6. Grance, Soulmac – “Happy Incident”
In organic house, much of the track’s energy comes from the high percussion, but unlike commercial EDM, which can rely on bright, almost sizzling highs, organic house leans toward a warmer, softer approach. Achieving this typically involves additive analog EQ. While digital EQs can offer precise, surgical boosts for a bright, cutting, high-end, analog EQs tend to shape frequencies with a softer, warmer character.
One go-to technique to achieve this warm sheen is by applying an analog emulation EQ to the high end of your drum bus or instrument groups. Whether it’s lead synths, supporting arpeggiators, or the whole drum mix, gently boosting the high shelf with an analog EQ adds a smooth brightness that enhances the mix without becoming harsh.
Digital EQ boosts in the five to eight-decibel range can make a track sound overly sharp and brittle, whereas an analog EQ, like Enhanced EQ, based on tube-series analog hardware, delivers a soft, natural brightness. This is especially effective for organic house, where a subtle lift in the high-end keeps the mix warm and inviting without crossing into sterility.
Let’s listen to an example. Here we have a great shaker loop but the high frequencies still need more life.
