Q: Do you normally EQ your fue? Have you found some parameters work better than others?

Yes, there are several types of EQ that you can apply depending on the song. The EQ settings you’re currently using – roll off lows at 50Hz, slight dip around 1-1.5k, and rolling off the highs at 8k is a great starting point.

• The Lo Cut that you’re applying will clean up and rumble or low hum that found its way into the recording. This EQ node doesn’t make the fue sound any different. It’s primary purpose is to clean up the recording and free up low frequencies in the overall mix.
• The Mid Cut reduces the fundamental (the main note being played) of the fue without affecting the overtones. This allows the fue to occupy a broader range of frequencies more evenly. Fue can be very harsh and this will help reduce some of that harshness.
• And finally, the Hi Cut reduces some of the breath. How much breath you want is subjective, and you can also try to get the sound you want dialed in during the recording stage. Point the mic at/away from the embouchure for more/less breath sound.

I personally tend to go a little more aggressive on the Lo Cut. Cutting everything below 250Hz is likely to still leave the recording unaltered, and free up more space in the mix. The low-mid range can be particularly tricky to mix, so freeing up space in this area can help a lot.

With fue, you’re going to be using reverb most of the time. Try applying EQ to the reverb as well. For example, a “telephone” EQ using both Lo and Hi Cut filters on the EQ makes the overall sound darker. You can also do the opposite, where you apply more EQ to the Hi frequencies. This adds shimmer and brightness to the overall sound of the fue.