Hey just wondering if you could give me some tips for Eqing a)the overall mix and b)certain instruments ie a group of float mics. cheers

If it sounds good, then it's eq'd right. Beyond that, it depends on the room, the pa, the frequency response and placement of the mics, the instruments, the musos, the weather.... well, maybe not the weather (much!) but you get the idea.

there's a thread a wee bit back that talks about this, and has some interesting discussion relating to emphasising aspects of certain instruments.

eq on the desk output is most easily done by playing a cd that you know really well. Then tweak the eq till it sounds best. Your post is a bit unclear as to if this is what you really mean. 'Overall' mix? If you mean how to eq each source? - then it's a case of getting one channel up at a time and eq'ing till it sounds 'right'. Not something you can put into words.

As for float mics - the big issue is getting enough volume from them before feedback starts - so careful eq to reduce the howlround frequencies is a good method - you end up with a somewhat weird eq curve, but in my view, the aim of float mics is to get more stage sound to the audience, and I can live with slightly un-natural sound if the audience can hear what is happening better.

Finally someone who has the same idea to the vocal sound as me.

Although I do alot of work with vocal based bands, I often here performances where vocals just cannot be heard very well (some of which have excellent sound accross the board and a nice vocal sound but it just doesn't cut through)

Theres obviosuly a limit to this, vocals that are too bassy really get on my nerves, along with those that sound like a telephone speaker. (this is in the mix not a natural voice)

I can live with a vocal maybe not sound crystal clear studio quality througha couple of songs just to get it heard. I wish more people would do the same.

Rob