Compression question...

[nutrinoland]

Hi..
I just came across a problem while mixing a track and thought I would ask here..
I found that on a bassline that has a descending pattern as the chord changes, the bass loses energy and gains energy in certain parts...also the EQ settings for one section/chord section are not that suitable as the bassline moves to other notes in the next section...
I thought that the compressor on the channel placed before the EQ, would solve this issue by making the volume somewhat constant, and control the dynamics as the bass loses and gains energy in the different parts...
I cant seem to get it right...although when I listen to tracks where this is happening..the bass energy seems to remain almost constant...no matter what notes are playing..

DO I set up a different channel with seperate EQ's for each bass section , with appropriate settings ?? or is the compressor supposed to do a better job at leveling out the energy on all sections...

the bass notes for example are...C-G (a 4th below) then moves down to B-F then moves down to A-E ...


Thanks...

[Timo]

Several things...

If you're using a synth like the Virus to generate the bass tones, using filter key-follow to track the keyboard is a given. This will allow the filter cutoff to track the notes played on the keyboard. It emphasises all of the notes you play equally - particularly important if you're using resonance - as opposed to configuring just a single, static resonant frequency that never moves and emphasises some notes but not others.

You will have to 'tune' the filter-keyfollow though in order to do so equally across the board, dependent on the frequencies you wish to enhance. To do this: raise filter keyfollow to 100%, raise the resonance, play the note you want to emphasise, sweep the cutoff filter until you emphasise that note, play other notes to make sure they are emphasised equally, then lower the resonance to whatever you want.

Second thought, might possibly be your room - the acoustic space. If it's not acoustically treated, standing waves may cancel each other as they reflect off walls, dependent on the wavelengths (frequencies) of the audio and the ratios/dimensions of the acoustic space.

[nutrinoland]

Hi.
Thanks Timo.
I will try the Filter tracking/ key follow method..
But I think you are right about the room...
It sounds really bad...and its not treated...
Also the desk my speakers are on add bass to the sound...
it took me a while to figure out.but one side of the desk is dense with drawers and the other side is hollow...
The hollow side speaker sounds more bassy...
Is acoustic treatment an expensive process...also in order to treat my room...do I need to do all the mathematics...or is there a simpler way ? will I need to hire experts to treat my room ? I have avoided it assuming that it will be too expensive...

Thank YOu

[Berni]

Here's a really cheap solution to your problem, that is, bass travelling through the wooden desk. Go to your local DIY/garden store & buy 2 small concrete paving slabs, big enough to fit your speakers on then buy 2 cheap mouse mats. Put the slabs on the desk then put the mats on top then put the speakers on top of them. The mats help absorb the freqs & stop you scratching the bottom of your speakers. They also make it easy to swivel them around to get the sweet spot. I guarantee there will be less boom in your room & the bass will be punchier as it does'nt travel to well through concrete. You can also paint them to fit in the studio colour scheme. The whole thing should be around $10.

[nutrinoland]

Thanks Berni..
I'll try that...

[Berni]

Trust me bro it works...I've had my mackie hr824's on a couple of 2" thick pavers for years, makes a big difference on my set up. The crystal skulls on top are an optional extra ; )

[nutrinoland]

:P

Nice....I like the skull
I'll definitely try this out...
The slab u are using looks quite thin....
would a marble slab work too ??


thanks

[Berni]

Like I said there 2" thick and do the job...I can't see any reason why marble would'nt work...just a lot more expensive thats all. Mine where $2 each from home depot & I just primed & painted them purple to match my studio.

[nutrinoland]

Hi..
so I picked up 2 marble tiles today...about an inch thick ...just trying it out ...I think it sound better...a little cleaner and tighter bottom end...I'm gonna need to do some mixes now to see how much the tiles help...maybe I will need thicker tiles to achieve an even better result..
Anyway....Thank you for the Idea....I think it will definitely help me with my problem...

[Berni]

No problem man, even though you are not actually following the instructions ; ) Hope it works out.