longstoryshort

VIDEO Q&A part 2 - Mixing Kick + Bass

Added 2024-01-24 04:26:22 +0000 UTC

another Q in a previous comment on mixing kick/bass and how i approach it

i don't compress or process the kick/bass together, i prefer to just have well chosen elements, and i like to manipulate them to get along. i use kick2 for control, samples are fine but i preference going the"hard" route in exchange for more control. more control also means more room for error, though.
tuning, timing, and phase are the three rules of a good foundation for kick/bass
tuning: make sure the kick and sub "get along"
not necessary to have kick play a sustained note, i think it's annoying in most cases when the kick plays a "note". constant pitch down works best IMO
timing: sidechain timing is important. the longer your kick, the longer your sidechain. ringmod sidechain helps too and is something i've been experimenting with.
phase: if both notes are in tune and the waveforms are opposite of each other they will cancel each other out. if the kick and bass phase, no amount of EQ can "solve" this because it's creating a gap that cannot be filled.
i did a quick tip video on this, but when im wrapping up a mixdown, i like to modulate "phase" to velocity and play with the interaction. if done correctly this will feel like a big EQ boost :)