Bass getting lost on low bass stereo systems.

[ncoak]

add distortion or use a harmonic generator like rbass/maxxbass

[raffael77]

Originally Posted by maxxpower

Fairly newbie producer here. I'm a big fan of using a sub bass for my bass melodies. I finished up about four beats and I've been playing them on different stereo systems to see how it holds up. I played them on crappier systems with almost no bass and the bass pretty much disappears, which is definitely not something I want happening.

My plan is to boost the higher frequencies on the bass melodies using EQ and maybe cutting at 30Hz with a low pass filter. Since I'm still new at this, I'm not entirely sure on what frequency I should apply the boost.

So to summarize, my beats are heavily bass melody driven, so it is essential that the bass melody is clearly audible on any stereo system, no matter how crappy it is. Since I almost always use a sub bass for my melodies it's a bit tricky since it occupies a very low frequency on the spectrum. Around what frequency(ies) should I apply the boost for a better listening experience?

I think you're using to much low freq. 35hz is a limit for most people to hear. Do you have a kick and bassline as well. When it's yes you should phase check those sounds. You can find low kick sounds on 63hz, bass on 125hz. These freq are basic for this type, what you do is checking out if they are on the same lvl because bass has a wide range an can overlay the kick and vise versa. Sweep around with with hi-pass and low pass or maybe you got Hi-Low option as well to take them away from each other.

[chris carter]

Chris 'Von Pimpenstein' Carter: How to mix a hit record - Part 1 of 3 - YouTube

Go to 29:10 of this video.

[bdenton]

You answered your own question in your first post...

Don't use the sub when you're mixing...

[DaKid]

Originally Posted by bdenton

You answered your own question in your first post...

Don't use the sub when you're mixing...

.....he didn't mention using a sub.....
Are you getting sub bass and a subwoofer confused?

[Stackx]

Sub bass is mostly felt then heard. It will not be noticeable on small speakers but if you play it anywhere with subs it will rumble. Make sure you are mixing with a sub if your going to have bass that low because if you don't get it right it will sound like shit when played on a sub. Maxxbass and rbass is a great tool to use. Or you could find the frequencies you want to boost to make it poke out the small speakers.

[CJ Mastering]

Also, when mixing, you should be in a tuned enviroment and you should have mor ethna one set of studio monitors for reference.

Using a sub when mixing, is great, if the sub is set up correctly and if your room is tuned, and if your ears are tuned to your room.

Knowing what you hear is actually what other people will hear on their systems is a must when getting their mixes to translate well on other sound systems.

Cj

[Toth]

Originally Posted by maxxpower

Fairly newbie producer here. I'm a big fan of using a sub bass for my bass melodies. I finished up about four beats and I've been playing them on different stereo systems to see how it holds up. I played them on crappier systems with almost no bass and the bass pretty much disappears, which is definitely not something I want happening.

My plan is to boost the higher frequencies on the bass melodies using EQ and maybe cutting at 30Hz with a low pass filter. Since I'm still new at this, I'm not entirely sure on what frequency I should apply the boost.

So to summarize, my beats are heavily bass melody driven, so it is essential that the bass melody is clearly audible on any stereo system, no matter how crappy it is. Since I almost always use a sub bass for my melodies it's a bit tricky since it occupies a very low frequency on the spectrum. Around what frequency(ies) should I apply the boost for a better listening experience?

What frequencies you boost or cut depends entirely on the track. Because we can't hear it we can't give you advice on that particular issue.

Some generalities:

1) The number one thing you can do to get the bass to be heard on systems that don't have a lot of bass is to design your bass sound right. If you don't have higher frequency information in your bass sound, boosting any of the high frequencies will not get you anywhere. Design your bass sound so that it has a lot of higher frequency in it in addition to the low frequencies. Most of the time I do this by layering two sounds together, one that has nice mids and cuts through the mix, and then I layer a sub-bass on top of this.

2) You can use distortion, as mentioned above, to excite the higher frequencies. I most often like to use parallel distortion. This means that you double the bass track and only distort the 2nd one while leaving the first one alone. You can just copy and paste the bass track or send it to a buss on which you insert the distortion. I prefer method #1.

If your bass is melody driven, it is essential that it comes through even on the crappiest of computer speakers, phones, ipods, etc.

[3rd Degree]

People have said a lot of good things. When listening to your mix, check out some others. Some that you think have crazy low end don't really extend that low, they bump on regular speakers but not in the sub range. If you pay attention to what has been said, you can figure out why.



I do something really simple to get presence both in the sub range and in the "normal speaker/headphone" range. That is simple duplicating my bassline an octave apart. One that fits in the "normal speaker" range that is the "main" bassline. Then I copy it, transpose it down, and start bring it up until it blends.

Rbass works well too. It's not totally dissimilar to what I do, but it doesn't do it the same. Instead of actually adding a melody higher up, it is adding harmonics. I am sure I am not explaining Rbass perfectly but it works all the same.

[ksandvik]

Use a tone generator like the one in Logic and listen to 35Hz in case your speakers support it, or then using good headphones. You will hear, or rather feel the difference compared to higher frequencies.

To get a bass line heard across multiple sound reproduction systems such as crappy computer speakers, you need to elevate overtones and various frequencies.

[sdrr00]

just mix on laptop speakers, if you know sound then itll sound great on every speaker

[Colin McCabe]

I use parallel processing on my bass and use rbass. Usually works.