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before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:53 am
by samdam1
Like should i lower all the kicks bass levels and sub-bass levels? so its a clear but not too punchy sounding mix. but when i master, put in alot of bass and stuff. should i do this?
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:59 am
by blakedipp
no?
have the levels right before mastering so its you don't have to add artificial low end in with EQ.
If you the low end of the bass and kicks are overpowering the mids, it will sound muddy.
more is less.
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:06 am
by nowaysj
Make it how you want it to sound. Good ME will make it sound like that, but better. Have heard of people sending tracks to an ME, and getting them back with nothing done to them, they didn't need anything.
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:51 am
by macc
nowaysj wrote:Make it how you want it to sound.
Simple as that.
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:39 am
by samdam1
I see, thanks a load guys

Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:56 am
by Electric_Head
samdam1 - you`re asking loads of questions without doing any google reading.
You`re walking a fine line.
Put some effort into this yourself before expecting everyone to explain everything from bass to resampling by doing nothing.
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:20 am
by samdam1
Electric_Head wrote:samdam1 - you`re asking loads of questions without doing any google reading.
You`re walking a fine line.
Put some effort into this yourself before expecting everyone to explain everything from bass to resampling by doing nothing.
No joke, i asked the resampling question, and the moderator locked the question and told me to look at a couple of other threads and linked me to them, and they were literally the worst tutorial/explanations i have EVER read or seen. I'm sorry for kindly asking someone to explain just simply and easily... There aren't many tutorials on it out there.
So sorry my dearest friend
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:32 am
by RandoRando
samdam1 wrote:Electric_Head wrote:samdam1 - you`re asking loads of questions without doing any google reading.
You`re walking a fine line.
Put some effort into this yourself before expecting everyone to explain everything from bass to resampling by doing nothing.
No joke, i asked the resampling question, and the moderator locked the question and told me to look at a couple of other threads and linked me to them, and they were literally the worst tutorial/explanations i have EVER read or seen. I'm sorry for kindly asking someone to explain just simply and easily... There aren't many tutorials on it out there.
So sorry my dearest friend
no offense to you of course, were just saying the same exact threads pop up every so many days, dont use the DSF search, use the google dsf search, its stickied and brings better results.
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:39 am
by flatfaced
you have to become a nerd if you want to play good basses
look all around here, DOA, youtube and you would be ready for experimentin...for months at home
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:19 am
by Electric_Head
to answer your question though, don`t lower the bass and kick before mixing.
Gain structure and mixing aka THE MONEYSHOT THREAD
http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=74832
Essential reading for an understanding of Gain Structuring.
Essentially producing your tunes from the get-go with the correct gain structuring to keep headroom available.
Your track will sound softer but all the pieces will gel together better in the mix.
Volume you deal with later via limiting.
If you setup your track correctly focusing on gain structuring, you shouldn`t have to modify anything before mastering.
But as I`ve stated before, if you don`t understand the basics then why worry about mastering?
just asking really.
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:57 pm
by nowaysj
samdam1 wrote:No joke, i asked the resampling question, and the moderator locked the question and told me to look at a couple of other threads and linked me to them, and they were literally the worst tutorial/explanations i have EVER read or seen.
So you've seen a lot of them? If so, you should already understand the concept.
But if you have a question regarding resampling, and you've read one of the resampling threads, pose the question in one of those threads, everyone who has posted in that thread will receive notification of your question, and the thread can continue to develop as a repository of resampling knowledge.
Part of what makes searching so hard here is that information is spread across thousands of threads. This, I presume, is why the bible was put together, to consolidate information into a more accessible data structure. But it would help at the granular level to consolidate information into topical threads from the get go.
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:07 pm
by MedikProductions
lol STRAIGHT out of the huge guide to producing. that thread actually did me wonders, macc spills some valuable ass knowledge there
nowaysj wrote:Make it how you want it to sound. Good ME will make it sound like that, but better. Have heard of people sending tracks to an ME, and getting them back with nothing done to them, they didn't need anything.
honestly that right there makes so much sense. i've been having quality issues and couldn't understand why when i self mastered it, it would sound even worse sometimes. my latest song i mixed it as if that's how i would listen to it, and it sounds much better with a little limiting, eq touch ups, stereo imaging and what not
Re: before mastering, should i lower bass levels?
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:57 am
by Littlefoot
samdam1 wrote:Like should i lower all the kicks bass levels and sub-bass levels? so its a clear but not too punchy sounding mix. but when i master, put in alot of bass and stuff. should i do this?
If it sounds good to you in your room, which you know, and you've checked it against some equal loudness tracks which you deem to sound correct and balance, then it's ready for mastering. No need to second guess, if the ME has any concerns, he'll be in touch
