Bass forward mix for rock tune.

[paul999]

My ears are a bit tired for this one.

This band want the bass to be the major "weight" in this song. I think they really just want it too be heard. What do you think?

(edit)P.S the first mix is an oops. I left it in for continuity of the thread.

[rockerdude]

Bass is so twangy and bright.Sounds like your shooting for a Tool bass tone.
This mix is thin and bright.I know this is just a ruff mix though so I won't bash the whole thing.
Ask FF for some bass tips,he gets some killer tones.

[paul999]

Good tip about Fhumble does get some cool bass tones. I am not surprised about the overly bright thing. I found myself putting a bit more then my good judgements worth of mids while burning off this master for feedback.

Thanks RD

[PeterSimonRussell]

What did it sound like with only your "good judgments" worth of mids in it?
For me the lead vocal could go down some.
I remember a similar situation with a band I did live sound for. The solution was that the bass was only up front in certain sections...
Perhaps you should have gone for a more "normal" bass tone?

[paul999]

Wow went back to listen later. Ahhhhh sorry to have put you through this. I am still getting used to this new gear. It is funny how somethings can start to sound good. When I get a better version I will post it.

[fHumble fHingaz]

Hey Paul, I like the drum sounds you got on this. Are the toms a little bit too loud? I listened really hard to the bass - Is the bass player strumming I/V chords with a pick? That's what it sounds like to me... hmm...that would be particularly tricky to mix, as it would take all the meat out of the notes. For what it's worth, I'm always experimenting with bass tones, & I'm still really just stabbing the dark, but I've found that processing the bass as 2 separate layers can be effective: Firstly the "audible" one you hear & perceive as the "tone" in the mid & high mids - usually incorporating a surprising amount of overdrive & high-pass filtered; The second being low-passed with just the bass & sub-bass content, usually clean & compressed to hell... Having said that, I dunno if it would work with this style of playing...
PS - Are these the same guys you put another mix of on here?

[paul999]

Yes Fhumble on both counts. Same band and chords all the way through. The guitar player prided himself on only playing single notes as well. Not a standard song to mix.

With the bass sound I used double tracks as you suggested one clean and one with some tube grit but he doesn't want to hear distortion so it needed to stay pretty low. I really missed the mark with my quick master. The day before I have done one that had too much low content so I gave you guys the "over compensation" mix

Thanks for the comments on the drum sounds. I am getting used to these analog eq's. They have this weird effect of not sounding shrill even when you use a bit too much. I am used to hearing things go shrill and then backing off a bit. I'll get it eventually

[paul999]

Ok I left it a couple days and took another look. I printed the wrong track with my first mix. Opps (embarrassed). I've now posted the mix that was supposed to go up under the original.

[rockerdude]

I think this sounds better than the first post.The bass sounds great in the intro but then gets low when everything kicks in.A limiter/compressor issue?

I would like to hear this without the vocals to really hear whats going on.

It could be that the arrangement is the culprit on this tune.

You have the gear and the ear, make it so captain.JK

I like the toms,a little loud but good!

This reminds me of the first few bands I recorded.I was charging 150.00 per finished song at the time, sometimes I wanted to pay them to go away......lol......

[fHumble fHingaz]

This one definitely sounds better. + 1 on what RD said.