Is the bass tone really so poor?

[Boneless]

I recently recorded and mixed this song.



It's for a local singer-songwriter, I play bass in his band and I take care of the mix phase (he's self produced). I've been told that the bass tone is poor, but I don't really hear it. Yes, it's not the usual bass tone and it's quite mid heavy, but that's just the character of the bass (an Orange O-bass with Pyramid Flats into a GK800RB + GKNeo212, with a blend of post-poweramp DI and cabinet miked with a D112 and an MD421). I like its round attack and controlled lows, and how it actually blends in quite well with the rest of the band. Was it an isolated criticism or do you actually hear something wrong with it?

 

[Wood and Wire]

Nope, it's totally apt.

I wouldn't let random, unsolicited comments undermine your confidence, especially when you don't know the source, they're credentials, or their motives :

Could be another bassist, gunning for your gig.

Could be someone who thinks all bassists should sound like Chris Squire, or Lemmy.

Could be their kid sister, who only likes EDM.



They're just opinions.

 

[MonetBass]

It's not bad, but to my ears, it could use more low end. Perhaps you can EQ it differently. I like the sound, but I agree that it could be better.

 

[oldandbold]

Good work. There is nothing "poor" about it, ask a hundred, get a hundred different opinions. It sounds good, it fits the song and is mixed in well, end of story. Again, you did a good job.

 

[silky smoove]

As an audio engineer I have a different take. To me the problem isn't the tone, it's the level. Listening through my studio monitors in my fully treated studio I find the bass to be overwhelming other elements in the mix at times. The snare drum, which in most tunes of this nature should be the second loudest thing in the mix after the lead vocal (if following modern conventions) gets lost in the bass at times. The singer's range is also overlapping a good portion of the bass' midrange which leads to some masking that he probably objects to. I suspect the singer was commenting more on the relationship of the bass' level to the rest of the arrangement than the actual tone from a frequency response perspective.

 

[J Wilson]

I'd agree with Silky: The tone is fine, but it's too forward, feels like the snare and the vocals are behind the bass.

 

[jeffmensch]

I like the overall character and playing. However, it is a bit too strong in the mix. Silky stated some excellent advice more eloquently than I could.

 

[Boneless]

As an audio engineer I have a different take. To me the problem isn't the tone, it's the level. Listening through my studio monitors in my fully treated studio I find the bass to be overwhelming other elements in the mix at times. The snare drum, which in most tunes of this nature should be the second loudest thing in the mix after the lead vocal (if following modern conventions) gets lost in the bass at times. The singer's range is also overlapping a good portion of the bass' midrange which leads to some masking that he probably objects to. I suspect the singer was commenting more on the relationship of the bass' level to the rest of the arrangement than the actual tone from a frequency response perspective.

The levels were "chosen" by the singer. The criticism didn't come from the singer, and the bass is forward but because it carries the song (not my words). I agree the bass could go down a notch. Also, the singer doesn't want his vocals to be upfront, and the drums were deemed as "very loud" by the producer. *shrug*

 

[Michedelic]

I don’t think it’s too “forward”, in fact it’s lacking some warm/bottom to my ears, and there’s a clicking that’s overwhelming(and annoying)…is that the kick drum? Or were you using a pick?

 

[Boneless]

I don’t think it’s too “forward”, in fact it’s lacking some warm/bottom to my ears, and there’s a clicking that’s overwhelming(and annoying)…is that the kick drum? Or were you using a pick?

I was using, in fact, a pick. (The idea is that the bass should sound a bit '60s). The kick drum is quite round, in my opinion.