Punchy Bass

[grinder]

I'm having trouble with the bass guitar on a mix being overly punchy. I've tried eqing out around 80hz, which helps to a point. When I bring the bass down in the mix my low end totally disappears. I think that the problem might be that the bass guitar part was played too stuccatoly ( is that a word), with the kick, being that it is a slowish country song. The bass part, which gets busier on the choruses, works fine. It is to late to retrack, any thoughs on trying to smooth out the kick/bass on the verses?

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Grinder:

Just an idea for you to consider. Since I run my bass line from my synth, I might be off base [bass?] but:

Try running your bass directly into a compressor and then into the recorder -- set your values -- record.

Don't know if this will work for you but you will be able to kick the bass without it clipping via the compressor.

Green Hornet

 

[Garry Sharp]

Too staccato a bass is often a symptom of the player playing too hard. Playing more gently but with more amplification / volume gives just as much attack but a much smoother, sustained note. As it's too late to retrack, one thought might be to apply compression with as fast an attack time as you can, with the intention of taming the initial punch but allowing you to bring the level up in the mix and getting the bass notes to sound for longer.

An unusual way to compress bass but it might help.

 

[grinder]

Yo Grinder:

Just an idea for you to consider. Since I run my bass line from my synth, I might be off base [bass?] but:

Try running your bass directly into a compressor and then into the recorder -- set your values -- record.

Don't know if this will work for you but you will be able to kick the bass without it clipping via the compressor.

Green Hornet

The part was tracked with some compression. Clipping isn't the problem, the part is too punchy for the song. Retracking would be the best solution, but I really want to avoid doing so, since the bassist is out of town and I don't have access to his equiptment, or I would play the part myself. Would compression with a fast attack and slow release help smooth out the transient and help the part flow better?

 

[grinder]

Too staccato a bass is often a symptom of the player playing too hard. Playing more gently but with more amplification / volume gives just as much attack but a much smoother, sustained note. As it's too late to retrack, one thought might be to apply compression with as fast an attack time as you can, with the intention of taming the initial punch but allowing you to bring the level up in the mix and getting the bass notes to sound for longer.

An unusual way to compress bass but it might help.

I agree, it's worth a shot. Thanks, Grinder

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Grinder:

If I were doing on my RNC, I'd keep all of the dials straight up @ 12 o'clock -- I'd adjust the gain dial, last one on the right -- make other settings in eq and record.

I'm probably dealing with something out of my ken but the thinking part is fun.

Good luck.

Green Hornet

 

[Morningloryseed]

As suggested a compressor or limiter. Even if you already compressed it once, if you can't retrack it then do it again.

I ran a bass that I just could not get to sound right through my tube limiter and the results were phenonomonal.

Check out what I mean.

OLD MIX

New Mix

Obviously the "fixed" bass is on the new mix.