Sub Bass Levels Problem

[renegadex]

This seems to be an issue for some people, as well as myself, but I seemed to have figured something out. I'd like everyone's input on the technical aspect of it. (If it's viable, or if it will cause any sort of problems later in the mix)..

What I did to fix the varying levels of the sub was:

1. Find each hertz value for the notes of the bass melody. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_key_frequencies)
2. EQ with very high bandwith about a 3-5 db boost at each note you're using. I usually just play the note while i'm EQ'ing and get it to a point where I can feel the sub.

This seems to have worked for me, though it might create some problems later in the mix? I don't know. What are everyones thoughts on this?



In a nutshell: High bandwidth boosting of the frequencies of the specific notes involved in your bass melody to make each note solid.

[Sinisterbeats]

wouldn't recommend doing that, you shouldn't really have to process sub bass at all apart from some compression if jumping from higher to lower notes. An EQ is basically a fancy gain knob for specific frequencys so on a sub your just is turning it up so if you really wanted to do that just automate the volume.

[Recessive Trait]

^yeah. you're never going to get your sub to punch, if that's what you're trying to accomplish. sub booms, it doesn't bap.

[grooki]

In any case, as I understand it you can't really monitor sub properly unless you pretty much have a well set up room/studio and the right equipment. I just mean, for such specific boosts that you are doing i think you would need a very nice situation to monitor it properly.

I have made a few tracks where I have gone down to note F, and because of the room I was in at the time (and using monitors with 8" cones, which are good, but don't really rumble) I couldn't tell there was much sub at all. I started trying things like what the OP is doing, anything to make the lower sub sound thicker. Anyway I played it in my brother's car, which had 2 12" subs at the time, and nearly blew us to pieces.


There are threads to make sub more present on the forum, but they usually involve creating subtle harmonics processed through a different fx bus. LFO to volume, and pitch bends can also make sub more alive. It's more about these sorts of tricks rather than turning the sub really high/EQing sub.

[renegadex]

Alright, thanks guys. I figured there was something technically wrong with doing that! Haha.

And my setup is just 2 KRK RP6's with an M-Audio Revo 5.1 soundcard. Kinda want a new soundcard.

[Basic A]

You shouldnt ever have to eq or compress a sine wave.

Your soundcard is fine, btw, unless you wanna start hooking up more kit.

[grooki]

Alright, thanks guys. I figured there was something technically wrong with doing that! Haha.

And my setup is just 2 KRK RP6's with an M-Audio Revo 5.1 soundcard. Kinda want a new soundcard.

I use my motherboard soundcard