3 Ways to Make Sub Bass Stand Out

General

• How to Layer Bass so it Cuts Through on Smart Phones, Small Speakers or Club Mono Speakers

• i.e. Small Speakers Especially on Smart Phones Often Cut Sharply at 200Hz (or Even Higher) which means Sub Frequencies are Totally Inaudible

• Another Reason is Smart Phones Fold Back to Mono when Held Vertically (Horizontally They May Play Back Stereo), i.e. when you have Stereo Bass this May Cancel when Fold Back to Mono which May also be True for Clubs

• so Mono Compatibility is Important for those Situations

– Another Issue can be Masking Caused by the Very Little Headroom on Phones, i.e. a Loud Kick will then Mask the Bass

Fix a Sub Bass that has a Chorus Effect from Cancelling Out

1) Duplicate the Sub Bass that has a Chorus Effect and Call One = Top and the Other = Bass

2) Use an EQ Bypass / De-Activate the Low Band in the Top

3) Use an EQ Bypass / De-Activate the Mid and High Band in the Bass

4) Now on the Bass Split Use Just the Left Signal with a Utility Plugin

5) Now You have Fixed the Subs from Cancelling Out when Fold Back to Mono

Try Make Sub Bass Stand Out on Small Speakers

1) Add a Distortion Plugin, i.e. Preferably Saturator with a Soft Clip Curve

– Ideally Choose One that Allows to Increase Drive and Automatically Adjusts Output (e.g. when Drive Goes Up to +20dB Output Goes Down to -20dB)

2) Add a Waveshaper After the Saturator that Emphasises Around (After) 200Hz

3) Follow with an EQ that Cuts the Very Lows as Frequencies Below 20Hz are Not Represented by Any System and is Even Below the Bottom of What you can Feel

– e.g. Cut Right Underneath the Lowest Fundamental in HQ Mode or Linear Phase

4) At the Same Time Dip a Little the Additional Generated High Frequencies that May Compete with the Rest of the Mix

5) To Create More Space Between Kick and Bass, SC the Bass, i.e. Not Necessarily for the Pump Effect bot More for Space 

Pitch Up Sub Bass / 808 (Audio) 1 Octave to Stand Out on Small Speakers

1) Duplicate the Sub Bass and Pitch It Up an Octave

2) Cut Lowest Frequencies on the Layer Right Underneath the Lowest Fundamental in HQ Mode or Linear Phase

3) At the Same Time Dip a Little the High Frequencies in the Octave Layer that May Compete with the Rest of the Mix

• e.g. Stuff Above 1000Hz

4) Dip Other Elements in the Bass Layer Range, i.e. Elements that Now May Compete with the Newly 1 Octave Up Created Bass Layer to Create More Space (e.g. Cut Below 100Hz or Even Below 200Hz)

Pitch Up Sub Bass / 808  (Midi) 1 Octave to Stand Out on Small Speakers

1) Duplicate Original 808 Midi Track and Pitch Duplicate Up an Octave (i.e. Call it “808 High”)

2) Use Saturation Trick on “808 High” as Described Earlier

3) Clean Up Lows and Highs on “808 High” as Described Earlier