My bass is dark and muddy, how to repair him? (example inside)

panmarek · 9th November 2007

My bass is dark and muddy, how to repair him?
dark and muddy bass.mp3

Mark1353 · 10th November 2007

I'm not necessarily talking about this particular sound, but in general, this is how I would do it / start to do it.

Take off excessive compression if you have it (dont mean sidechain compression). One cut in 200-500 area to reduce muddyness. Dont over-eq. Double with brighter sound with no low end which has maybe some wideness going on.

crazycarl · 10th November 2007

I havent listened to your particular problem but whenever I run into a dark and muddy bass part I will usaully cut around 200-250 hz, than apply a harmonic exciter arterwards to get a nice crisp mid/high-end out of it.

Jazzpunk · 10th November 2007

Hmmm...didn't sound that dark and muddy here. My guess would be that you have competeing frequencies in the kik and bass line. Experiment with notching out some lows on either source and see how it grabs you.

Either that or try a different kik sample or bass sound.

**Reptil** · 10th November 2007

no not really dark or muddy.
some low freq content, maybe trim that a little, or gate it to make it a little more tight and fit with the bassdrum.

Beastie · 10th November 2007

EQ.....

also try filters and envelopes....

although i dont think its dark n muddy!

peace

panmarek · 10th November 2007

"gate it to make it a little more tight and fit with the bassdrum."
Gate bass? What? How?

**Reptil** · 10th November 2007

from what I can hear the lower freq. ranges are less compact than the higher frequencies of the same bassline. I'd suggest gating them with the higher frequencies in the key/sidechain input. a suggested lowcut might work too, but renders diffent result. Maybe a combination? You'll need a good monitoring environment (and monitors) anyway. but.. who doesn't?

sexxy · 12th November 2007

sounds OK to me thumbsup

but if you insist...

the kick is a bit up-front,
becouse has too much arround 125Hz/160Hz or so..

but the bass its OK to me

the kick is what sounds muddy

the low-bass its hidding behind the kick

also... to me sounds too FLAT.... or 2D...
i would add compressor pumping at the whole thing
or just to the bass and claps
and test A/B
that loud kick should work ok for pumping
or more reverb and delays to the clap, bass and kick,
to glue them some how...

9th November 2007	#1
panmarek Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 69 Thread Starter	My bass is dark and muddy, how to repair him? (example inside) My bass is dark and muddy, how to repair him? dark and muddy bass.mp3

10th November 2007	#6
Beastie Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 1,467	simple EQ..... also try filters and envelopes.... although i dont think its dark n muddy! peace __________________ Beastie "No matter how fast you are on your computer - one can only listen in realtime..."

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10th November 2007	#2
Mark1353 Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 351	I'm not necessarily talking about this particular sound, but in general, this is how I would do it / start to do it. Take off excessive compression if you have it (dont mean sidechain compression). One cut in 200-500 area to reduce muddyness. Dont over-eq. Double with brighter sound with no low end which has maybe some wideness going on.

10th November 2007	#3
crazycarl Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 148	I havent listened to your particular problem but whenever I run into a dark and muddy bass part I will usaully cut around 200-250 hz, than apply a harmonic exciter arterwards to get a nice crisp mid/high-end out of it.

10th November 2007	#4
Jazzpunk Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,781	Hmmm...didn't sound that dark and muddy here. My guess would be that you have competeing frequencies in the kik and bass line. Experiment with notching out some lows on either source and see how it grabs you. Either that or try a different kik sample or bass sound.

10th November 2007	#8
Reptil Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: in a low orbit Posts: 18,387 1 Review written	from what I can hear the lower freq. ranges are less compact than the higher frequencies of the same bassline. I'd suggest gating them with the higher frequencies in the key/sidechain input. a suggested lowcut might work too, but renders diffent result. Maybe a combination? You'll need a good monitoring environment (and monitors) anyway. but.. who doesn't?

12th November 2007	#9
sexxy Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 302	sounds OK to me thumbsup but if you insist... the kick is a bit up-front, becouse has too much arround 125Hz/160Hz or so.. but the bass its OK to me the kick is what sounds muddy the low-bass its hidding behind the kick also... to me sounds too FLAT.... or 2D... i would add compressor pumping at the whole thing or just to the bass and claps and test A/B that loud kick should work ok for pumping or more reverb and delays to the clap, bass and kick, to glue them some how...