Cutting high frequency boosts volume?

[ignatius j reilly]

Hi, .....my first project using Har-Bal.
I'm working on a track that has a high peak around 12KHz (probably due to a constant slightly harsh Hi Hat rhythm).
I noticed that when I push down this one peak, rather than just damp this frequency, it actually sounds to my ears to boost the overall volume of the whole track....maybe slightly more towards the low to mid range....but it definitely gives the effect of an overall volume lift.

Can someone enlighten me....is this normal ?

[HarBal]

If you cut a peak in one area loudness compensation will give an overall boost to compensate for the reduction in HarBal's estimate of perceived loudness.

At 12 kHz I'd expect the compensation gain to be somewhat smaller than the degree of cut you applied. One way to see this is to switch to the frequency response view and you should be able to see how much overall boost HarBal has applied.

I'd guess that what you are hearing is a combination of HarBal loudness compensation plus psycho-acoustic phenomina. In particular, I'm wondering whether a excessive amplitude hi-hat at 12 kHz might be trigger the inner ear reflex that tightens the ear drum. That would certainly cause a reduction in perceived loudness. If you feel a slightly uncomfortable tightness in your ears then maybe it is.

Cheers,


Paavo.

[ignatius j reilly]

Thanks for the response

psycho-acoustic phenomina.

ooooh, that sounds a bit X-Files......