Controlling the Low End in a mix is damn fing hard. How'd I do?

[ToneAddict]

So I've been messing around with just the low end for about 2 months now and this is what I've come up with.



I think it sounds okay but it pisses me off when I listen to my mix and then another and mine sounds so damn thin in the stereo field... or maybe it's just me. That's where you guys come in.

Thanks

 

[inertia]

try a mid/side eq to adjust the low end ...mid/side eq controls mono and stereo field instead of L+R.

Also, do you put a low cut filter on your guitars and vocals? This can help remove unwanted frequencies that build up in the mix.

 

[ToneAddict]

Interesting I've never heard of a mid/side eq. Also, I cut all the guitar low end to about 70hz. I cut pretty much everything except for the kick and the bass where I cut out to 20hz so there isnt any rogue frequencies.

 

[inertia]

Try adding more low end in you guitars....i think there's room. Just boost the EQ in that area. Another good tip is a multi band compressor.. i usually set up 3 bands using FabFilter Pro MB and adjust to taste. Often you squeeze the mids a bit and expand the low end. This is usually an effect I put on the master bus but you can also test it on bass and guitars, as an insert fx.

I think for hard rock music, then thinner guitars and making the low end with the kick and bass guitar is preferable. But for this kind of music you need more low end on your guitar sound to begin with. That being said...i like the sound you have actually. It would be awesome with some crushing vocals on there!

 

[Master Buss]

Listening now...

Cool track
I dig it
I can hear where you are wanting to go
I too deal with your frustration every day listening to my mixes against the pro mixes

Biggest tip for sounding like a pro is how much clarity is there in the mix
You know those ol motown records?
They would find the bass and kick relationship level wise and then lock down those levels
not changing em once but building each element around them - like a house

Here are some thoughts:

The bending leads need a place to sit in the mix
Seems like each instrument is competing for space
The rhythms seem to be performing the punch and smack and not the drums

How did you start putting the mix together?
Kick then snare, --> all other drums then bass, etc?
Do you have a plan going into the mix?
These 2 concepts above will take your mixes leap years towards competing with the pros