using a limiter on bass guitar?

[Hotstuff]

Like I said in an earlier post I always limit the bass first but you have to set the threshold so that dont kill all the dynamics.
I like a brickwall type limiter because I can set the threshold so that only the peeks get reduced and the average level stays untouched, usually im going for 4-6db gain reduction, but you have to watch out for bass buildup and filter out the offending frequencies.
After this i use a compressor and adjust that for more GR and wave shaping.
Saturated or distorted bass is usually quite compressed to start so it is all dependent of the source.

This all depends on the player!

This is by no means the way it should be done it is just a way that has worked out great for me.

 

[Pedro Teixeira]

actually, after

if you're using any sort of distortion or overdrive, it IS messing with your dc offset

removing dc offset should be the final stage of the chain, it can be done with x-hum plugin

Joey do you know any free plugin that can actually read the dc offset of a track? I do have the waves pack, and should I be putting the x-hum after everything on each track?

 

[devouredremains]

Joey do you know any free plugin that can actually read the dc offset of a track? I do have the waves pack, and should I be putting the x-hum after everything on each track?

Just take a look at the waveform.

 

[C_F_H_13]

not those settings though...

same here.

 

[joeymusicguy]

Just take a look at the waveform.

unless you're mixing down every track to a stem, you can't see the dc offset of a track thats going through plugins

some plugins introduce problems, here

 

[joeymusicguy]

Joey do you know any free plugin that can actually read the dc offset of a track? I do have the waves pack, and should I be putting the x-hum after everything on each track?

a frequency analyzer can let you guess...

if you see a buntch of energy below 40hz, chances are its messed...

but i use izotope to check

you dont need it on every track, but you will need to analyze each one to find out if it needs it or not

you could start out just by checking anything with bass heavy frequencies, post - overdrive, or "wild tracks" (anything with weird ass effects on it).

 

[Cyanide_Anima]

noice! thanx for the info joey! you help us all out with the stuff that seems hard to find. \m/

 

[brianhood]

What do you use for bass joey? The ampeg svx plugin? I Know you program bass for some bands, but i'm sure you don't do that for the majority of them.

I'm just always 100% unhappy with my bass tone, and i noticed the bass tone in several of your mixes were to my liking.

 

[Zombietakeover]

if you've got ozone, you can look at the dc offset in real time in the limiter section (it should hover very close to 0, if not, then its fucked)

In Ozone You Mean INF not 0 correct? cause the zero's are way out to the side.

 

[joeymusicguy]

In Ozone You Mean INF not 0 correct? cause the zero's are way out to the side.

yeah i mean -inf, 0 is way bad

 

[joeymusicguy]

What do you use for bass joey? The ampeg svx plugin? I Know you program bass for some bands, but i'm sure you don't do that for the majority of them.

I'm just always 100% unhappy with my bass tone, and i noticed the bass tone in several of your mixes were to my liking.

a plugin called "preflex" on my UAD card

i particularly like the bass tone i did on the new prada record (not really noticeable on the song they have up, dez moines, but in other songs its really present)

we tracked the cd like it would be performed live minus a few extra guitar parts, but for the most part, chris is on the left and jeremy is on the right, and andy's dead center and pretty loud, just not on that song

but anyways, this was like the first time i didnt scoop the bass and im glad i didnt. something about the crappy behringer monitors i had forever made me want to eq scoop bass, and the adam a7's dont, so i dont eq escoop any more, and im really pleased with the result.

the preflex has a compressor, a pre-amp, and cab simulation. i turn the cab sim off, and i use the built in compressor/amp. i run bass directly in.

bass di->pre->preflex

set and forget =]

 

[brianhood]

a plugin called "preflex" on my UAD card

i particularly like the bass tone i did on the new prada record (not really noticeable on the song they have up, dez moines, but in other songs its really present)

we tracked the cd like it would be performed live minus a few extra guitar parts, but for the most part, chris is on the left and jeremy is on the right, and andy's dead center and pretty loud, just not on that song

but anyways, this was like the first time i didnt scoop the bass and im glad i didnt. something about the crappy behringer monitors i had forever made me want to eq scoop bass, and the adam a7's dont, so i dont eq escoop any more, and im really pleased with the result.

the preflex has a compressor, a pre-amp, and cab simulation. i turn the cab sim off, and i use the built in compressor/amp. i run bass directly in.

