Saturation/distortion generates higher frequency harmonics. But is it possible to generate the harmonics toward the left side in the frequency spectrum??

It is a rare scenario but let's say we have a kick sample that have been highpassed with a steep slope that it's lacking frequencies below 80~ hz and we want the low end to "thump". EQ doesn't help because we can't boost non-existent frequency information. Would it be possible to somehow generate lower frequency harmonics for this kick?

 

saturation work both ways

I use saturn 2 and this works

over drive too just focused on the area you want

 

Lowender generates some filthy bass subharmonics

 

Waves R-bass

 

I find myself in that situation somewhat frequently when working with old breakbeats. so it will be interesting to see some ideas. for me, I usually just opt for layering another sample underneath,with the frequency content I'd like the drum in question to contain; to begin shaping. Maybe it is just because I payed for it, but I use UVI Drum Replacer often; and this would be one of the situations where I most likely would use it to either replace the original kick or layer more samples onto just the kick.

Here is a decent post about target guidelines for ballpark drum frequency content : https://jamaddict.com/the-ultimate-drums-eq-chart/

 

I've not used Rbass myself but according to this it doesn't actually generate true subharmonics, more like it generates higher harmonics of particular bass frequencies which psychoacoustically tricks your brain into hearing fat bass when listening on phone speakers or the like.
https://www.refusesoftware.com/faq/11

 

Dbx solved your problem of lacking correlated "sub harmonics" years ago with a rack unit, the dbx120. Since it had children (dbx120A notably, dbx120X ect...)

Those children had plugin bastards, working on the same principle, but with more or less additions :

as @arbuckle said, Lowrender by Refuse produces harmonics with two generators based on the same two fixed frequency generators, with a very similar level of functionality.

There is also the other German bastard, the brainworx's bx_subsynth. This is the one I use mostly when I'm need more sub content. Briefly, same functions layer as hardware, but with a few knobs more for controlling character / dynamic response.

Finally there's Waves LoAir that I know. It takes the concept of generating sub frequency content based on input signal but with a different approach and gui, more plugin alike. Quite flexible as far as I know !

edit : Yeah, Rbass, stripped down version of MaxxBass, is a harmonics generator, so yeah it gives the sensation of more bass thanks to applied psycho-acoustics, but still generates harmonics "to the right" and does not generate low end content where it's lacking and needed

 

Last edited: May 5, 2021

Nope, that's not correct. Try yourself. Generate a 100Hz sine, add RBass, set it to any value below 100Hz and watch with an analyzer. No lower harmonics generated.

bx_subsynth, OTOH, adds the lower octave (plus some harmonics above).

 

Good hint, Waves Torque is also capable of creating sub harmonics.

 

Far better than all of the above mentioned is Leapwing RootOne.
Not only that it can render subharmonics down to 16Hz (tested in Plugin Doctor), it also has two independent sub-bandwidths and measures just beautifully on THD, IMD, Total Distortion (Klirr Faktor), IR, dynamics (attack/release) etc. tests.

 

Just use distortion/saturation/overdrive and lowpass filter (in that order). It works both ways (upper and lower harmonics added). With lowpass you cut the upper ones. Rbass is basically a parallel saturator and bandpass iirc.

 

get that new plugin with the big anime tits

 

Just add another layer of whatever instrument it is and play it an Octave Lower. it's that easy.

BTW, when it comes to kickdrums it's not a rare scenario but on the contrary a common one to use a combination of layerered kick drums with different frequency contents. Hip-Hop Producers been doing it for 40 years now. They have to be matched in tuning, though. The highpassed is for the tone, color, vibe and the lowpassed one is for the subbass to provide weight and impact. You have to manage the crossover points for both filters to blend both spectrums together nicely and glue both together with a compressor.

Completely underrated for Kickdrums: Sasquatch Kick Machine. I prefer version one over v2. V2 is not as effective, imo.

 

Others:

Voxengo - LF.Max.Punch
BBE - Mach 3 Bass
Denise SubGenerator
Denise BassXL
Metril Halo - MH Thump2

Dom Sigalas - 10 Plugins for Giant Low End!

 

you synthesize or layer a bottom. A subharmonic generator will generate something one and/or two octaves lower. Is good for instruments playing notes but for a kick will generate a rumble mush. Use the right tool for the job

 

Ok so we got a decent amount of variants,
Now he can try them al. And then instead of using that,
layer a lower sample below the kick.

 

Unfiltered audio bass mint is another good for getting lower frequency bass ,that rumble sound . I use it a lot to add undertones to Reece bass to give more low end quickly and easily .

 

Are y'all not gonna talk about Waves - Submarine ? Possibly the cleanest and the most natural sounding sub frequency generator out there. Denise - SubGenerator being a close second.