Basement for Kicks and Drums and Bass

[Markus J. Höermann]

Hello guys,

I wanna process a basement for some tracks at all. I did some tracks already in the past. But something is missing (more brilliance, more pressure, more height/treble and loudness. When I compare ready tracks at my tracks.

I know there should be a way to lift up the soundstructure in Ableton with compressors, EQ´s, Multiband and other tools and so on... But I do not find a way how to use. I use it, but I am not sure if it is right. It sounds, but I think not good enough. I have given a track away for mastering, but it was not much better before (I forgot to give him a headroom for adjustments...).

Should I

-positioning in every kick, bass, drum track a compressor + EQ and others?
or should I use just the return tracks for it?

-adjust the master level always on the zero point or lower?

-adjust every single track also on zere point or lower?

-avoid that master levels show the red lighting (mostly a bit over it)?

and so on... I am looking forward to some answers...

musical greetings,
Markus

[dancing Ray]

Avoid the master showing red.

Other than that I have no general tips, except for:

think of Live (producing music) as a musical instrument (like guitar or violin, etc.). It takes lots of time and practise to be able to play stuff how you imagine it.
Have a read and try things out, maybe look for a teacher and take some lessons.

Good luck.

[simpli.cissimus]

-positioning in every kick, bass, drum track a compressor + EQ and others?
or should I use just the return tracks for it?

yes you can but you don't have to compress everything.
I use on all sounds EQ's as a filter for the lows on hihats as example.
They don't need the lows and might occupies some power if they are present at the lows.

-adjust the master level always on the zero point or lower?

No, go for -12 db meter movement...! When you add more sounds they all
together will add each more and more to the master.
Take a look at the master and make it not more then -3 to -6 db peaking,
and lower down all track to achieve that.
The mastering makes the final music loud, not at this stage...!!!

-adjust every single track also on zere point or lower?

as I told -12db at start maybe -18 db if you add more sounds.
They all together add more and more db's to the master.
There you look for the overall db and keep it low.

-avoid that master levels show the red lighting (mostly a bit over it)?

If you do as I told, ... you never have this problem again...

[Markus J. Höermann]

Hello guys,

thanks for some answers... its it helpfully a lot... thank you...

I keep going on....mmmhh
Markus

[Dr. Fluffenstein]

Also if your left and right channel signals are out of phase you can get 'perceived' phase cancellation, which can take away from the clarity and make your mix sound muddy. This might contribute to lack of brilliance and pressure.

EDIT: Here's a nice article on it with some audio examples http://www.audiocourses.com/article1664.html