Boomy bass

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rokket
  • Start date Start date
Rokket

Rokket

Trailing Behind Again
I've noticed that my bass tracks are getting boomy lately. Actually, they probably have been all along, I've just recently started to pick up on it.

Beyond expensive convertors, what can I do 1) while tracking and 2) during mixdown to overcome this? I listen to commercial CD's (and yes, I know it's apples and oranges) and even some of the mixes on here, and I notice that they managed to capture a good bass tone without the boominess.

What am I doing wrong?

You can pick almost any of the songs on this page for an example:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=270573
 
1. basstrap your room, and keep the monitors out of the corners(away from ANY wall is most preferable...but this is HR)

2. make sure your low end is eq'd properly

3. compress that shit
 
You use a 5-string, don't you? Getting the bass right is a constant struggle and probably moreso with the thicker strings and lower frequencies on the 5-string. I find myself often putting a high-pass filter on the bass somewhere in the 20-60Hz range, and sometimes also adding a shelf EQ to cut a few dB below about 120-150Hz. Try to have a little space for the kick drum and fundamental bass frequency (specific to the key of the song). I also high-pass the kick/drum bus, sometimes even higher (60-80Hz or so).

To me, "rumble" is all that stuff below 60Hz and "boomy" seems to live somewhere in the 80-150Hz range, so experiment with taming those frequencies first.
 
Thanks for the responses! I am going to work on it right now!
 
What's the recording chain look like?

What kind of strings, roundwound or flatwound? Condition?
 
ez_willis said:
What's the recording chain look like?

What kind of strings, roundwound or flatwound? Condition?
Click to expand...
Usually DI. I don't have decent amp or set of mics so I don't try to mic it.


ESP B-205 5-string --> Sansamp Bass Driver DI --> MR-8 or:

Bass --> Yamaha MG 10/2 --> MR-8


Depends on what I feel like when I walk into my tracking room.

The strings are roundwound D'Addario XL120's. They are about 6 months old. I wipe them down after I play religiously. I usually change them once a month, but I've been out to sea, so...
 
I think compression would help here a fair bit. I've had the same problem with DI'd electric bass and turning it down in the mix as well as adding the compression put it closer to a flat, underlying part than when it occasionally jumped out in front.
 
can't listen, no speakers here.


someone will tell me i'm wrong, and i may well be.
but try experimenting with some cuts between 130-250 and see what happens.

lot of bullshit can happen to bass in that range.
 
The bass tone is 80% the player and 50% the bass. :p

Get your bass properly setup by a guitar tech. It usually only costs around $50 and it will sound better and be easier to play then ever.
 
TexRoadkill said:
The bass tone is 80% the player and 50% the bass. :p

Get your bass properly setup by a guitar tech. It usually only costs around $50 and it will sound better and be easier to play then ever.
Click to expand...
I can't say much for your math, but your advice is usually spot on.... :rolleyes:
 
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