Frequency Conflict Detector
Toggle instruments on a log-scale spectrum to see frequency conflicts, with exact EQ fixes per instrument pair.
Side = (L − R) / 2 — carries stereo-only content. This disappears on mono systems. High side content = big stereo image that collapses to nothing in mono.
SPAN (Voxengo) — spectrum + correlation meter. Free and accurate.
Ozone Imager 2 — stereo width with frequency-dependent control
Brainworx bx_digital V3 — M/S EQ and width control per band
About the Frequency Conflict Detector
The Frequency Conflict Detector is a free interactive tool for music producers who want accurate answers fast. Whether you're searching for frequency conflict detector mixing, instrument frequency masking tool, kick bass frequency conflict EQ, this tool gives you real-time results without leaving your browser — and explains the reasoning behind every value so you know what to do with it.
Every tool on MusicProductionWiki is built around one principle: answer the question and explain the reasoning. The Frequency Conflict Detector not only calculates — it shows you why those values work, what changes when you adjust them, and what professional producers do differently across genres.
This tool is part of the Frequency & EQ category. It's embedded directly inside the relevant entries in The Producer's Bible — MPW's comprehensive reference library — where it appears in context alongside the theory that explains why each setting works the way it does.
All tools on MusicProductionWiki are free, require no login, and work in any modern browser on desktop or mobile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is frequency masking in a mix?
Frequency masking happens when two instruments share the same frequency range and one drowns out the other. The louder signal masks the quieter one — making it disappear even if it is present in the mix. The classic example is kick drum and bass competing in the 60–120 Hz range.
How do I fix kick and bass frequency conflicts?
Give each element its own frequency pocket. Cut the bass around the kick fundamental (60–80 Hz) and boost the bass body slightly above it (100–150 Hz). Use sidechain compression so the bass ducks briefly on every kick hit. This carves space without making either element sound thin.
Which instruments conflict most often in a mix?
The most common conflicts: kick and bass (sub–120 Hz), guitar and keys (300–800 Hz), vocals and synth leads (1–4 kHz), and hi-hats and cymbals with guitar (5–10 kHz). Arrangement changes — writing parts in different octaves — prevent conflicts that EQ can only partially fix.