Hello, everytime I hear that humans cant hear frequencies bellow 20hz, but everytime I cut 20hz out from a track it sounds like the kick lacks it power... Why does this happens? is it about how mastering deals with the lack of information? I really dont understand why removing it seens to affect the mid of this loop

Here is it withouth 20hz cut:


Here is it with:


The 20hz cut is just before the master soft clipper

 

Last edited: Jan 12, 2021

20Hz is a sub bass frequency, it is felt rather than heard. Sometimes you want the kick to hit you square in the chest

 

Most filters are not as steep, so a highpass at 20hz might also affect the frequency range above 20hz to some degree. Not to mention phase shifting effects caused by hp filters, which will impact the transient / microdynamics of the kick. And please don't use linear phase EQ for highpassing!

 

Just to add to the above great replies, there's a chance that you introduce ringing in case you use an aggressive slope. I'd start with 12db/Oct at 0 hz and move up the hz slowly until I hear the effect of the kick feeling less powerful.

 

Thanks for the answers guys, but can phase shifting happen in individual frequencies if I do it on the master? Because everything is glue together on master so I wonder if they can still separate on the master

 

Well, apart from what others have said, a 20Hz filter will remove DC offset which can mess up your dynamic processors. Also you get less dynamic range if DC is not removed.

It might on recorded stuff remove some subsonic rumbles (mic/instrument handling noise etc.) which definitely affect compressors and limiters.

 

Simply put.. the original amplitude below 20Hz was strong enough for you to "feel" the reduction of pressure after you cut it. Sound is physical. For one to prove they can "hear" below 20Hz it means they would be capable of more than "feeling" the pressure of an isolated signal below 20Hz like we all can. Instead, they would be capable of identifying the "pitch" of notes played below that range.

 

this is very enlightening, thanks bro

 

It absolutely can - and because it's the master, it will affect every instrument and the effect of phase shifting will be more audible. You might be better off high-passing tracks in the mixing stage, so you can only affect the tracks that need it and adjust the filter individually (some will sound best with different frequency, slope and Q)

 

Arisu got it right. Hi-passing should be done on individual tracks in the mixing stage. Also, I rarely Hi-pass kick drum or bass guitar.

 

Man, what a nice thread. Well done guys. Way to start @Arisu

 

Because you also influence frequencies that are way above 20Hz. Apart from that, I don't know any mastering engineer who cuts at 20Hz unless it's absolutely necessary. If there is any cleanup down there at all, it's usually somewhere below 15Hz with a 36db slope.

 

ooh, maybe its about the native FL EQ, thanks my friend, this certainly helped a lot, I was thinkin that it was so strange a change so big like that

 

Get Fabfilter Q3, you won't need to look for another colourless style EQ again. Same for Fabfilter Multiband and L2.