If you decrease the volume after additive EQing, there's really no technical difference to subtractive EQing; you can get the exact same result using both techniques. This is just how linear filters work. If you use some sort of analog modelled EQ, then there might be differences in the sound.
I think subtractive EQ is often recommended because it fits nicely with the philosophy of giving everything its own space in the spectrum. So to bring something forward in the mix, you should think of where to cut instead of what to boost.
good man.
I use both, but i tend to sculpt things out from the original sound source, before i boost any thing.
I get things to sound pretty good with subtractive eq in terms of placement of the mix. But that often leaves me with a very dull sound, because nothing pops out.
Knowing that i've done as much as i wanted to do with subtractive, that's time i usually spend adding eq's TO CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS ONLY. If you add eq on to many things, that's when you get a mess. It's like, if every one is special, no on is special. Mixing is about enhancing the main ideas of your song.
If your song is electro, you may want more umpf from the kick. dubstep? sub bass and bass synths get priority. progressive house trance? the melodies get more treatment. hip hop? drums.
You don't have to hard line those suggestions, because. What you decide what stands out, that will be the main draw. You will then have to balance volume and additive eq at that point.
I believe that last point, is where many people think mixing begins. When it's actually more towards the ending stages of the entire process.
It's like building a house, you don't put up walls or carpet when you haven't even decided on how to lay the foundation.
The foundation is your signal source, and you should treat that with utmost care and understanding. other wise you won't have carpet or walls in a home.
You should of done such a good job with your volume and subtractive eq stage, that the additive should be a little something...
Also, don't be afraid to add multiple eq's at different points in your signal chain. it works really well if you can't quite clean up a low end. Multiple instances of effects can be an awesome thing, you just have to understand the links in the chain and how it should interact.
another tid bit: i used additive eq on heavily reverb effects (not on my buss reverb) purely for effects of resonance i get. you can automate that reverb resonance frequency and get some cool sounds. then do more stuff on top of it to be even more sweg sauce.
