Deep bass is generally considered to be the frequency range below 80Hz. This is the range of frequencies that is responsible for the sub-bass, which is the lowest and deepest part of the bass spectrum. Sub-bass frequencies are often felt more than they are heard, and they can add a sense of power and weight to your mix.
Some instruments that produce sub-bass frequencies include:
- Bass guitar
- Kick drum
- Electronic bass synthesizer
- Subwoofer
Some genres of music that often feature sub-bass include:
- Hip hop
- Electronic music
- Reggae
- Dubstep
- Trap
There are a number of factors that can affect the perceived depth of bass in a mix, including:
- The frequency content of the bass instruments: The lower the fundamental frequency of a bass instrument, the deeper the bass will sound. For example, a bass guitar tuned to E has a fundamental frequency of 41.2Hz, which is lower than the fundamental frequency of a kick drum tuned to C (65.4Hz).
- The level of the bass instruments: The louder the bass instruments, the deeper the bass will sound. However, it is important to be careful not to boost the bass too much, as this can make the mix sound muddy.
- The balance between the bass instruments and the other instruments in the mix: If the bass instruments are too loud relative to the other instruments in the mix, they will sound overpowering. On the other hand, if the bass instruments are too quiet relative to the other instruments in the mix, they will not be noticeable.
- The acoustics of the room: The acoustics of the room in which the music is being listened to can also affect the perceived depth of bass. A room with good acoustics will have a more even bass response than a room with poor acoustics.
If you want to add more deep bass to your mixes, there are a few things you can do:
- Boost the frequencies below 80Hz on your bass guitar, kick drum, or electronic bass synthesizer. You can use an equalizer to do this. Be careful not to boost the bass too much, as this can make the mix sound muddy.
- Use a subwoofer to reproduce the sub-bass frequencies in your mix. A subwoofer is a speaker that is specifically designed to reproduce low frequencies.
- Mix in a room with good acoustics. A room with good acoustics will have a more even bass response than a room with poor acoustics. If possible, try to mix in a large room with few reflective surfaces.
In addition to the above, here are some other tips for getting deep bass in your mixes:
- Use sidechain compression to create space between the kick drum and the bass. This can help both instruments to stand out more in the mix. To do this, you would route the kick drum to the compressor of the bass guitar track. Then, you would set the compressor to duck the bass guitar whenever the kick drum hits. This will help the kick drum to stand out more and create a more punchy low end.
- Use a spectrum analyzer to visualize the frequency content of your mix and identify areas where you may need to make EQ adjustments. For example, if you see a lot of energy in the low end, you may need to cut some frequencies to avoid making the mix sound muddy.
- Experiment with different EQ settings and techniques. There is no right or wrong way to EQ bass, so it’s important to experiment and see what sounds best to your ears.
By following these tips, you can learn how to get deep bass in your mixes and create a solid and punchy low end.
