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nord
New member
i`ve noticed bass seems a lot better on modern tracks is this because its added digitally?
nord
nord
Halion
New member
That also, but I don't think that's the main reason.
It's really a matter of taste (I think bass sounded pretty great on some older tracks as well), but there are a number of improvements in equipment that allow for much "better" bass tracks. A couple of examples:
- Moderns music carriers (cds, mp3s etc.) allow a much broader range of frequencies than for instance, vynil or tape, so the low end can be used completely.
- Speakers can now produce really low frequencies (and these speakers are much more common as well). Back in the 60s and 70s, consumer speakers just didn't go down that low.
- Tracking equipment is cleaner sounding, from preamps to compressors to software.
- Bassguitar pickups have become (much) more full-range. Bass can sound really snappy and sparkly now, that high end is not something older pickups can capture very well.
- Mixing and production trends. Heavy limiting and multiband compression is very common now, which can make bass sound better (or worse).
It's really a matter of taste (I think bass sounded pretty great on some older tracks as well), but there are a number of improvements in equipment that allow for much "better" bass tracks. A couple of examples:
- Moderns music carriers (cds, mp3s etc.) allow a much broader range of frequencies than for instance, vynil or tape, so the low end can be used completely.
- Speakers can now produce really low frequencies (and these speakers are much more common as well). Back in the 60s and 70s, consumer speakers just didn't go down that low.
- Tracking equipment is cleaner sounding, from preamps to compressors to software.
- Bassguitar pickups have become (much) more full-range. Bass can sound really snappy and sparkly now, that high end is not something older pickups can capture very well.
- Mixing and production trends. Heavy limiting and multiband compression is very common now, which can make bass sound better (or worse).
pikingrin
what is this?
I would agree with Halion on the matter of taste... I think, with a few genre-based exceptions, that the way the bass is used in most modern music could contribute to the way it sounds. For example, modern rock (the crap you hear on the radio anyway) usually has a bass line that follows what the guitar is playing. So, naturally, it may sound a little more thick just because it's "backed up" by the lower frequency notes that are being played in tandem on the guitar. Other than that, there is some use of sub-harmonic frequencies now, too. Put that kind of plugin on a bass track and it brings out a lot of the low end by "harmonizing" the bass track with a lower octave that is brought out to a user-defined degree.
Obi-Wan zenabI
Active member
I'm a vinyl fanatic. IMO, a lot of the poor sound you're getting when you hear older tracks is due to poor remastering or transfer from the original into a digital media. CD smapling rates, MP3's, and cheap home CD players can take the life out of bass, whatever the "frequency response" of the media is. A local DJ played some classic Stevie Wonder last night, and I could just hear the harshness of the CD remaster. Back in the day, the engineers were recording with vinyl in mind from minute one.
Bass was sometimes mixed quieter in general, though-- ever listen to Parliament records? It always seems to me that the bass could be cranked like the hip hop that it influenced, but it's definitely not.
Bass was sometimes mixed quieter in general, though-- ever listen to Parliament records? It always seems to me that the bass could be cranked like the hip hop that it influenced, but it's definitely not.
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
ditto ...... MP3's definitely don't have the freq response of Vinyl or especially of tape and I have plenty of vinyl records with powerful well defined bass.
but bass nowadays has evolved to where it is a major part of all music while back in the day it was often considered just part of the bed track ..... just to fill in the rhythm section but not so much to be featured.
Obi-Wan zenabI
Active member
my audio science is probably off, though... but still, I love the bass on vinyl.
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=2851062&postcount=191
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=2851062&postcount=191
N
nord
New member
the thing with digital is it`s exact, every one can tell a 0 from a 1 and its perfectly reproducible
i`m not sure analog does contain an exact amount of information- i suppose it depends on resolving power of the device thats reading it?
so maybe there could be hidden information?
nord
i`m not sure analog does contain an exact amount of information- i suppose it depends on resolving power of the device thats reading it?
so maybe there could be hidden information?
nord
N
nord
New member
does mp3 have a low frequency cut off or something?
nord
nord
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
absolutely hidden info ..... that's why a mega bucks turntable and cart can pick up stuff you never knew was there.
And I imagine tape is the same way. I have a Nakamichi cassette deck that reproduces all sorts of subtleties that my other decks don't.
As for MP3's ..... well, one of the ways they compress the file size is to discard freq information that the program considers unneeded. They also smear transient timing issues which is one of the reasons they sound the way they do.
I find, This is just for myself .... NOT trying to convert anyone .... but less than around 192kps, they sound .... well, not very good, to me.
Opinions are varied on this issue, but lots of folks feel like MP3's aren't a hifidelity format.
vicenzajay
Member
Yep...
Although my studio is digital, mp3 is a "lossy" format...i.e. it truncates information. For .mp3 renders I use 320Kps only...still prefer rendering to 16 bit (from 24 bit) 44.1 .wav with a good dither algorithm...lots of disk space, but much better audio reproduction.
Jay
Although my studio is digital, mp3 is a "lossy" format...i.e. it truncates information. For .mp3 renders I use 320Kps only...still prefer rendering to 16 bit (from 24 bit) 44.1 .wav with a good dither algorithm...lots of disk space, but much better audio reproduction.
Jay
T
talontsiawd
New member
I totally agree, i don't care about logistics of a medium, i have so many records where the bass just sounds so good. Chic is a great example of this, however i'm not a huge fan of the band in gernal.
As for modern stuff, i'm guessing that modern playback systems also have something to do with it as well. I mean now, alot of cars come with a factory subwoofer, many people have subwoofers in their homes, etc. So i just have to guess this plays a role as well. Again, just a guess here.