this content is perfect for people like myself who dont exactly have time to sit at the computer for hours learning how to mix. Quick, clear and has that "instant gratification" effect.
I’ve always mixed my kick below the bass but some of these examples sound pretty sick with the bass below the kick. Definitely gonna give that a go on some slower songs. Great video!
Kick below the bass , then i low cut frequencies in the fast parts of the kick. Also the lenght of the sub kick affects a lot . Some complex songs need more automation
Try cutting the fundamental harmonic of the kick with a narrow strip. Its length will be shortened and there will be no layering effect at the time of fast playing.
You can use a dynamic EQ to reduce frequencies side-chained from the kick, to trigger each time the kick drum hits. This way, one can preserve a lot of content in the low-end while attaining articulation. Another way is to use band selective compression (not the same as multiband compression) to tame the low end of the bass guitar and leave space for the kick drum at specific frequency range.
Naturally there isn’t much low end in a kick drum, especially concerning sub bass. While bass guitar sits naturally down to 40Hz and then some depending on string count and tuning. So I keep my Bass guitar low and give the kick a boost around 60 to 70Hz while cleaning up everything below and of course taking out some upper mid frequencies where the bass can still cut through and then boosting the kick around 5-6K for a good cut as well. Ultimately it’s all about molding them around each other.
That's exactly how I think it should be. That also looks like how devin townsend mixed the misery signals controller album, it has a lot of sub bass and it seems the bass drum sits over the bass guitar and almost makes it sound very clear giving the guitars a forefront in the mix
@@TheUnrider On a standard bass guitar, the lowest note is the VB note of the contra-octave. It's 41 Hz. Cutting by 80 cuts out the fundamental harmonic and leaves the rest. Bass transmission remains at a good level. So this works great on systems with subwoofers and small speakers. Usually the filter at 80 Hz is not set too steep.
I’ll say in modern Trap beats you’ll very rarely find a kick below the bass. A lot of producers are also both shortening and clipping their 808’s so much that they don’t use kicks. You’ll see that in a lot of newer Trap beats. Just some random info. 😎
@@lazarushatchette3978 agree - it works on some arrangements but if there's constant kickdrums taking up the subs then the whole mix sounds really flat
@@80s_kid an absolutely killer album I've had since it came out, but i guess that is due to both speed and tuning like joey mentioned. I know b isn't super low these days but was crazy low then 😆. I usually put kick below the bass but this has given me some for for thought.
@@joeymusic Yeah, when I analyze songs, vast majority of them have low subby kicks, even 200+ bpm death metal stuff. I remember years ago when I started with mixing and music production that it was a "rule" for fast stuff and metal to have kick above bass... only to have that totally disproven once I started to actually look for my self and learn more.
try using an EQ with a visualizer and frequency solo capability. Pro Q, for example. Set the analyzer speed to Very Fast and look to see where it looks that section of the EQ is peaking and descending. that'll be your kick.
But... Fast songs with E-standard tuning play high? Then the fundamental notes of the bass already are very high... Not all metal is chugga-chugga tuned to drop-Z
The kick goes over the bass the bass is under. Meaning you want to boost higher for a thump rather than a boom on your kick drum..let the bass do the booming.🙃😉
Makes no difference to me. And I'm listening on great speakers... Ur rly just cutting down on one's element bass. I think if u rly wanted to have one above the other u would simply go with side chain compression. When the kick hits, the bass gets compressed or reverse the rolls. And u can do it with anything. Guitar, vocals, keys or anything else. This technique is often used with vocals and guitar bcs they fight with each other. Whenever the vocals hit the comp, guitar gets cut down a bit.
this content is perfect for people like myself who dont exactly have time to sit at the computer for hours learning how to mix. Quick, clear and has that "instant gratification" effect.
Yeah man no kidding!
This content is gold!
the is one of the crucial mixing videos on youtube. don't just like, but also put into your fav. collection.
I’ve always mixed my kick below the bass but some of these examples sound pretty sick with the bass below the kick. Definitely gonna give that a go on some slower songs. Great video!
Kick below the bass , then i low cut frequencies in the fast parts of the kick. Also the lenght of the sub kick affects a lot . Some complex songs need more automation
Ahh maybe some dynamic eq would make sense
Try cutting the fundamental harmonic of the kick with a narrow strip. Its length will be shortened and there will be no layering effect at the time of fast playing.
@@lazarushatchette3978 yeah it works some times, but dynamic is not instantanious and cannot know exactly when to release the gain reduction.
Holy crap for real this channel is pure GOLD.
this has been the best video I've see on mixing kick and bass literally, you used a great produced track to really hear the concepts.
You can use a dynamic EQ to reduce frequencies side-chained from the kick, to trigger each time the kick drum hits. This way, one can preserve a lot of content in the low-end while attaining articulation. Another way is to use band selective compression (not the same as multiband compression) to tame the low end of the bass guitar and leave space for the kick drum at specific frequency range.
