bass problem

[timkibler]

I've been working with a multitrack for about 1 year and it has been mostly great. A couple cds I played in more open public rooms revealed more work ahead, mainly in the bass and lows in general.
Actually, with the acoustic-based stuff and the cleaner electrics, I can get a pretty decent bass mixed in there (I'm sticking with all instrumentals for now).
It's when the songs feature more distorted guitars that I have most trouble with getting the bass sounding decent.
I've tried backing down on the rhythms which seems to allow the bass a little more breathing room, but then it seems that the rhythms lose their snap.

?????????????????????????

 

[pikingrin]

I think, from what I understand in your post, that your issue could be solved with a little well placed changes in EQ settings. I don't know if you have tried it yet or not, but you can try to "carve" the frequencies a bit rather than just jumping to volume adjustments. By that I mean take some of the low end EQ out of the guitars, etc. to make room for the bass. Using this kind of method it's not too hard to "section off" frequency bands that the certain instruments take up, so the mixes usually come out a little nicer.

Hope that helps!

 

[hand in glove]

What kind of bass are you going for? A bass with a bit more tone where its got some more definition? Or something that drives the song along? I would agree with what pikingrin had to say with the EQ. It can have a massive affect when done correctly.

 

[ermghoti]

What are you using for monitors?