Who gets to sit lower in the mix?

[Get Down Moses]

So here's a question that hovers somewhere between technical and philosophical:

In a typical recorded live-band mix, who gets to lay claim to the lowest frequencies? The drummer with his kick drum, or the bassist with his twice-detuned low F# string?

I know kick drums usually have all of their low end boom around 80hz, and bass amp EQs seem to always have a low shelf at 40hz, but I doubt this indicates who should sit lower then whom.

There's no right answer to this, but I'm interested to hear everyone's take on it!

-Get Down Moses

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

In a typical recorded live-band mix, who gets to lay claim to the lowest frequencies?

If the band can actually play a proper arrangement, this is not much of an issue, because it's not necessarily an either/or situation; they shouldn't be stepping on each other anyway.

Also - I'll probably get some shit for this - if it's a live recording, I'm not so worried about pure, sharp definition of instruments on the low end as I am about the energy and flow of the mix. I'll give priority to whatever instrument is most important to the sound of that particular performance. If the other has to suffer somewhat for it, so be it.

YMMV.

G.

 

[mixsit]

Style' and the love affair for lead kick' aside and if that is not the pre done conclusion, the question can be how do you want to the low end to play?
On one end you have Phil Lesh owning a lyrical bottom down to low B with accent from kick. On the other extreme the 'bass' player could damn near stay home. Or anywhere in between.