bass guitar and kick drum problems

[VertuGoGo]

i'm in the process of mixing and i've always had problems mixing the bass guitar and the kick drum properly. my biggest problem is this: i'll mix it using either the computer speakers or my flat response headphones. when i think i got a right mix, i'll burn it onto a cd, test it out on my car to see how it would sound like through "ordinary, everyday" speakers. and through those speakers i usually have the kick distorted and the bass undefined--like it's all over the place. i'll try to bring down the volumes for those tracks, re-burn them again, and then i'll find out that i can barely hear them at all.

how i mix is typically like this: the kick will be almost red-lining, and the bass will be just above the point of "barely audible" so it won't be too loud and drown out the guitars.

i'd like to mix our songs so it has that "stone roses meets duran duran" feel. bass and kick heavy, but not to the point of rap music. anybody have any ideas on how i can achieve this?

 

[moskus]

You can't mix on meters alone, you need to listen!

I would say you should invest in some better speakers (preferably studio monitors). Good monitors fix most mix-problems...

 

[Clemie]

anybody have any ideas on how i can achieve this?

Post in mixing & mastering forum, you will get much more help to this subject.

 

[Track Rat]

I have to agree about using monitors to mix on. Personally, I've never had much luck mixing with just headphones.

 

[williamconifer]

Ok here's my data dump on this issue. You need to get your listening environment as neutral as possible. I agree with the comment that you need a good pair of speakers.

Look for a pair that are near field and have a flat freq. response. Meaning the speaker represents all the freqs evenly. This way it wont be too bassy or not bassy enough.

Once you have your speaker situation squarred away then you need to do a real time analysis of your system. Allen & Heath has a great program called Real Time Analyser (RTA) that sells for like $10. http://www.allen-heath.com/rta.asp It will generate Pink Noise which sounds like whoosing water. If you use a referance mic. (meaning a mic with a flat response - Behringer has one for like $40.00) you can measure and adjust the freq response of your listening environment.

RTA will pump pink noise out of your computer and then through your speakers. Set up your mic with in 3 ft of your speakers and then run that signal into your computer (via your mixer). RTA will show you a real time frequency curve that will change as you adjust the EQ of the signal going to the speaker amp. By adjusting this eq then you can "flat line" your freqs. Ideally you want a stereo 1/3 octave eq just before your speaker amp so you can do this. Keep in mind you are adjusting for the Speaker, sound card, and room accoustics. So when you place you mic. to pickup the pink noise put the mic where your ears will be in the mixing process. You will notice the curve change as you move the mic around in your room. You can find where your bass freqs. gather in your room (in the corners) and such.

A hardware version that translate well between studio and live venue is the Behringer DSP 8024 Ultra-Curve Pro $200.00. It is a digital stereo 1/3 octave eq with real time analyser built in. Add the ref. mic and you got it going!

Using this technique you can also "tune" your high end entertainment systems and car audio.

The end result: What you hear in your studio is what has been recorded, not effected by your speakers or room. It is exactly as it should be. Once you get this reference point set you can mix with a lot more confidence.

Good luck
jack