Vocal sounds boxy? Cut 400 to 800 Hz

A boxy vocal sounds like it was sung into a cardboard box. That sound lives between 400 and 800 Hz and often comes from recording in a small room or too close to the mic. Find the worst spot in that range and cut it 3 to 4 dB with a medium band. The vocal opens up and sounds clearer.

How to do it

1. Put an EQ on the vocal.
2. Boost a narrow band by 8 to 10 dB and sweep between 400 and 800 Hz.
3. Where it sounds most like a box or a phone, stop.
4. Turn the boost into a cut of 3 to 4 dB with a medium-wide band.
5. Don't cut too much, or the vocal turns thin. Compare at the same level.

Why it works

Small rooms bounce sound back and forth and build up a few frequencies in the low mids. Those build-ups make the voice sound closed in. Cutting them back lets the rest of the voice through.