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How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:28 pm
by Elektronikz
I was wondering how I could make my sub-bass stand out a bit more behind my mid-ranges. I have the sub-bass turned up and all, I know it's there. I can't hear the bass as well as in most pro tunes. I don't know if I should try side-chaining the bass to the mid-range or vice versa or what I could do. If anyone has any suggestions, please don't hesitate! :D

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:44 pm
by Hostile Invasion
Is your sub bass a separate track? Is it at least split from your mid-range? This will give you the most control over it.
Also, what are you listening on? Shitty computer speakers, monitors with a subwoofer? Sub bass should be felt, not heard (for the most part).

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:48 pm
by VirtualMark
Add a tiny bit of harmonics to your sub, your ears will pick it up better. Maybe use a low passed square or triangle, or another sine an octave up, or a bit of saturation etc. Tons of ways to do it.

But this will do nothing for your sub on a proper system, it just helps it come through on weaker systems.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:50 pm
by Elektronikz
It is a different track, different mixer track as well. I am using headphones, they pickup as low as 20Hz. I can hear it loud and clear when it is solo'd out, but when the mid-range is over it it's barely heard or felt.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:03 pm
by Hostile Invasion
Elektronikz wrote:It is a different track, different mixer track as well. I am using headphones, they pickup as low as 20Hz. I can hear it loud and clear when it is solo'd out, but when the mid-range is over it it's barely heard or felt.
What if you deactivate it? How does the track sound? If it sounds like the bottom end just drops out, then your sub-bass is fine.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:10 pm
by drake89
Image

so your subbass has to be louder just to sound equal to your midrange, depending on how loud you're listening (percieved loudness).

like other people are saying though, you can add harmonics. an quick way would be to push your sub hard into a limiter.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:35 pm
by Elektronikz
Also, I'm using Massive (just like everyone else lol) to make my sub-bass and there is a small clicking at the start or end of a note. How can I remove that, if at all?

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:47 pm
by mthrfnk
Play with attack/release settings on Env 4.
To make it more audible add harmonics as others have said or saturate/distort it.
Also ensure your midrange is EQ cut to make room for the sub.
I personally use a set of analogue sub samples, some are no more than a standard sine with some very minor harmonics, but they sound much fuller than anything I have synthesised.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:49 pm
by charles1
Elektronikz wrote:Also, I'm using Massive (just like everyone else lol) to make my sub-bass and there is a small clicking at the start or end of a note. How can I remove that, if at all?
you gotta figure out what's causing it. possible solutions could be turning down the resonance, raising the attack, turning down the velocity, or just using EQ to isolate the primary frequency causing the click

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 4:16 pm
by Elektronikz
Thanks everyone! I got it figured it out. The tune should be done sometime this week. I'll post it on the feedback forum after I'm done.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 4:49 pm
by mthrfnk
charles1 wrote:
Elektronikz wrote:Also, I'm using Massive (just like everyone else lol) to make my sub-bass and there is a small clicking at the start or end of a note. How can I remove that, if at all?
you gotta figure out what's causing it. possible solutions could be turning down the resonance, raising the attack, turning down the velocity, or just using EQ to isolate the primary frequency causing the click
Who uses reso on filters on subs? :corntard:

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:12 pm
by blinx
Just because you cant hear the subbass in headphones when you are mixing down doesnt mean its not at the right level. Pump the tune out as is level wise and go play through a half decent ref. speaker/system then see if you need to touch your subbass.

A limiter on the sub can help even out louder/quieter sub bass notes.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:48 pm
by charles1
mthrfnk wrote:
charles1 wrote:
Elektronikz wrote:Also, I'm using Massive (just like everyone else lol) to make my sub-bass and there is a small clicking at the start or end of a note. How can I remove that, if at all?
you gotta figure out what's causing it. possible solutions could be turning down the resonance, raising the attack, turning down the velocity, or just using EQ to isolate the primary frequency causing the click
Who uses reso on filters on subs? :corntard:
It might be turned up by mistake? He could have created the patch from a preset that had the resonance turned up? Forgive us lowly folk who use presets. We can only hope to one day have your skillz!!!

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:50 pm
by charles1
inadvertent post

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:52 pm
by mthrfnk
charles1 wrote:
mthrfnk wrote:
charles1 wrote:
Elektronikz wrote:Also, I'm using Massive (just like everyone else lol) to make my sub-bass and there is a small clicking at the start or end of a note. How can I remove that, if at all?
you gotta figure out what's causing it. possible solutions could be turning down the resonance, raising the attack, turning down the velocity, or just using EQ to isolate the primary frequency causing the click
Who uses reso on filters on subs? :corntard:
It might be turned up by mistake? He could have created the patch from a preset that had the resonance turned up? Forgive us lowly folk who use presets. We can only hope to one day have your skillz!!!
Lol it was just a question dude, you might use it for a valid reason idk... turns out you don't but whatever haha.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:59 pm
by Elektronikz
Nope, I didn't use any presets :D
This is what I got out of it though: Soundcloud
Let me know what you think about it please! :)

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:13 pm
by djrq
drag in a tune that has the kind of sub you are after and have a peek at it with a spectrum analyser and compare it with your track.
but the real test is mashing it through some speakers.

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:18 am
by skimpi
just turn the sub up lol

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:30 am
by Samuel_L_Damnson
yah i was gonna say, just do that^

Re: How to make sub-bass more persistent over mid-ranges?

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:13 am
by HerMix
The sub-bass really relies on what instrument/synth/lead (or whatever your using).
For an example, if you have a piano you can just draw a piano line lower than your main notes. Of your notes are C6, try C4 or C3.

But if your using a bass alone press play on your track and mess around with the EQ to find something more soothing.
Or try Ohmicide, its a really great plugin which makes it more sound-able, I use ohmicide to almost all of my sub-basses.