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How to make very low tone distinguishable

K

Krowser

Feb 10, 2009
104
0
#1
I'm sorry if that was asked before, I tried to do a search but I'm not sure WHAT to look for.

Simply put, I'm trying to play a cover of a song (Monuments - The Uncollective) and the tuning is low F standard (F-A#-D#-G#).

The only way I can tune that low (without turning my bass into a bow) is if I start on the 5th string (B to F, E to A#, etc.) but at that point my tuner has no idea what's going on and I have trouble telling apart any note played on that string.

How should I configure my EQ to make it more audible, or distinguishable?

Thanks
 
#4
Floppy strings don't put out as many harmonics.
Try thick strings, or try a pitch shifter. A professional one. Software works good.
Or tune your strings up and use an octaver to shift them down.
The strings will put out the harmonics, and the algo on a good pitch shifter will shift these fine.
 
#9
mambo4 said:
Down tuning B to F seems ridiculous to me.
If someone said to me F standard (F-A#-D#-G#)
I would assume it was EADG going up a half step: barely any difference in tension.
Click to expand...

Right -- it didn't even occur to me that you'd want to tune lower...
Tuning up makes more sense to me. An F1 is around 43.65 Hz. If you accurately reproduce tones in the 40Hz range (and most bass amps/cabs don't), you'll be doing very well. A B0 string is around 31 Hz, An F0 is around 21.8 Hz. I'm not sure what reproduces that.
 
#10
Krowser said:
I'm sorry if that was asked before, I tried to do a search but I'm not sure WHAT to look for.

Simply put, I'm trying to play a cover of a song (Monuments - The Uncollective) and the tuning is low F standard (F-A#-D#-G#).

The only way I can tune that low (without turning my bass into a bow) is if I start on the 5th string (B to F, E to A#, etc.) but at that point my tuner has no idea what's going on and I have trouble telling apart any note played on that string.

How should I configure my EQ to make it more audible, or distinguishable?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Are you sure that is the tuning used on a physical bass and not done with electronic trickery?
 
#11
You actually don't need to reproduce the fundamental, you need provide a series of harmonics that can induce the missing fundamental in the ear/brain.
See "Missing Fundamental" at the wiki.
If you tune up you'll have a rich set of harmonics on the strings, you can then use electronic trickery shift this down, the harmonic sequence will still be there with a digital pitch shifter, or you fool ears with tools like Waves MaxxBass. MaxxBass just adds in harmonics, it doesn't add in the fundamentals.
 
#12
dspellman said:
Right -- it didn't even occur to me that you'd want to tune lower...
Tuning up makes more sense to me. An F1 is around 43.65 Hz. If you accurately reproduce tones in the 40Hz range (and most bass amps/cabs don't), you'll be doing very well. A B0 string is around 31 Hz, An F0 is around 21.8 Hz. I'm not sure what reproduces that.
Click to expand...

I didn't even occur to me than you could tune higher than standard E.

How high can you tune before string tension becomes dangerous?
 
#13
Krowser said:
I didn't even occur to me than you could tune higher than standard E.

How high can you tune before string tension becomes dangerous?
Click to expand...

Depends on your string construction, but 1 step up is about my limit before it gets to be too much which is an F# for the E string.
You probably want to check out the Strings forum for more help on this than "Live Sound". It's the first and most important step in making any down/alternate/uptuning work properly.
 

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