Need help with my bass EQ. Can anyone help?

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pod4477

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Ive been trying for weeks to get a good bass eq. I want a really low tone but still being able to hear the mids and the highs come through. The problem is the bass just isnt coming throught he mix at all and when listening to my mix witha sub in my ar it just has no balls. Any tips? or could possibly someone mix the bass if i gave them the tracks? How do i get the bass to rumble when listenin through a sub? Thanx guys!
 
how are you recording the bass?...what amp, bass, settings, mics, etc, etc.???

tracking bass to fit a song is hard sometimes, especially with a full mix going on. there are a few plugs out there that help to give a bass some balls (Waves MaxxBass comes to mind), but if it's not recorded right in the first place, there isn't a lot you can do to make it better IMO.
 
well using a spector bass 5 string. I use a Boss Br-1180 to go through and from that it goes intot he computer. Think im better off using an amp? My bassist left his at my house and its a nice one. I tried using max bass and it does help but it still doesnt seem right.
 
Timothy Lawlers suggestion to me some time ago holds up very well for definition - a boost at 3Khz. I've used this to rescue some definition when bass fights with bass drum , guitar or 'cello. Just how much you boost depends on need - experiment. The only way to make the bass clear at the bottom end is to remove the competition ie: EQ some of the desired frequencies you want to hear in the bass OUT of the bass drum & guitars etc (EQ carving) so that those frequencies are inhabited by, as much as possible, an uncontested bass.
 
thats a good idea. ill try that. I need to get to know EQ more. I use a basic EQ of low mids and highs but i havent used a real multiband one that much. Any tips of what kind to use?
 
Yeah definately do some carving on your guitars, 80hz hi-pass, and try reducing 150hz to see if that helps.

Also try this, copy the bass to another trk, cut around 200hz (hi-pass) boost 3k and 5k. (for clarity/definition)
Then boost the lows on the orignal trk, hi-pass at 20hz, boost 40-80hz and cut the highs, 6k (or so) lo-pass. (for rumble) Mix them together. (I usualy pan them 20% R/L). Won't work in all situations obviously, but what ya got to loose by tryin eh?

(Some bass plyrs do this live with two amps btw)
 
pod4477 said:
i sound dumb but whats hi pass

80hz hi-pass (or high-pass) would mean all frequecies above 80hz are allowed to pass through, in other words everything bellow 80hz is cut....

lo-pass (or low-pass) the opposite.

It kinda sounds backwards untill you have it explained, so don't worry....
 
sweet im kinda new to EQing. Im using cool edit pro whats the best filter/plug in to use?
 
You should have some EQs - parametric & graphic as well as hi & lo pass filter built in to the prog. Use the help menu, manual, search online for directions specific to that prog.
 
would high-cut and low-cut be the same thing as hipass and low pass?
 
pod4477 said:
would high-cut and low-cut be the same thing as hipass and low pass?
They're kinda the exact opposite.
 
I've heard great results with high-pass filter on 80 hZ on the kickdrum, a big 200 hz cut on the kickdrum and toms and a tiny little 200 hz boost on the bassguitar . Plus add some definition @ 3k-4k-5k-6k (one of these)
 
pod4477 said:
would high-cut and low-cut be the same thing as hipass and low pass?
Hi-Pass = Low Cut

Low-Pass = Hi Cut

You'll also hear Hi-Shelf and Low-Shelf. Hi-Shelf adjusts the frequencies above the cut-off frequency and Low-Shelf adjusts the frequencies below the cut-off frequency. The key word here is adjusts

Where as, Low-cut and Hi-Cut roll-off the frequencies at a rate (e.g. 6, 12, 18 db/octave)

The cut-off or corner frequency is the frequency at which the level has changed by 3 db.
 
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If you post a sample, maybe we can give you more than just standard suggestions...
 
ya il try and upload the mix. how should i post it. All as seprate tracks?
 
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