ABSTRACT
Compression and effects are concerned; electromechanical keyboards can be treated similar to guitar, as both their spectrum and function in the mix are similar. Equalizing (EQ)-wise, the sweet spots of a piano can be treated to taste. In case band members are less enthusiastic about the idea, brute force is music directors' only option left. Turn up the volume of the synth in the mix, add more top end with EQ or cook the sound with distortion. Synth sounds may seem “finished,” but once music directors start playing with EQ, there’s often room for improvement. Just a touch of EQ could cause a synth to cut through the mix. The character of synthetic sounds can be very direct and up front, containing more overtones and frequencies than is the case with organic sounds. In the mix, they will push other instruments back.
