How to compress and EQ electric guitars

[edox]

Ok, so one of the greatest guitarists in my city visited at my studio but to be honest, I haven't been into guitar recording since now... so I have a little lack of information how to place, compress and EQ electric guitars. These ones are quite middle range guitars, I mean quite bright ones but the actual problem is that I have 2-3 guitar riffs played at the same time and I don't know how to separate them so that all of them could be heared because they all are in quite same sound range. So... how much I can (without the sound suffering) EQ and compress them? Any advices, kind of general tips, etc?

[hollip3020]

im no eq master but in that case i would cut different frequencies between 500 and 4k. very narrow cuts put the Q value all the way up. for example i had a track with 2 guitars. i cut one guitar at 750 and the other at 2100 and it gave both enough definition for the song. your song might be different though.

[houseofthesun]

pan 1 gut hard left and 1 hard right and leave the third in the middle. you might want to use the comp as a limiter or use a imiter to watch any clipping, because alot of guitar players are using some big dynamics and if you compress and push up the softer notes you can destroy the dynamics of the part.

[hel]

For transparent compressors, a setting of 2:1 ratio, -10 threshold, softknee with a moderately fast attack, and a slightly slower release is a good place to start.

Is this heavy guitars, or slower moody riffs?

As far as EQ, Hollip3020 is on it. I can't really give specifics, without knowing the tuning of the guitars, and hearing the riffs. Generally guitars are between 80Hz = D2# and 14kHz = F6 (notes according to octaves). Basically in most cases anything lower than 70Hz goes out of mids and into bass, and will become mud, likely. This can be cut, with a highpass filter. I wouldn't cut about 14kHz though, as you may have natural harmonics there.

First try lowering the fader on the warmest guitar, this will become your ambience and fills. Solo the most bright aggressive guitar, this will become your cake, your butter, the grit. Next go to the guitar that is in the middle, not too aggressive, not too warm, but harmonious with itself, as if it could be by itself. This will be the part we shape everything around, and decide what to cut. Layer the guitars, all except the warm one and the aggressive one. Start cutting freq on the others, not the basis guitar but the ones left. Try to cut where it doesn't affect the sound or character. Where you cut one, slightly boost on another or level it flat, shaping it to compliment the base, or neutral guitar. Use thin bell freq Q's for all this. Cut all at 500Hz, but not entirely. Bring up and unmute the brightest guitar, the aggressive one, focus on cutting mids, and boosting highmids and highs, around 5khz, cut around 10khz or above...slightly, if there are transients. Now bring in the warm guitar and focus on the opposite, here, highs don't matter as much.

It's kind of like popping holes out of things and filling them in with shapes.

This is just general, not specific, as like said, there are no set rules without hearing the sound. Everyone also works different.

[hel]

Houseofthesun's advice is also good. Panning can work, better than EQing at times.

[edox]

THANK YOU HEL!!

Great tips!

Guitars I talked about aren't heavy guitars. They are little distortioned middle range guitar riffs. On chorus:

One guitar is stereo recorded distortioned backround guitar (just one shot per one chord) I'd call this the warmest one as you said it.

Another riff on chorus is faster going more alive riff but also distortioned same way and having same sound range.

Third one is stereo recorded long notes within chords to encahce power. It's the most aggressive one.

So if you have anything to add to your alreay fullfill comments I'll be hearing you carefully!

And thanks a lot!