Why is my bass not "clear" or "rough" enough?

Discussion in 'how to make "that" sound' started by lost_soul, Oct 16, 2017.

  1. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

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    Use a waveform with overtones (FM, saw, square, etc), not just a sine wave (with one fundamental pitch). Then add a lowpass filter that is keytracked to the note/pitch. Adjust it to taste. Attenuate the low end on the bass with low shelving filter, to make the low mids, mids and high midsto punch through. This is what we hear as "clear bass" (harmonics), while the low end (fundamental) is what we feel, usually.

    Filter out (or attenuate) the lows in the kick, or adjust the amplitude release/tail length of the kick, to make room for the bass.
    If needed,combine with SC compression so that the bass ducks on the kick.

    Also write a bassline an octave up, if needed. Now you are too low.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
  2. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    There's a severe difference between just making music like jamming around, no matter what style, and producing a track.

    As I already said in another thread, success is the result of 1% inspiration and 99% transpiration.
    Convincing eqing, compressing and fxing is what differs pros from amateurs and beginners.
    It will take years to become really good at it but that's no reason to give up but to enjoy the journey because you'e getting better if you stick to it.
     
  3. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

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    *Perspiration.
    True.
     
  4. jynx

    jynx Platinum Record

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    Are you absolutley sure that you havnt done somethn like "Recorded the bass and cut out ,say some of the side or stereo signal too much"

    In accordance wth the very "Opposite" settings in your master...

    Not disimilar too writin a tune in stereo,Takin it too a club and only hearing the mono elements?

    Just coz for me it almost sounds that way.....?
     
  5. jynx

    jynx Platinum Record

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    That reference trk,s usin side chain comp to duck the elements outta the way for starters...
    So youd have to mimic that ..
    Certainly with the housey stuff,Id always chain off my kick n snare against my bass n other elements..
    But i cant hear anythn like that goin on......"Did you not use any"?
    I
     
  6. Free Agent

    Free Agent Platinum Record

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    i had such as problem in the near past even i could produce well al track but bass always was problem..

    Then i understood that problem was because of sound, vst, sample chosing ext.

    Choosing right sound is really so important for mixing process and of course some mixing skills.

    Sidechain should be insert must on ur bass channel for give some room to kick.

    Mostly in electronic music

    Kick is chairman of board in your track and bass is CEO .

    So Kick should have enough room not to press and stress CEO :)

    Basic tip : if you cut your bass around 20 30 hz so try to gain this frequency lost on body part .
    Basic Tip : Always change octave of ur bass sound to meet best one

    For example as i'm mixing engineer, i never accept bad recorded vocals because i cant waste my time to fixing bad sound.. Mixing is about making good sound to better and better sound with skill.

    I hope at least this will give you some minds to choose right sound. Just always try till you get ur signature bass sound , patch, one shot or whatever u choose format.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
  7. Plendix

    Plendix Platinum Record

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    The basedrum has a nice click that expands it's frequency range. You could look for another sample or look for guides that teach you how to make you basedrum click. Ususally it's done using compression with a fast attack (and brickwall limiting after that to get levels back). After that use your eq wisely. give that click even more top end, get rid of boomy frequencies, don't add too much subbass, even try cutting below 50Hz.
    You might have any kind of analyzer, i guess. Now have a look at the frequency range of your bassdrum. Get rid of those frequencies in your bassline, sidechain compress that baseline from the bassdrum or do it oldschool: Bassline gets out of the way by arranging / composing.
    That's not meant as a guide, just some ideas that show some possibilities.
     
  8. lost_soul

    lost_soul Member

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    Hey guys, many thanks again for all the answers. I now realize electronic music production is not just about coming up with melodies, but it's also and mostly about mixing, and creating a harmony between sounds, to come up with one single sound.
    I will stop asking questions for now, it's time for me to work and grind a bit more, and speak/debate a lot less!
     
  9. ampworks

    ampworks Producer

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    Bass is actually the hardest thing to get right. the kick must not clash with the bass, Kick should be dominating around 60hz(sub) and 110hz(meat), make sure bass is cut in these areas. Bass can be 80hz and below but use some 600-700hz also to bring out the low mid. If it wont stand out send it to a distortion (subtly). Once you have this learn about sidechain kick n bass. Another tip is have the bass doubled 1 octive up and blended in to taste.
     
  10. oldskoolproductions

    oldskoolproductions Producer

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    I create a specific Aux Track (Group Track, Track Stack, Bus Group) that only contains the Kick and Bass.
    This way I can focus on making those sound sound perfect together.
    I use combinations of Mid-side EQ, Glue Compression, Side-chain compression, Parallel Compression and Saturation on the Aux Track

    On the Bass and Kick (individual tracks), I also will always use a Envelope Shaper (Transient Shaper).
    This is to shape the individual sounds to work together when they are summed to the Aux Track.

    Once the Bass and Kick have been figured out the rest of the mix shouldn't take to long.

    Hope this helps.
     
  11. Von_Steyr

    Von_Steyr Guest

    Brother, thank you for mentioning mongoose, brilliant! :mates:
     
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