bass di->pre->preflex

set and forget =]

so you use no cab sim at all? I'm assuming that doesnt sound anywhere as bad as no cab sim on guitar amps haha

 

[joeymusicguy]

so you use no cab sim at all? I'm assuming that doesnt sound anywhere as bad as no cab sim on guitar amps haha

depending on the amp sim, its actually better in my opinion
its one of those things i'd have to solo and show you but
yeah, the cab sim just makes it sound dull

and i could see where that would be a huge no no on other amp sims

but for some reason on this one, it just sounds dumb with it on

 

[Zombietakeover]

Alright i dont get it.....I checked out the song i was currently mixing ...That white zombie song.. I posted in the rate and mix section.....I threw Ozone 4 on the stereo master and that Dc offset meter is jumping out to like -40 from INF.....so i figured wow...I'm being fucked by dc offset......So i go through my individual tracks
And i found some on my bass and guitar tracks.....I checked my distorted vocals cause i have a healthy dose of those and they were fine...dead on with INF......Also i found alot on My Slate Drums...I Run SSD 3.0 with Kontakt player...When i solo the drums out and run Ozone on the stereo master...The Dc offset if going crazy like i said kicking it out to like -40 on the meter...

But i applied the X-hum to the tracks i found dc offset and the meter in Ozone is still going a little crazy.....Any ideas

 

[Fox Mulder]

Alright i dont get it.....I checked out the song i was currently mixing ...That white zombie song.. I posted in the rate and mix section.....I threw Ozone 4 on the stereo master and that Dc offset meter is jumping out to like -40 from INF.....so i figured wow...I'm being fucked by dc offset......So i go through my individual tracks
And i found some on my bass and guitar tracks.....I checked my distorted vocals cause i have a healthy dose of those and they were fine...dead on with INF......Also i found alot on My Slate Drums...I Run SSD 3.0 with Kontakt player...When i solo the drums out and run Ozone on the stereo master...The Dc offset if going crazy like i said kicking it out to like -40 on the meter...

But i applied the X-hum to the tracks i found dc offset and the meter in Ozone is still going a little crazy.....Any ideas

Apply around 3 or 4 eq plugins in the chain - All hi-passed at 40hz. I use 18db/octave. Use the max that you've got. After that, use the x-hum with the "remove dc and 50hz hum" preset.
Should work. OR use several x-hum plugins in the chain with the "remove dc and 50hz hum" preset.

 

[Zombietakeover]

????? 3 or 4 eq plug ins in a row.....why doesn't one get the job done, that seems a little crazy.....plus you are suppose to be putting the X-hum on post fader....i only got 2 of those on each channel in Nuendo

 

[Fox Mulder]

????? 3 or 4 eq plug ins in a row.....why doesn't one get the job done, that seems a little crazy.....plus you are suppose to be putting the X-hum on post fader....i only got 2 of those on each channel in Nuendo

If it isnt working out there's gotta be a way

 

[VH100R]

What I do after importing all tracks that are going for mixing is:

in cubase/nuendo

highlight all tracks -> process -> remove DC offset -> DONE

if needed you can also do that to the final WAVs before mastering.

 

[abyssofdreams]

if its metal, you'll probably want some compression, but not limiting, because all the fast note movement in combination with limiting will make the bass seem kinda like "a guy that never stops humming behind the music"

this and this only. big +1
I only compress (not always!) and EQ a bit. sometimes I have a mult with some grit focus, that's all. the rest is down to the 2bus and kick/bass placement.

 

[joeymusicguy]

Alright i dont get it.....I checked out the song i was currently mixing ...That white zombie song.. I posted in the rate and mix section.....I threw Ozone 4 on the stereo master and that Dc offset meter is jumping out to like -40 from INF.....so i figured wow...I'm being fucked by dc offset......So i go through my individual tracks
And i found some on my bass and guitar tracks.....I checked my distorted vocals cause i have a healthy dose of those and they were fine...dead on with INF......Also i found alot on My Slate Drums...I Run SSD 3.0 with Kontakt player...When i solo the drums out and run Ozone on the stereo master...The Dc offset if going crazy like i said kicking it out to like -40 on the meter...

But i applied the X-hum to the tracks i found dc offset and the meter in Ozone is still going a little crazy.....Any ideas

there's a preset called "Remove DC-Offset"

its a steep high pass filter