I wasn't sure where to post this...it is probably a very novice question.

The terms "boxiness" and "wooliness" are used sometimes in SOS articles, for example to describe the sound of a space in the Studio SOS articles, or a track in the Mix Rescues. I realized, and I hate to admit, I have no idea what these terms mean.

Is it possible to describe them, or better yet, point out some good [somewhat extreme maybe] examples of boxy versus not-boxy, and wooly vs un-wooly?

Thanks
Chet

For 'boxiness', think of the sound of hitting a cardboard box! Taking out a some 350-550Hz from a raw close-mic'ed kick drum would equate with taking out some of its 'boxiness'.

'Wooliness' implies an excess of low/low-mid frequencies and/or a lack of higher frequencies. A bass guitar lacking much above 500Hz might be described as 'woolly'.

HTH.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Think of any recordings you've made in a rehearsal room, they're chock full of boxy and wooly sounds!

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Do you need real drum tracks? http://www.drumtracksdirect.co.uk/

i could play you some of my mixes, if that would help...

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hourglass | random thoughts | doubledotdash!? collective

Thanks Elf: as always, useful advice, crisply given !

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Instant gratification is actually pretty good. It's fast as well.

I went to see them once - it was the worst novelty drag act I have ever seen!

Quote The Elf:

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For 'boxiness', think of the sound of hitting a cardboard box! Taking out a some 350-550Hz from a raw close-mic'ed kick drum would equate with taking out some of its 'boxiness'.

'Wooliness' implies an excess of low/low-mid frequencies and/or a lack of higher frequencies. A bass guitar lacking much above 500Hz might be described as 'woolly'.

HTH.

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Ok thanks. I think I already can recognize "wooliness" based on your description. Boxy on the other hand is tougher. In general is boxiness an excess in the range of 350-550Hz?

By the way I never made a recording in a rehearsal room, but I have in my basement which probably sounds boxy as well as several other bad things.

Quote ChetStrzepa:

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Ok thanks. I think I already can recognize "wooliness" based on your description. Boxy on the other hand is tougher. In general is boxiness an excess in the range of 350-550Hz?

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I wouldn't want you to run away with this as being some sort of universal truth. It's just a rough example of my own - and very much IMHO!

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Quote The Elf:

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Quote ChetStrzepa:

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Ok thanks. I think I already can recognize "wooliness" based on your description. Boxy on the other hand is tougher. In general is boxiness an excess in the range of 350-550Hz?

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I wouldn't want you to run away with this as being some sort of universal truth. It's just a rough example of my own - and very much IMHO!

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I think of wooliness as lacking definition and clean transients in the low end, "smearing in the time domain" as I'm just just getting used to calling it rather than an EQ issue but, as you say it's a subjective description.

Boxiness can of course be an asset. A little of 400Hz or thereabouts can give a nice character to both electric and acoustic guitars.

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Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".

Thanks for the replies. I realize these things are not going to have specific technical definitions.

Of course, it seems there are lots of examples of where these terms are used in SOS...so I intended to point out some specific ones but I haven't had a chance until today:

Paul White's article "Kicking Bottom" from Sept 2011 issue mentions adding an EQ boost to a kick around 70-90Hz, and then, sometimes needing to cut about an octave above (e.g. 180Hz) to reduce making the sound "boxy and less well defined".

In the May 2012 issue Mix Rescue (Mike Senior)"...increasing the Atten level reduced some woolliness otherwise imparted by the boost". He's talking about the Universal Audio Pultec EQ plugin on the piano part.

Have you listened to the audio examples from the Mix Rescue in question? That might help you understand a bit better!

FWIW, I'd agree that 'woolliness' is as much about smearing/masking of transients as it is about the levels building up at any given frequency. It's often due to the way different sounds combine, not just the sound of a given instrument. For example, you might find that sustained distorted guitar chords mask the attack portion of a bass guitar, and EQing out certain frequencies in those guitars will make the bass sound tighter and better defined = less woolly. And 'boxiness' - yes, like kicking a large cardboard box.

Quote Mixedup:

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better defined = less woolly. And 'boxiness' - yes, like kicking a large cardboard box.

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....or putting your head inside a large cardboard box and talking... or talking in a phone box... or a small vocal booth!

hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound