What's your favourite Bass Guitar sound ever? Mine is and always has been 'Mystery Achievement' by Pete Farndon on The Pretender's self titled first album! Check out the Mixing with Slate Digital Plug Ins Course here: promixacademy.com/course/mixing-pop-rock-with-slate-plugins/
The Bass player back in the day had to set himself on fire for ne a guitarist to notice. That being said Roundabout by Chris and Sr Paul were my favorites.
Yep, that’s one of the greatest of all time. Hard to beat Mystery Achievement in the bass department. John Entwistle in his prime was a great lead bassist.
It says quite a lot about your personality the course is only $27. A lot of people add a 0 to that. Not judging anyone here. Just making an observation. "Thank you ever so much" Warren (and team). Always inspiring
Awesome thanks! That mid 3k trick on the bass amp will totally help my mixes translate to little speakers now! I've been trying to get the bass to sit better in the stuff I am currently mixing and am gonna try this trick now. You rock Warren!
I agree that 750 Hz is one of the best places to boost on a bass guitar. Well, I normally start at 800, but it can be anywhere from 700-1000. It really brings out the presence of the bass without adding any clankiness. It's also an area where not many other instruments live, so you can boost the bass there without stepping on anything else.
Very useful segment. I used to somehow get better bass-tone back in the day, by plugging directly into my 4-track than I do with my digital-stuff now. Bass has been a real mystery.
I'm sure the 4 track added just enough pre amp saturation, tape transient shaping and other mojo! Maybe try a tape emulation plug in on then DI? See if that reminds of the sound you liked!
Man this Slate Tape is great, I use on everything! I love Kramer Tape and it's my favourite, but Slate is just as good, faturator is new for me! I need to experiment more with fresh air! Sounds good here!
Another trick is to add modulation to the higher split, such as an spx 90 on the symphonic preset. Great way to add some movement and allows you to ”hear” the bass more
I use the ZOD IDDI: sounds like a bass amp. Then I push a lot 30 Hz on the pultec. The result is a di track that sounds like a bass amp. I also put Atlantis plugin onto the send for a little room.
@@Producelikeapro forgot to mention the bluey compressor. It adds the final glue. Best 1176 I have heard so far if the user understands the attack knob ;)
@@Producelikeaprohaha, Right. However check out that ZOD IDDI. It’s great. But if you have the red A designs Box you do not need it. They are in the same ballpark. ZOD is a tiny bigger sound maybe in the low end. Both are great.
Hi Warren, I also work a lot with high and lowpass settings (ReaEQ stock plugin is great for this), in this situation I would use the new Bettermaker Buss compressor on the mix buss, what I also dare to do is small panning on the bass DI (left) and the amp (right), just 2 or 3% out center. But this totally off topic, because we have Slate plugins for this production. I only have a few, mostly for drum creation. As main Dyn EQ I have only the Kirchhoff-EQ. Great to see your tutorials.
I have, essentially, the same method. I treat the “amp” as the main source. I mix it to sound the best it can by itself with some natural grit. I usually high pass it at around 100hz - 120hz to clean out the low end and then I compress it a little bit to keep the transients in check but I don’t want to squash it. The DI I usually low pass (100hz - 80hz) and brick wall limit the living shit out of it so the clean, low end fundamental ends up being one level. I fade it in with the dynamic bass “amp” and it always ends up sounding pretty good in a pinch. In a perfect world, maybe I’d side chain the low end DI somehow to the kick drum so it’s got a bit of dynamics but for what I’m doing, this gets the job done 80% of the time. The bass guitar itself is nice and is dynamic but the low end is one consistent level.
if you want to utilize hardware bass pres & FX, do you just "bite the bullet" & try to get the tracks as perfectly aligned as possible? so, record DI direct with the amp/processed track & LPF/HPF them the same way as you do duplicated DI tracks? this way you minimize polarity issues, but still retain the live/raw sound of the hardware bass chain gear (bass pre, bass distortion, amp)
Great tutorial as ever Maestro! Are there or have there been cases where you only mixed one bass track (di+Ampsim or real Amp), in a modern rock song, or do you always use the splitting technique? Cheers!
Interesting. i'll have to listen again. i find it takes me a while to get a feel for sounds. At the moment, i have an impression that there was something about the original flat DI sound, and the amp sound, that i liked and was.... missing(?).... from the more tweeked sound. But then, i'm mostly a live player and i like lotsa mids on my bass.
Thanks. i manage to thump away at my bass around Quebec. And a bit (tiny bit) of studio work now and then. It's a bad way to make money but a good way to live. @@Producelikeapro
Very informative and educational. Thank you. IMHO I think you needed a bass or strings with more highs to help you out with getting more grit out of that sound. An Ibanez from the high-end SR line (not the Bartolini ones) would be an entirely different story.
The only thing I'd do differently would be multing the bass DI and high pass the duplicate so that I wouldn't lose all the top end and have a source to bring back some of the bite.
