(Sub) Bass question

vhite · Post by **vhite** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:51 pm

Hi Everybody,

I'm working on a techno track. I have created a deep and groovy bassline with the "double sine" Simpler preset and the bass is playin on D0 and when I look at it with Spektrum it shows the peak at 50to80Hz.

When I listen to it on my Subwoofer everything sounds great. But when I turn of the Sub and listen to it only with my Event Tr5 Monitors (5 inch Bass Speaker) the Bassline disappears almost fully. I have to turn the bass very loud to hear it.

Than, when I switch back to the sub, the bassline ist much too loud again.

When I listen to it on small partable speakers, the bass isn't audible any more at all.

My Question is: Is there a way to get the bass under control, that I can hear it on smaller speakers, too? Or is it just impossible because the bass is totally playin in the sub bass range?

Do I have to make the bass play on a higher note ( like D1)? (I tried it, but then I loose my lovely deep bass)

Or is there a way to layer the bass, like one bass playin the sub and one bass is playin higher for the smaller speakers? (I also tried that but without a good result.)

If anyone have experience with this problem or a solution, please share.

Thanks

vhite

dizz1 · Post by **dizz1** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:12 pm

Yeah bro,
layer the bass with another sound an octave up and low pass filter to to cut away the tops.
Or you could add some harmonic distortion on a bus to the original bass and filter that too.
Hope this helps
D

DJMillsy · Post by **DJMillsy** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:37 am

Dizz hit the nail on the head with this one

One thing to watch though is your kick drum, try not to drown it out of the mix, with careful EQ you should be able to roll enough off of your new high bass line for it to sit nicely. You may want to bus both of the bass sounds together and slap a compressor over them with a gentle setting to glue the sounds together a little. And then possibley another compressor after this for some side chain action.

vhite · Post by **vhite** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:37 pm

Hi, thanks,

I will try your suggestions. One problem i have with the layering with another sound is that i have a pitch envelope on the deep bass that makes the groove.
When I try to layer another sound on it is almost impossible to recreate the same pitch envelope on the new sound.
The only thing i can do is to double the original sine bass one oct. up, but that sounds shit...

manwell · Post by **manwell** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:31 pm

I have had this problem using simpler for deep pitch bent basses before and the best way I have found to get round it is to layer more waves to get some higher frequencies present. Try putting the simpler in a rack and duplicating it to a new chain, this keeps the envelope settings the same, then choose a different wave. I would use a sine 1 octave above the original and lower the chain volume quite alot, also to add some harmonics I would duplicate another simpler and use a square wave but again lower the chain volume. If you play around with the octaves of the simplers by using the pitch midi plugin and mixing them in very low you should be able to achieve a bass that doesn't disappear on headphones but is still deep.

Hope this helps.

Superchibisan · Post by **Superchibisan** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:04 am

the problem is is that the speakers you're playing it on (without the subwoofer) are not able to reproduce that frequency efficiently. adding harmonic distortion and layering a higher octave version of the bassline is a great idea.

its perfectly ok if the bassline doesn't show up on shitty speakers... you're designing the track for club use... which DEFO can reproduce those freqs.

alsostarring · Post by **alsostarring** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:01 am

you say you use automation envelopes you want to recreate in the other layered sound:
do you mean clip envelopes or track automation ones? no matter.
alt+command+c to copy selected emvelope, paste it in other's track parameter, and it's done!
i'm mac user. i supposse in win it'll be alt+control+c.
if you open a mac book you'll see the little tweeters at both sides and a mini little subwoofer, that tries to reproduce basses. this will be uncapabe to play lowfreq sounds (it's half an inch)
so i've a question for u...
where do you want to play this?
car/club/party (with good sound)/ good hi-fi equipment
or
cassette, computer speakers mp3 player, little mini-pseudo hi-fi systems ...
it's not the same making music for a videogame soundtrack than playing in a big club
try some mixes and some mastering settings in some situations/systems. (car, computer, hifi set and ipod)
so you'll get the tune.
if you're going to a big club, trust your subwoofer and club's crew too.
hoping to be helpfool!

(Sub) Bass question

(Sub) Bass question

Re: (Sub) Bass question

Re: (Sub) Bass question

Re: (Sub) Bass question

Re: (Sub) Bass question

Re: (Sub) Bass question

Re: (Sub) Bass question