Missing Low End

[joedirt]

I'm working on a typical rock mix. 2 Guitars, bass, drums and vox. My kick is at 67hz and the bass is at 140hz. The problem is when I compare my mix to a commercial release, I'm missing a considerable amount of energy below 65hz. I've got a high pass filter set at 40hz on the kick to keep it from "farting".

My question is this, how can I make up the low end? with kick eq? With bass eq? Master buss eq? Or something else? Also, the level on the kick is allready up, almost too loud, any suggestions?

 

[crosstudio]

either your kick was recorded too thin, or your bass was recorded too high.

you can't put it there if you didn't record it there.

 

[jake-owa]

I really doubt that your kick is centered that low...that's damn low.

It's sort of wrong to say the kick is here and the bass is here, both instruments take up many more frequencies or they are not going to fill up a mix very well. They certainly can have a center where the energy is highest. The highpass at 40 hz should not be taking too much away from the mix as that is nearly inaudible. 40 is more in the feel it range rather than the hear it realm. 40 hz is the 3dB down spot so depending on the knee of the filter it may cut some energy up to 60 hz. What are you using for a filter?

I would suggest testing the mix on a few different systems before adding any bass. It may rattle the windows in a car even though a on a boombox it might seem a bit thin. Try cleaning up the low end a bit rather than adding to it. Sometimes cutting a bit of mid-lows will clear up some room for the low end to breathe in.

 

[malcolm123]

either your kick was recorded too thin, or your bass was recorded too high.

you can't put it there if you didn't record it there.

Agreed,

If it's not there it's just not there. If you cannot retrack it then a Multiband Comp might let you dial in a little to help it.

Malcolm