The Art Of BASS Guitar EQ

[ApolloSpeed]

Guys, I need help on EQin' the bass guitar. I just don't 100% like how it sits in my mixes.

Right now I use Rcomp 5:1.......and then a slight touch of Rbass set @ 80hz. And then I use my track EQ set on a low shelf @ 150hz adding about +2 db.

I want my bass to feel more "phat" without actually being louder. Know what I mean ?? Should I aux buss the bass to a second compressor or something ??

Any ideas?

 

[doc_backmask]

Try adding a slight boost to the low-mids around 1k or so, also you might want to pull some of the 60Hz out so the kick has some room. Hope that helps, it seemed to work for us.

 

[KeithRT99]

compressor : opto-long release.
cut a notch for the kick around 80-100hz. (i would change rbass to like 60hz or lower)
depending on the sound im going for, i either boost or cut 700-2khz to taste.

 

[TheDude]

Exaggerate everything, and try to remove bad frequencies before you add good ones. Put a brickwall limiter on it and squash it, then add/subtract at least 10db on the eq until you make it sound like a monster

 

[sparkyness]

Sometimes cutting the kick and boosting the bass at 160k helps. I like a subtle boost at around 110-120k as that's the frequency where you'll hear it on small speakers.

Doc's suggest of 1k works for getting some of the string/pick attack in there as is a nice option. Also rolling off the ultra highs/lows won't hurt either as they're only adding mud or noise anyway.

Using small PC speakers (any old Creative or other crap should do the trick)to find a slot for bass can help. If you can make it sit in the mix on those, it should translate well elsewhere.

If you find you get a nice slot for the bass but it's killing the kick drum. Sidechain and duck that sucker.

 

[ApolloSpeed]

Exaggerate everything, and try to remove bad frequencies before you add good ones. Put a brickwall limiter on it and squash it, then add/subtract at least 10db on the eq until you make it sound like a monster

compressor : opto-long release.
cut a notch for the kick around 80-100hz. (i would change rbass to like 60hz or lower)
depending on the sound im going for, i either boost or cut 700-2khz to taste.

So maybe the L2 limiter would be perfect for bass??.....then boost 50-60, cut 80-100, and then boost 120-150.

sound like a plan?

 

[Sinister Mephisto]

Sounds like one to me! I'd use Rbass at 50-60 rather then boosting with a reguler EQ though.

 

[Ermz]

Drop the RBass.

Subtract the needless frequencies that add mud, such as 200 to 300 or so. The lower you get your bass sitting generally the tighter it tends to sound. You can get it sitting anywhere from as low as 60 (with the kick at around 80) to 120 (nickelback style... works real good for rock) to 160 (Andy style, where it's sort of just there but not getting in the way).

If you want it heard on small speakers, duplicate the track, distort it a bit using whatever you have then high and low pass it so only the mids get through. It'll give you some grit that will show on speakers that generally don't reproduce bass well.

The rest is just experimenting and working with the sound that you start with. There are no real presets that will work in all cases.

 

[Jaymz]

Ive just took in a few pointers from these guys and tried it with a basic EQ on my bass and it really has made it sound a lot cleaner! Very nice indeedy!

 

[Gnash]

A Sonar user, I suspect?! Cool. Try Cloning your bass track, and running the clone through MAXXBASS. I forgot the preset, it's a German name or some shit. But, yeah get your definition out of the original track, then ease this maxxbass track under it. Now you've got a fuckin bass!

 

[ApolloSpeed]

I squashed the track with L3 Limiter with a long release, and then set the Rbass @ 50 hz.
I gotta admit that it sounds alot better! Definately got the extra phatness without the extra loudness! haha! :Smokin:

 

[stringy_]

Ive just took in a few pointers from these guys and tried it with a basic EQ on my bass and it really has made it sound a lot cleaner! Very nice indeedy!

Yes, this is good. I usually set a low pass at about 110Hz, then boost with a narrow Q at 50Hz and a smaller boost at a full octave up at 100Hz.

The cloned distorted amp track takes care of the highs.

 

[Volcane]

Any of you guys use Antares Tube to overdrive a DI bass sound? On it's own it doesn't sound awesome on it's own, but in a mix it can add a bit of phat.

That EQ looks fun. Will have to try that.

 

[elmuchoescadawg]

Recently Ive been using the sansamp RBI and a channel of TLaudio 2021 to get my bass tones. So far its worked real well and Ive not used anything in the sequencer to change it. Basically the mix has been pretty much done and the bass parts arived last so Ive reamped them straight into the mix which has helped me determine the tone.

 

[joeymusicguy]

i either cut 500 hz

or i cut 800 hz or 400 hz, or both

i never boost bass, all of my recordings have too much bass before mastering most of the time

i also use an l2 and floor it

probably not the right thing to do by any means but it works for me for some reason

 

[Jaymz]

Yeah ive tried the track cloneing method, must say the plugin ive got for a "distortion" is totally pants so ill be getting another ASAP haha. The Rbass has really given it some beef. Think mines set at 55hz, also using the L2. Still tweaking myself like!

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Ive just took in a few pointers from these guys and tried it with a basic EQ on my bass and it really has made it sound a lot cleaner! Very nice indeedy!

Holy shit batman thats alot o boostin. I bet it sounds pretty good though. gonna have to try that.

 

[stringy_]

Holy shit batman thats alot o boostin. I bet it sounds pretty good though. gonna have to try that.

I've always told people that the EQ will look crazy when you get done with it...but it's the sound that matters, right?

The trick is to track your bass thin. Then you boost the 50Hz and 100Hz area and you don't have to worry about that other crap in the way.

Don't ever track bass that is too bass heavy! It's kind of counter-intuitive, but it works best.

 

[~BURNY~]

Ive just took in a few pointers from these guys and tried it with a basic EQ on my bass and it really has made it sound a lot cleaner! Very nice indeedy!

Dude... Are you kidding us?:Smug:

 

[Jaymz]

huh?