Again, great fundamentals Joey. You're the king!
Naturally there isn’t much low end in a kick drum, especially concerning sub bass. While bass guitar sits naturally down to 40Hz and then some depending on string count and tuning. So I keep my Bass guitar low and give the kick a boost around 60 to 70Hz while cleaning up everything below and of course taking out some upper mid frequencies where the bass can still cut through and then boosting the kick around 5-6K for a good cut as well. Ultimately it’s all about molding them around each other.
That's exactly how I think it should be. That also looks like how devin townsend mixed the misery signals controller album, it has a lot of sub bass and it seems the bass drum sits over the bass guitar and almost makes it sound very clear giving the guitars a forefront in the mix
what are you talking about, bass standart tuning goes down to 80 Hz. Only with agressive drop tuning (or more strings) you get down to that level.
@@TheUnrider On a standard bass guitar, the lowest note is the VB note of the contra-octave. It's 41 Hz. Cutting by 80 cuts out the fundamental harmonic and leaves the rest. Bass transmission remains at a good level. So this works great on systems with subwoofers and small speakers. Usually the filter at 80 Hz is not set too steep.
Thank you for short and clear but effective tutorial
I’ll say in modern Trap beats you’ll very rarely find a kick below the bass. A lot of producers are also both shortening and clipping their 808’s so much that they don’t use kicks. You’ll see that in a lot of newer Trap beats. Just some random info. 😎
Best nugget in the video, find where the bass drum peaks, and either HPF the bass guitar just above it, or EQ the bass guitar down there.
very very nicely put together...
Great stuff. I would say though, after analyzing a lot of songs over the years, most metal songs have kick under, even the fast death metal songs.
true, a lot of modern deathcore is like that. personally i think it sounds terrible! haha
@@jdon_mac yeah a lot are definitely mixed that way but that doesn't mean it sounds good. Personally like the bass under the bass drum for that
@@lazarushatchette3978 agree - it works on some arrangements but if there's constant kickdrums taking up the subs then the whole mix sounds really flat
You're the GOAT man! Thanks for releasing content like this!
Can you make the same thing for guitar to bass relation....!!!
Awesome video, very well explained and very helpful in a mix I'm currently working on. Thanks Joey
Nice!! thanks Joey!
I need more of these videos in my life
Huge thanks Joey! Always providing such useful information 🖖🏼
great video Joey
Awesome advice 🔥
Totally like!!!!
Such a good video
Great concise content
Thanks Joey! Any chance you'll ever touch on making midi strings and other orchestral instruments sound more full and realistic? :)
Thankyou
great video, for me it all depends on the song and tuning
Dope, thanks
great vid
Nice, thanks!
Me with my $0.50 earbuds:
they sound the same 😭
Can we say that the kick-above-bass is more common in mixes in rock and metal?
Definitely depends. For me, kick below the bass is actually more common in metal but that was a stylistic choice I made.
@@joeymusic Thanks for the answer, Joey! That's interesting. For me the Fear Factory - Demanufacture seems like a classic example for kick above bass.
@@80s_kid an absolutely killer album I've had since it came out, but i guess that is due to both speed and tuning like joey mentioned. I know b isn't super low these days but was crazy low then 😆. I usually put kick below the bass but this has given me some for for thought.
@@joeymusic Yeah, when I analyze songs, vast majority of them have low subby kicks, even 200+ bpm death metal stuff. I remember years ago when I started with mixing and music production that it was a "rule" for fast stuff and metal to have kick above bass... only to have that totally disproven once I started to actually look for my self and learn more.
Why does everything need to be an island? They can go together
How can I tel if a song has an above the kick bass? I’m trynna use deftones as my reference but tbh it’s pretty hard to tell. Anyone have tips?
try using an EQ with a visualizer and frequency solo capability. Pro Q, for example. Set the analyzer speed to Very Fast and look to see where it looks that section of the EQ is peaking and descending. that'll be your kick.
But... Fast songs with E-standard tuning play high?
Then the fundamental notes of the bass already are very high...
Not all metal is chugga-chugga tuned to drop-Z
The idea still stands
Standard E songs still operate between 40 and 80 Hz most of the time tho
The kick goes over the bass the bass is under. Meaning you want to boost higher for a thump rather than a boom on your kick drum..let the bass do the booming.🙃😉
There are no one size fits all solutions in mixing
Makes no difference to me. And I'm listening on great speakers...
Ur rly just cutting down on one's element bass. I think if u rly wanted to have one above the other u would simply go with side chain compression. When the kick hits, the bass gets compressed or reverse the rolls. And u can do it with anything. Guitar, vocals, keys or anything else. This technique is often used with vocals and guitar bcs they fight with each other. Whenever the vocals hit the comp, guitar gets cut down a bit.
:) :) :)