AUDIO
TIPS FOR MIXING BASS | Timothy J. Miller
Bass guitar lays a huge foundation for a band. to move back and forth across the sonic • 400 – 1000 Hz: Boost in this area with a wider
But good sound techs avoid flooding the spectrum, then narrow the Q and cut that Q if the bass needs additional punch, clarity,
auditorium with low end mush. Here are a few frequency as needed.) This will help the bass tools to help you get there. sit better in the mix without having to reduce
pick noise, or presence.
• 2.5 – 5 kHz: Boosting here will give the bass
a more crisp attack or upper tone bite.
volume. It will be great for acoustic basses.
Just keep in mind that an accumulation
• In addition to volume, consider the proximity
you want to give the bass. Move it toward • Use a high pass filter to roll off bass guitar of frequencies in this range from multiple
the back of the mix by adding reverb, delay, frequencies below 40 Hz (or 100 Hz+ if the instruments can create to a sense of
or modulation effects, or by cutting the EQ in kick holds the primary low end). The low E harshness in the overall mix.
the mid/low mid range. Increase presence by string’s fundamental resonance is at 41 Hz. reducing or eliminating modulation effects, or Sonic information below this is mostly just boosting the EQ in the mid/low mid range. rumble.
• Consider using a low pass filter to smooth
out the sound by rolling off frequencies
above 5 kHz. This is especially helpful if you
Add carefully in the context of the entire mix
to avoid creating sonic mud!
• 80 – 180 Hz: Boost here with a wider Q to add
need to minimize string buzz.
depth and body, but be careful of boosting
• Like all instruments, start EQing by sweeping
• With a compressor, lightly duck the bass
too much toward 200 Hz.
across the frequency ranges to identify • 200 – 300 Hz: Cut here if the bass guitar is by side-chaining to the kick drum. This
and level out any primary resonate peak indistinct, lacks clarity, or sounds “woofy” or will emphasize the kick in the groove by
frequency that can take over the mix. (Start muddy. This can be especially effective if you minimizing the low frequency competition
by using a tight Q and greatly increased gain, boosted the 80-180 Hz range. without having to turn the bass guitar down
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May 2020
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