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Bass Tone/Dealing With Frequencies

#43
joshbassistct said:
Alright, first things first. I posted this on SevenString.org in hopes that I would get some kind of help since that forum is more geared towards metal and the style I play. Needless to say, I didn't get any kind of reaction. Anyways, I need some help dealing with bass tones and frequencies. I play in a Technical metal band and I need help getting that good live tone.

Gear I am using:

Carvin LB 75 (tuned BEADG) w Carvin HB2 Humbucker (used Passively)
Ampeg SVT-III Pro
- Bass: Boost/Cut @ 50 hz
- Mids: Boost/Cut @ Frequency
- Frequency: (1. 220 hz), (2. 450 hz), (3. 800 hz), (4. 1.6 khz), (5. 3 khz)
- Treble: Boost/Cut @5 khz
- Bright Switch: +6 boost @ 2khz
- Hi Switch: +6 boost @ 5 khz
- Lo Switch: +2 boost @ 40 hz, -10 cut @ 500 hz
- 9 Band EQ: Boost/Cut on top of Pre-Amp EQ when EQ switch engaged
(33 hz)(80 hz)(150 hz)(300 hz)(600 hz)(900 hz)(2 khz)(5 khz)(8 khz)
Carvin BR810 Bass Cab

I've been told to cut mids in the 400-600 hz range, boost the 2khz and the 5 khz, boost the 80 hz a little, and boost the 800 hz, and that anything over 5 khz is pointless for bass.

Any further type of help/advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.
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Don't crank the lows, that takes up power and doesn't deliver much perceived volume in return.

Don't cut mids much. It's not a good idea in a metal band unless you're VERY up front in the mix.

What frequencies are your guitarists cutting/boosting? The frequencies they cut should be the ones you boost. It's all about frequency slotting when you're in a dense mix.
 
#44
Congrats on making it this far. You're in the hands of the soundguy out front. Hope you don't get many half deaf ex-guitards in charge.

Do they mic your cab or lump you with DI?

Can you get your producer to listen to some stuff with actual bass tone in the mix? It's not like the guitar tones are bad, just, well, it's all been said and none of it will change his tendencies unless he hears another way and likes it.
 
#45
LiquidMidnight said:
+1

If this guy is primarily a metal producer, I'd take his advice with a huge grain of salt. There are bazillions of modern metal records out there with the bass buried under gobs of scooped, compressed guitar tone and kick drum mixed way too low in the mix. For my money, the modern metal bassists with the best tone are the cats from Protest the Hero, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Unearth. You can actually hear the articulation of their instruments, even in a metal mix. Of course, all three of those bands have something else important: Guitarists with great tone (i.e., not smilie-faced EQed, stupid gain level guitar tone), which is half the battle, especially in a metal mix. I totally disagree with the idea that anything above 5k on the bass is worthless. In a metal mix, sometimes getting that really high frequency presence with even a little fret click is just what you need.
Click to expand...

My favorite modern metal mixes as far as the bass and guitars go are Primordial and Yob.

 
#46
I don't know if you have a wireless unit or not, but getting screwed by supposed "sound men" over the years pushed me to buy one. During sound check, I walk out in front of the stage and listen and play, get an idea of the sound. Then move to the exact center of the room and repeat. Lastly go to the back of the room and repeat. I then adjust the EQ on my amp and go back out and listen. If you do that, make sure the guy running the board leaves you set flat. It can be a little lengthy, but it works.
 

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