Wow, so much on this thread while I wasn't able to answer.
gamblor wrote:How do people on this board go about dialing the mud out of a bass guitar, while still keeping it present in the mix? I’ve read a lot about how using a high pass filter will aid the process, but how exactly does this differ from using an eq. Can’t an eq be a high pass filter with the proper settings?
So, the bass gtr sound itself is "muddy" or the low end of the mix is? If it's the bass itself, you're in for a less satisfying result.
An HPF
is an eq of a certain type, and in spite of what you might think (Matt) it does get used on "bass" instruments at times.
Drumwaiter wrote:This is of course all relative, but the relationship between the bass and the kick is a tricky one.
"Relationship" is a good word.
I often think of bass drum and bass guitar or synth and where they sit in regards to one another tonally. As simply as high thumpy kick drum with subby bass, or thumpy bass guitar and subby, more feel bass drum. This is most important to have that direction during the tracking phase.
gamblor wrote:Drumwaiter wrote:That's not even getting into compression either. Do you use any compression on these tracks?
I have, but I thought that it killed the dynamics so my current mix has none. Perhaps I just wasn't applying it correctly?
I would have to agree with your assessment. I would try slowing the attack time down and/or lowering the ratio if you find it's crushing the vibe of the bass. With bass guitar, until you're doing something fairly aggressive, a moderate release speed will do fine to get you in the ballpark.
macrae11 wrote:It's rare that I don't have at least some compression on the bass, although it largely depends on the player. Often I'm not using it to control dynamics so much, but more as a tone shaping tool, often to get the attack or point of the bass to sit where I want it.
Pretty much same here. In the DAW world, I've also gotten addicted to more than one in series.
Drumwaiter wrote:... try to get to the point (sooner rather than later) where you start a project with the endgame in mind. Don't ask yourself at tracking "Does this bass sound good?" ask yourself "Does this bass sound close to what I want it to sound like in the mix." But the one caveat is don't paint yourself into a corner. Don't compress or EQ something so hard going to tape that you can't dig yourself back out of the hole you're in.
If you take care at the tracking stage, the mixing stage gets easier.
More than one recording has been ruined by missing this key point. Especially in this digital, endless numbers of tracks, world.
Jef wrote:Another consideration could be the other instruments within the mix. If you have a keyboard or guitar track that is producing tones that are similar to the bass track, it could throw your mix off too. I have heard guitar tracks that have a low frequency present which sounds really cool by itself, but in the mix, it totally sucks ass. This is caused from the frequency compounding its amplitude by overlapping the same frequency. If you have a particular frequency that is an issue with the bass, have a listen to the other tracks and maybe cut it there.
Why listening to things in context during tracking is imperative. Also why making tonal decisions while tracking can make mixing an easier process.
'Is that piano too bottom heavy for the drums and bass?'I also tend to listen to groups of instruments and/or vocals together to hear how specific things are interacting. Not just solo or every track up.
Drums+Bass+Piano
Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Acoustic Guitar + Bass + Drums
Electric Guitars + Bass + Drums
...etc.
It helps me hear how different things are relating. This is more of an overall methodology and not relating specific to bass.
For me, with bass guitar, I will rarely EQ an already good tone. Give me a decent direct track from a great player, and I'm 98% home. Much EQ for me on bass means there's something wrong with what was recorded. I will usually shape the "tone" with compression, not EQ.
It seems like there are so many questions about getting low end right. I would agree it can be a bit of a trick, and I think knowing what you can expect in your monitoring is part of why it is so difficult for so many.