Nice video Warren, although I do not use Slate, I use the overall technique for mixing bass as bass player myself. I even add a multiband with the crossover at 250 to keep the nasty lows of 200-250 tamed. I stole that concept from you 😂
Why am i always struggling to get the bass to sit right in my mixes. Always feels missing over overpowering. I struggle to get that nice "bass bed" in my songs.
As a Bassist am the only one whos forearms are destroyed by the bound edge on the body. I had a Rickenbacker 4003 and a Schector Hellraiser with bound body's and I can't play them !!!! They turn my forearms too hamburger after 20 minutes playing.
Is it because of mixing for vinyl back in the day that mixes always have no bass. I was just listening to bands playing live shows just before this video and there is all the low end, but you listen to the record kick and bass is neutered. Even this bass sounds like its coming through tiny speakers. My walls should be shaking like in live shows.
What's your favourite Bass Guitar sound ever? Mine is and always has been 'Mystery Achievement' by Pete Farndon on The Pretender's self titled first album! Check out the Mixing with Slate Digital Plug Ins Course here: promixacademy.com/course/mixing-pop-rock-with-slate-plugins/
The Bass player back in the day had to set himself on fire for ne a guitarist to notice. That being said Roundabout by Chris and Sr Paul were my favorites.
My favorite bass sound is from Sure Know Something from Dynasty 1979!
Roundabout and Taxman!
Yep, that’s one of the greatest of all time. Hard to beat Mystery Achievement in the bass department. John Entwistle in his prime was a great lead bassist.
Both amazing@@willyecharte
As a bassist myself, I can only thank your for the tips. recording and mixing bass is really tricky.
Happy to help!
Every time… literally every time you teach me something new. Thanks so much for all you do Warren.
Ok. I have to admit that you all are teachng so well to me/us all these teknikS and it's always a new gift, each time Thanks to the whole Channel
Wow! Thanks ever so much! So glad to be able to help!!
It says quite a lot about your personality the course is only $27. A lot of people add a 0 to that. Not judging anyone here. Just making an observation. "Thank you ever so much" Warren (and team). Always inspiring
Aw shucks! Thanks ever so much!
I loved this approach of using the inverted filter. Cheers!
Thanks ever so much Luke!
So important to get the bass right. Thanks for your insight. Great video thanks very much
Glad it was helpful! Thanks ever so much!
Thanks for this lesson, Mr.Warren!!!! Always great 👍👍👍💪
You’re very welcome!
Awesome thanks! That mid 3k trick on the bass amp will totally help my mixes translate to little speakers now! I've been trying to get the bass to sit better in the stuff I am currently mixing and am gonna try this trick now. You rock Warren!
Glad to help! Thanks ever so much Mary and Sam
I agree that 750 Hz is one of the best places to boost on a bass guitar. Well, I normally start at 800, but it can be anywhere from 700-1000. It really brings out the presence of the bass without adding any clankiness. It's also an area where not many other instruments live, so you can boost the bass there without stepping on anything else.
Very helpful. What a great idea is separation of lows and highs. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Yes! Doubled up Bass Amps can do amazing things when used like that@Genious.
Very useful segment.
I used to somehow get better bass-tone back in the day, by plugging directly into my 4-track than I do with my digital-stuff now. Bass has been a real mystery.
I'm sure the 4 track added just enough pre amp saturation, tape transient shaping and other mojo! Maybe try a tape emulation plug in on then DI? See if that reminds of the sound you liked!
Use a guitar amp sim and layer it on top
Yes, indeed@@Durkhead definitely worth a try
Cool indie song. Fresh and current sounding.
Marvellous
Great video. Love Slate plug ins
Marvellous!
Awesome video and great playing!
Thanks ever so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Man this Slate Tape is great, I use on everything! I love Kramer Tape and it's my favourite, but Slate is just as good, faturator is new for me! I need to experiment more with fresh air! Sounds good here!
Couldn't agree more!
You spoil us! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
My pleasure! Thanks ever so much!
great tip thanks again mr huart
Thanks ever so much!
Great tips as always, thank you so much :)
You're so welcome!
Another trick is to add modulation to the higher split, such as an spx 90 on the symphonic preset. Great way to add some movement and allows you to ”hear” the bass more
Very interesting! Thanks ever so much!
@@Producelikeapro You can hear it on a lot of 90s/Early 2000s rock (Linkin Park, Nirvana)!
@@_Alex_SanderDave Jerden would use the SGX Night Bass for a similar effect
I love this channel. Either for confirmation or new ideas.
I use the ZOD IDDI: sounds like a bass amp. Then I push a lot 30 Hz on the pultec. The result is a di track that sounds like a bass amp. I also put Atlantis plugin onto the send for a little room.
Thanks ever so much for sharing your process!
@@Producelikeapro forgot to mention the bluey compressor. It adds the final glue. Best 1176 I have heard so far if the user understands the attack knob ;)
Haha indeed@@lipk8494 for most people it's confusing because it's 'back to front'!
@@Producelikeaprohaha, Right. However check out that ZOD IDDI. It’s great. But if you have the red A designs Box you do not need it. They are in the same ballpark. ZOD is a tiny bigger sound maybe in the low end. Both are great.
