Cleaning Up A Muddy Bass?

Share your favorite Ableton Live tips, tricks, and techniques.
Tenshi
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:30 am
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Re: Cleaning Up A Muddy Bass?

Post by Tenshi » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:54 am

I've notice with many softsynths the bass characteristics go out the window when you bring in high freq content (e.g. when the filter is more open)

That being the case if I make a bass sound, it is often the mid range part I make. Then I take the same preset, remove anything like detuning / chorus, anything thatll cause phasing, then tweak the filter so I just get the bass thunk. Maybe use resonance to add punch. Then record that and layer it in with the original. Maybe put a low cut on the midrange one.

I think, generally, any standard 'bass' part will have at least 2 layers. If its non-standard, like an overtly subbass or high range one, then obviously its different.

PS: What I have noticed, based on comments on soundcloud, is that what listeners call the bass is often no at all a bass part. I've even seen tutorials that make a fairly high acid synth preset and call it a bass. Think it had the word 'dub' in it which seems to mean anything and nothing...

Check1-2
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:59 am

Re: Cleaning Up A Muddy Bass?

Post by Check1-2 » Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:55 pm

I already posted a link, then responded to your original request by stating that I've posted a link... 8O

If you mean a version with it cleaned up I haven't done that, but I'd rather wait until I add the additional parts instead of just re-posting the short loop with the edited bass synth.

Theo Void
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Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:00 am
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Re: Cleaning Up A Muddy Bass?

Post by Theo Void » Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:01 pm

Cut EVERYTHING below 30 .

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