Bass Mixing Tips

[knerd]

So, when mixing bass, no matter how I track it, it seems to sound a bit "boring" ...

Do any of you have any tricks you want to share? I think the biggest problem I have is that the lowend is just OUT OF CONTROL, certain frequencies in the mids, and the highs just sound a bit cheesey.

I work with great bass players, great equipment, in a great room.

Don't get me wrong, the end product sounds "fine" and "good" .. but I always get the rest of my tracks sounding "amazing" ... I'm just looking to step it up!

[Will]

what sort of music do you usually record?

I tend to compress quite a bit. Distortion can help too, just be careful that the sub isn't over too powering and is complementing the bass drum tone.

[knerd]

Originally Posted by Will

what sort of music do you usually record?

I tend to compress quite a bit. Distortion can help too, just be careful that the sub isn't over too powering and is complementing the bass drum tone.

I tend to record stuff that sounds like sonic youth, pavement, modest mouse....


the bass players are usually playing with a pick.

I usually use an RE20 through a Chandler LTD-1 or a Trident Vector 432. If I compress, I compress with an 1176.

I do a direct track as well [when possible] ...

[George Necola]

sidechaincompression might be your friend. you will have a musical BUMP in your sound.

cheers

[Will]

I have always found it quite difficult to get good bass sounds from players rigs, they have to be really good to get a good sound in my experience.

I'd say you weren't doing anything wrong from what you say, I'd go for something like an RE20, or maybe large Neumann or something, 421's can be good to. The 1176 is always a winner, but with picking the 160 vu would be a winner too.

If you have the chance try out an old Ampeg like an old B15 in stead of the players rig. Used them a few times in the past and they sound wicked, really nice and punchy but still nice and bottomy.

To point out the obvious, make sure they are playing with newish strings. I have worked with bass players that haven't changed their strings in years...

[DontLetMeDrown]

New strings are certainly a must. It helps to have a dedicated bass (& guitar) rig at the studio since most players are using what they can afford instead of what sounds best. I always reamp bass so I can run it thru my Ampeg SVT-CL if necessary. Either way, you still have to deal with making it sit right in the mix which, imo is one of our most difficult tasks.

[joeq]

set up your mix as best as you can and then reamp your bass by sending the DI track to an amp in a different room. Experiment with different amps, mics and comps to see what combinations sit best in the mix you have up now. In other words, treat the reamping of the bass as an "effect" you are applying at mixdown.

Always take good notes on these experiments - and not only for the successes.

something that is not quite right for one tune might be perfect for another.

[Will]

just thinking about it further and a sansamp is definatly a secret weapon (plug in is ok but a real box is better). They work like a di box so that you can split the signal and record the rig too. Another great sounding di is the evil twin valve di, would have one myself if I could afford it.

Something that friends do alot (and I am starting to do more) is layered bass tracks, so a di and amp like you are doing, but also a really overdriven track (through something like the sansamp) and a really compressed track and then blend them during the mix.

As said new strings are a good idea. Rotosound are good as they loose the really toppy hi end quickly so you don't get too much of a twang, nicer IMO for picked bass.

[rodhmos]

My very very humble suggestion:

If for any reason you choose to master the album/song/... yourself, consider avoiding any of the so called "widening" processes that include m/s and phase. Most of the times I listen to an album that was mastered diy with m/s and phase tricks, the bass sounds weak and unfocused. Do you want a wider mix? Go fix this inside the mix, use your imagination use the pan knobs. Listen to some old reggae albums - no phase tricks at all and the bass is huge.

Oh, and I really appreciate it when a bass player comes to a session with a bass with Thomastik flatwound strings. :-)

[Bang]

Here is what I do for bass. EQ some top and bottom and then compress it hard till its slammin. If its boring still, reamp it through something exciting.

sample:

http://www.yellowmatterrecords.com/s...heMasterMS.mp3