@@lipk8494marvellous! I’ll look it up
Hi Warren, I also work a lot with high and lowpass settings (ReaEQ stock plugin is great for this), in this situation I would use the new Bettermaker Buss compressor on the mix buss, what I also dare to do is small panning on the bass DI (left) and the amp (right), just 2 or 3% out center. But this totally off topic, because we have Slate plugins for this production. I only have a few, mostly for drum creation. As main Dyn EQ I have only the Kirchhoff-EQ. Great to see your tutorials.
Thanks for sharing your process! I appreciate it, helps lot's of people!
@@Producelikeapro no problem, I like to share experiences.
@@Bluelagoonstudiosthanks ever so much
I have, essentially, the same method. I treat the “amp” as the main source. I mix it to sound the best it can by itself with some natural grit. I usually high pass it at around 100hz - 120hz to clean out the low end and then I compress it a little bit to keep the transients in check but I don’t want to squash it. The DI I usually low pass (100hz - 80hz) and brick wall limit the living shit out of it so the clean, low end fundamental ends up being one level. I fade it in with the dynamic bass “amp” and it always ends up sounding pretty good in a pinch. In a perfect world, maybe I’d side chain the low end DI somehow to the kick drum so it’s got a bit of dynamics but for what I’m doing, this gets the job done 80% of the time. The bass guitar itself is nice and is dynamic but the low end is one consistent level.
Thanks ever so much for sharing your process Doug!
How is the song called? sounds fantastic!
gold nuggets - thanks for this
if you want to utilize hardware bass pres & FX, do you just "bite the bullet" & try to get the tracks as perfectly aligned as possible?
so, record DI direct with the amp/processed track & LPF/HPF them the same way as you do duplicated DI tracks? this way you minimize polarity issues, but still retain the live/raw sound of the hardware bass chain gear (bass pre, bass distortion, amp)
Great tutorial as ever Maestro! Are there or have there been cases where you only mixed one bass track (di+Ampsim or real Amp), in a modern rock song, or do you always use the splitting technique? Cheers!
I have been given a single bass track that sounds amazing before! Can work wonders!
Interesting. i'll have to listen again. i find it takes me a while to get a feel for sounds. At the moment, i have an impression that there was something about the original flat DI sound, and the amp sound, that i liked and was.... missing(?).... from the more tweeked sound. But then, i'm mostly a live player and i like lotsa mids on my bass.
Cool! Yes, the original DI sounds great, soloed! However, in the mix it comes and goes, after the processing it's even and present at all times!
Ah. Yes. That's why you mix records and i make demos.@@Producelikeapro
Haha I'm sure you do great work!@@TheLocalZeroChannel
Thanks. i manage to thump away at my bass around Quebec. And a bit (tiny bit) of studio work now and then. It's a bad way to make money but a good way to live. @@Producelikeapro
Do producers ever use sub synths beneath the bass in place of, say, a DI? And if so, are the subs a different octave from the bass guitar typically?
Absolutely! Many times!
Very informative and educational. Thank you. IMHO I think you needed a bass or strings with more highs to help you out with getting more grit out of that sound. An Ibanez from the high-end SR line (not the Bartolini ones) would be an entirely different story.
Hey Warren. Which Presonus Eris 8 speaker model do you recommend?
Yay bass!
Yes!!
The only thing I'd do differently would be multing the bass DI and high pass the duplicate so that I wouldn't lose all the top end and have a source to bring back some of the bite.
If I didn't have an Amp that had more Top End in it than the DI then I would definitely do that!
Often I'll duplicate the DI, low pass and add some Saturation to it!
True! Otherwise you'll end up with three sources and it becomes a bit too much to handle :)@@Producelikeapro
@@RS-pp7ngI’ve done multiple tracks blended, it can be quite fun
Duplicate vs Send - pros and cons?
Hmm I would duplicates guarantees zero ;latency through bussing! Not that there should be any, however why take your chances?
great thinking@@Producelikeapro
Thanks!@@cgsmithinnola
Nice video Warren, although I do not use Slate, I use the overall technique for mixing bass as bass player myself. I even add a multiband with the crossover at 250 to keep the nasty lows of 200-250 tamed. I stole that concept from you 😂
Are you no longer using the genelecs?
Why am i always struggling to get the bass to sit right in my mixes. Always feels missing over overpowering. I struggle to get that nice "bass bed" in my songs.
As a Bassist am the only one whos forearms are destroyed by the bound edge on the body. I had a Rickenbacker 4003 and a Schector Hellraiser with bound body's and I can't play them !!!! They turn my forearms too hamburger after 20 minutes playing.
Ouch! That sounds all rather painful indeed
What if you only have ONE bass source ?
Split it into two and treat one just as pure low end and the other for mids and colouration
What’s the name of the song and artist?
Is it because of mixing for vinyl back in the day that mixes always have no bass. I was just listening to bands playing live shows just before this video and there is all the low end, but you listen to the record kick and bass is neutered. Even this bass sounds like its coming through tiny speakers. My walls should be shaking like in live shows.
Digital has allowed a much wider frequency range and loads more dynamic range! It;s all in how it's used of course!