Screen Shot 2015-12-23 at 4.09.17 PM Mixing bass guitar is always a challenge. Too much bass can muddy the mix, eat up headroom, and drown out everything else. But too little bass can make a mix sound thin, not to mention that a lot of a song’s energy can be in the bass frequencies. There’s no magic formula that will always get you a great bass sound that fits perfectly in your mix, but here are three suggestions to get you started:
  • Add a slight boost around 80 – 100Hz. This is where a lot of the energy of the bass sits, and is a good place to punch it up, while being lower than all but the most detuned guitars and sub-frequency synth tones.
  • Keep the bass under control with compression, especially if you’ve added an EQ boost. A compressor can help keep the bass from getting boomy, and evening out the level will help you mix it more prominently in the mix, without it taking over.
  • Consider using transient-shaper hardware or plug-ins, such as the Softube Transient Shaper, SPL Transient Designer, Sonnox Envolution, or others. A transient shaper gives you a lot of control over the attack, punch, and sustain of a tone. A transient shaper is a great way to customize a bass to fit right in the pocket of your mix.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Latest Stories

View all

Why Kala Ukuleles Continue to Be the World’s Favorite

Why Kala Ukuleles Continue to Be the World’s Favorite

Whether you’re just getting started with your first ukulele or you’re a pro looking for your next favorite instrument, Kala stands tall as the go-to brand for musicians worldwide — and for good reason. Since 2005, Kala has been more...

Read more

Best Acoustic Guitars Brands to Buy in India

Best Acoustic Guitars Brands to Buy in India

Table of Contents Introduction: Why Acoustic Guitar Brands Matter How to Choose the Right Acoustic Guitar Brand Best Acoustic Guitar Brands in India (Ranked) Yamaha Fender Cort Ibanez Henrix Vault Martin (Premium) PRS (Premium) Acoustic Guitar Brand Comparison Table Where...

Read more

What Makes a Good Headphone for Mixing and Monitoring?

What Makes a Good Headphone for Mixing and Monitoring?

If you're a music producer, mixing engineer, or home studio enthusiast, you know how important it is to have the right monitoring gear. While studio monitors or monitor speakers are ideal for mixing, a good pair of headphones can be just...

Read more