Bottom End Sensation on Commercial Mixes

[kelch]

When listening on cans, I've always noticed a certain low end pressure or sensation that I find very difficult to mimic on my recordings. It feels like a constant force on my ears. I can duplicate this sensation somewhat by adding a Low-Pass filtered short reverb. It doesn't seem that it's solely from the tracking but is created or added during mixing or mastering.

Any thoughts.

kelch-

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

do you mean really tight, punchy low end?

 

[kelch]

do you mean really tight, punchy low end?

No... this is a constant pressure sensation... I'm short on being able to describe it accurately. Most commercial CDs are tight and punchy, this is not that... although it does not get in the way of punchy.

thanks
kelch-

 

[~BURNY~]

Well maybe it's the bass guitar... No?

 

[kelch]

yeah, but it's more than that, guitars also. It feels like a post processing issue either during mix or most likely mastering.

 

[vile_ator]

It is more than that. I dont buy too many of these Papa Roach, POD style records but I know what youre saying. Ive heard it before. I need to hear it again but I have a feeling its a keyboard bass line under the other tracks.

Colin

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Maybe a Subharmonic Synthetizer is what you're talking about.

 

[evilmanny]

possibly something like this?

kosmos

 

[kelch]

It is more than that. I dont buy too many of these Papa Roach, POD style records but I know what youre saying. Ive heard it before. I need to hear it again but I have a feeling its a keyboard bass line under the other tracks.

Colin

I don't know about Papa Roach as I've never listened to that... but I'm referring to Nevermore, KSE and that type. It's there in all of the very heavy band productions that I've listened too.

kelch-

 

[~BURNY~]

So I guess Andy could give an aswer. Maybe it has someting to do with the famous c4 guitar setting. It bring a constant low level to the guitars...

 

[Ermz]

I think it's just really good bass compression. Listening to 'Believe In Nothing' at the moment and it strikes me that the bass guitar's actual 'bassiness' is maintained even when higher strings are being played. It certainly seems like that sort of bass consistency is achieved through some crafty compression

 

[kelch]

I think it's just really good bass compression. Listening to 'Believe In Nothing' at the moment and it strikes me that the bass guitar's actual 'bassiness' is maintained even when higher strings are being played. It certainly seems like that sort of bass consistency is achieved through some crafty compression

I've thought that too... I've experimented some trying to duplicate with compression with no success. But, adding a very LP filtered reverb does give a very similar response.

kelch-

 

[vile_ator]

No synths in those albums. Like Moonlapse said, just good mixing, choice of tones, playing, etc. Also lots of cutting and pasting of the best performances.

Colin

 

[A Toolish Circle]

I've thought that too... I've experimented some trying to duplicate with compression with no success. But, adding a very LP filtered reverb does give a very similar response.

kelch-

LP filtered reverb ???


explain PLEASE ???

where do u put this low pass filtered reverb ? what are u reverb settings and on what instruments do u apply them on ?

cheers

 

[dabhoys]

I like using the waves L1 on bass. Helps to keep it under control and constant in the mix. I set an o/p of about -16db with a release time of around 55. I usually look for around 15dB of gain reduction. All depends on the player and style.

I did a r n' b style track before with a session bass player and I didn't even need to use any compression. He was that good!!! It was beautiful That doesn't happen to often...

 

[kelch]

LP filtered reverb ???


explain PLEASE ???

where do u put this low pass filtered reverb ? what are u reverb settings and on what instruments do u apply them on ?

cheers

700ms Room Impulse (shortened to ~60ms) Low Pass Filtered @ 180Hz

I've tried it on the Mix Buss, Kick track, Kit Mix Buss, Bass gtr track and Gtr Mix Buss

Seems like it's from compression, but I've not been able to duplicate it with compression.

kelch-

 

[kelch]

I did a r n' b style track before with a session bass player and I didn't even need to use any compression. He was that good!!! It was beautiful That doesn't happen to often...

that's nice... Bass gtr skills are usually lacking with my clients.

 

[Kazrog]

possibly something like this?

kosmos

I tend to agree that it's most likely good engineering, good playing, and good bass gear, but the Kosmos is very interesting!

 

[A Toolish Circle]

700ms Room Impulse (shortened to ~60ms) Low Pass Filtered @ 180Hz

I've tried it on the Mix Buss, Kick track, Kit Mix Buss, Bass gtr track and Gtr Mix Buss

Seems like it's from compression, but I've not been able to duplicate it with compression.

kelch-

which one achieves the closest response ?

 

[NathanSoulfracture]

try using the C4 plug-in on the master bus but bypass the last 3 channels so you are only dealing with the low-end and compress it like mad then raise the gain so that the low-end is more present, that should get you close to what you are after.