Comb Filtering

[David Katauskas]

What is it?

If it does what it sounds like, will it help with bringing out the bass and kick? Right now they seem to clobber each other instead of compliment each other.

[Ethan Winer]

David,

> What is it? <

Comb filtering is a series of many evenly-spaced peaks and nulls in the frequency response. A graph of the response looks a little like a hair comb, below.

> will it help with bringing out the bass and kick? <

Not really - it adds a sound like a flanger effect. HERE is an article I wrote for EQ magazine that explains comb filtering from an acoustics perspective. There's also a video on my company's site that explains comb filtering with visual and audible examples. You can find that if you follow the link below.

--Ethan

[Cloneboy Studio]

Comb filtering isn't something you want unless you are looking for a weird effect. IMHO it sounds metallic on most percussion.

[David Katauskas]

Thanks for the info.

[FALKEN]

I've got a nice trick to clean up the bass and kick, if that is what you are looking for.

set a compressor on the bass at its fastest possible attack setting, and ratio and release for whatever works (maybe 4:1 and medium). The idea is that you want to take the initial thump of the bass out, and leave only the resonance. I know this sounds horrible but in the mix it works.

set a compressor on the kick with a medium attack setting, and 4:1 or so to clamp it down, and an appropriate release for the tempo and sound. the idea here is that you want the initial thump of the kick, but none of the resonance.

now your bass and kick won't trample each other. I know it sounds drastic, but it really works out nicely.

[David Katauskas]

Originally Posted by FALKEN

I've got a nice trick to clean up the bass and kick, if that is what you are looking for.

set a compressor on the bass at its fastest possible attack setting, and ratio and release for whatever works (maybe 4:1 and medium). The idea is that you want to take the initial thump of the bass out, and leave only the resonance. I know this sounds horrible but in the mix it works.

set a compressor on the kick with a medium attack setting, and 4:1 or so to clamp it down, and an appropriate release for the tempo and sound. the idea here is that you want the initial thump of the kick, but none of the resonance.

now your bass and kick won't trample each other. I know it sounds drastic, but it really works out nicely.

That actually makes sense...thanks. I'll give that a try tonight.