How to Generate Lower Frequency Harmonics in a Sound?

Discussion in 'Working with Sound' started by AbsoluteMadLad, May 5, 2021.

  1. AbsoluteMadLad

    AbsoluteMadLad Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2020
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    35
    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?
     
  2.  
  3. rEmaker

    rEmaker Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2020
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    26
    saturation work both ways

    I use saturn 2 and this works

    over drive too just focused on the area you want
     
  4. arbuckle

    arbuckle Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2013
    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    34
    Lowender generates some filthy bass subharmonics
     
  5. Stevie Dude

    Stevie Dude Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2020
    Messages:
    2,178
    Likes Received:
    1,906
    Location:
    Near Nyquist
    Waves R-bass
     
  6. clone

    clone Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2021
    Messages:
    5,946
    Likes Received:
    2,525
    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/
     
  7. arbuckle

    arbuckle Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2013
    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    34
    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
     
  8. Skaunker

    Skaunker Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2015
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    40
    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 :wink:
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2021
  9. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2017
    Messages:
    8,912
    Likes Received:
    6,110
    Location:
    Europe
    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).
     
  10. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2017
    Messages:
    8,912
    Likes Received:
    6,110
    Location:
    Europe
    Good hint, Waves Torque is also capable of creating sub harmonics.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  11. pratyahara

    pratyahara Rock Star

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2020
    Messages:
    890
    Likes Received:
    437
    Location:
    Србија
    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.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  12. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3,828
    Likes Received:
    2,657
    Location:
    Sweden
    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.
     
  13. joem

    joem Producer

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2011
    Messages:
    441
    Likes Received:
    127
    get that new plugin with the big anime tits
     
  14. 5teezo

    5teezo Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    2,063
    Likes Received:
    1,172
    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.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  15. ZUK

    ZUK Rock Star

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2011
    Messages:
    543
    Likes Received:
    330
    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!
     
  16. lxfsn

    lxfsn Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2021
    Messages:
    336
    Likes Received:
    246
    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
     
  17. Kwissbeats

    Kwissbeats Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2014
    Messages:
    1,559
    Likes Received:
    652
    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. :bow:
     
  18. DKB

    DKB Producer

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2015
    Messages:
    233
    Likes Received:
    125
    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 .
     
  19. adsaxxx

    adsaxxx Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2021
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    20
    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.
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
Loading...
Loading...