I am not really sure if this thread belongs here but I'm thinking it is the most appropiate so here it goes anyway.
Recently I've been recording bass for a friend's band demo, and since nobody is an experienced sound engineer we find ourselves tweaking around and trying different settings to get a somewhat decent bass tone. Which brings me to this brain puzzle that i have regarding my bass EQ.
After many threads and reading on Talkbass and other internet sources such as Youtube and Google links, it seemed like if you wanted a nice sounding bass that cut through the mix with definition you had to boost the mids. Watching videos of Billy Sheehan, Frank Bello, Dave Ellefson, Alex Webster etc. they would all point out to the "frownie" in their parametric EQ's on their amps or just mention how they boosted the mids.
After trying out similar settings on my Acoustic B-100 amp (boosting Low and High mids) and the parametric EQ on a SVT-4 Pro at Guitar center I thought "Oh my, I actually like this tone and I can see why most people recommend it" so I worked a setting I liked best on my amp and I ended up pretty much at ease with the whole "EQ to cut through" subject.
In comes the recording period and the doubts.
After being invited to record with these guys as well as borrowing an audio interface and recording some bass myself I started browsing youtube for tutorials and guides on how to mix a bass guitar on all kinds of DAWs and they all pretty much coincided in the same boost and cut parameters:
Small cut at 50hz for the kick
Some people completely eliminate 500hz or cut around those frequencies ranging from 400-800Hz from what I saw
Small Boost at around 1.5Khz
Moderate cut at higher frequencies to avoid noise.
Now, I can see how this works for a good sounding mix with no mud and a defined punchy bass, but it also conflicts with my understanding that boosting the mids is sort of the way to get a nice bass tone at least in a live situation which is basically why I made this thread.
I know that every mix and playing space will sound different and need different settings and that my ears will ultimately be the deciders of what works best in each concept, but I am not as experienced yet and I would love to hear some input and tips from people who are.
Recently I've been recording bass for a friend's band demo, and since nobody is an experienced sound engineer we find ourselves tweaking around and trying different settings to get a somewhat decent bass tone. Which brings me to this brain puzzle that i have regarding my bass EQ.
After many threads and reading on Talkbass and other internet sources such as Youtube and Google links, it seemed like if you wanted a nice sounding bass that cut through the mix with definition you had to boost the mids. Watching videos of Billy Sheehan, Frank Bello, Dave Ellefson, Alex Webster etc. they would all point out to the "frownie" in their parametric EQ's on their amps or just mention how they boosted the mids.
After trying out similar settings on my Acoustic B-100 amp (boosting Low and High mids) and the parametric EQ on a SVT-4 Pro at Guitar center I thought "Oh my, I actually like this tone and I can see why most people recommend it" so I worked a setting I liked best on my amp and I ended up pretty much at ease with the whole "EQ to cut through" subject.
In comes the recording period and the doubts.
After being invited to record with these guys as well as borrowing an audio interface and recording some bass myself I started browsing youtube for tutorials and guides on how to mix a bass guitar on all kinds of DAWs and they all pretty much coincided in the same boost and cut parameters:
Small cut at 50hz for the kick
Some people completely eliminate 500hz or cut around those frequencies ranging from 400-800Hz from what I saw
Small Boost at around 1.5Khz
Moderate cut at higher frequencies to avoid noise.
Now, I can see how this works for a good sounding mix with no mud and a defined punchy bass, but it also conflicts with my understanding that boosting the mids is sort of the way to get a nice bass tone at least in a live situation which is basically why I made this thread.
I know that every mix and playing space will sound different and need different settings and that my ears will ultimately be the deciders of what works best in each concept, but I am not as experienced yet and I would love to hear some input and tips from people who are.
