle, the car will get stuck on the bump and won't be able to move forward. DC offset is like that bump in the track - it's a kind of "obstacle" that can interfere with the normal flow of an audio signal. If there is too much DC offset, it can cause distortion or other problems in the audio.

 

[Hunter Delevingne]

What is DC offset?

DC-Offset is a phenomenon that occurs in electronic circuits when a direct current (DC) component is present in an alternating current (AC) signal. This can cause problems in signal processing, such as distortion or clipping of the signal. DC-Offset can be caused by various factors, such as component mismatches, temperature changes, or electromagnetic interference.