Bass/kick troubles

  • Thread starter Thread starter jrubero
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jrubero

New member
Hello,

I've been writing and recording for quite some
time now; first with 4-track reel-to-reel and
then with Cool Edit Pro on my computer.

I'm pretty pleased with my latest material
(which you can check out by stopping by
http://www.mp3.com/jasonrubero), but I keep
feeling like my kick drum and bass guitar are
the week points of my mixes.

It seems so hard to make the low end clear!

I'd appreciate any input/ideas/tips that I
could consider next time I go into the studio.
And, of course, I'm always interested in returning
the favor if anyone likes what I've done and wants
to know about my gear and/or methods.

BE the music,

jsr


PS - Can anyone recommend a really good
library of public-domain sound effects in
mp3 or wav formats? Thanks.
 
Much of this is per Ed Rei's recommendations at http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19596

Kick EQ:
2.5 - 5KHz, boost 2-6dB
200 - 500 Hz, cut 2-8dB
50 - 100 Hz, boost 1-3dB

Bass:
should have more 150-200Hz than kick.
more 1-3K than kick for clarity.

Cutting those mids really helps clear up the kick. Also, try the kick with more 50-80Hz EQ than the bass. I read someplace that the kick mids should not have too sharp of bandwidth (Q), but I don't know what that means yet.
 
If it's a dense track, low cut stuff that doesn't need to be down there.
 
Depending on the track, I have gotten alot of mileage out of a cut to the bass with a narrow notch filter at about ~100 Hz. This is also the place where the kick has a lot of energy, so cutting the bass there opens up more room for the kick.

Another thing that helped me out is compressing the kick and bass to taste on their individual channels and then bussing all of the drums and rythmn section (bass) to another compressor just to even things out. The compression does not have to be hard... it just needs to be enough to knock out a couple dBs at each stage.

The multiple stages of compression will also keep the kick and bass under control without having to resort to boosting the low-end to feel the power of the kick and bass.... I believe that this is one of the secrets to having "powerful" sounding bass and kick, without boosted frequencies swallowing up all of the headroom of the mix and while having a much "cleaner" mix. Just don't get carried away. Compression is a dangerous thing, because it's so easy to get addicted to the sound... If you're not careful, you'll find yourself hiking it up and up until you've obliterated the song :eek: .... Be careful :cool:
 
i agree with rev e, compression adds bottom end differently than eq. it sounds much more like the instrument itself. you just have to make sure not to overdo it. also, try bosting one frequency on kick, like 80hz, and cutting it on bass. you can also bost 3db @ 250 on bass and cut the same amount on kick so you reduce the papercard sound on kick, and give the bass more presence. also, if you're not doing bottom heavy music with lots of subbass, just wipe out all information under 60 or 80hz. most sound systems can't reproduce that, and they clutter up your mix, dimishing your headroom. try also to make sure to cut the lowest frequencies on mid or high-range instruments. any information that is there is just low rumble.

adriano
 
Thanks for all your input so far.

I can tell that you have all fought this battle
in much greater detail than I ever have. I am
now armed with a lot of heavy artillery to try
out on my next mix.

Much appreciation,

jsr
 
postalblue,

Good advice. Personally, I think 60 Hz is a bit high. If I were cutting out some lows to increase the headroom, I would put either a high-pass filter at about 35 Hz or 40 Hz; you can also try a parametic EQ with a low Q (~ 2), centered at about 30 Hz and just lower the low-end a bit. Either way, it all depends on the music that you're working with.

Make sure that you're listening to commercial mixes on your system, so you know very intimately how a great mix sounds on your system.

E
 
Hey great thread...

One of Ed's tips on bass and kick was to "rid" both of 200kz. What does rid mean,how much of a cut... and I'm assuming a notch filter...how big a "notch"? Same question to the post about notching the bass at 100kz...how big a notch bandwidth?

After highpassing other instruments around 100kz I've had pretty good results with a low shelf 100kz boost to kick and the opposite to the bass but boosting my bass between 100 and 200 get boomy in a hurry for me. I do want to try the 250kz thing suggested.

Another question...what about low toms?

Thanks,
Rusty K
 
Rusty,

I would notch out the bass at 100 Hz with a very narrow Q (~ 9-10). When I boost the kick at 100 Hz, I use a very narrow Q also (~ 9-10). Like Ed, I cut some in both the kick at bass at about 200 Hz (I usually do it more on the kick rather than the bass). Either way, pretty narrow.

I also agree that hi-passing all of the "treble" instruments at about 100 Hz is a good idea. It really cleans up the mix.

E
 
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