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So what does "punch" mean, anyway?
- Thread starter darwin-bass
- Start date
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
"Punch" as in, the top end that adds oomph to the low end.
A very easy way to start to understand is by saying the letter P. Now, say "P" without saying anything. Do the same exact thing, but don't say anything. Notice the Pop?? Thats what "Punch" is. Now say P without popping. It lacks all force. Low is there, but without everything else, it's just a mellow hum.
Punch is the force of low end caused by mids and highs that add force, depth, and character to it.
I'm with the quick-transient hi-mid articulation definition of "punch". That's what it's always meant to me because that's what it takes to be heard well in the mixes I play in. I'd imagine it means something a lot different to people who play different music. Growl, snarl, woody, and clank seem a bit more self-evident but who knows... The one that always gets me is "warm".
Lower midrange to me.
Percussive. Somewhat Tom-tom like.
A snare cuts through the mix due both to its high end content and its mid-punch. But the punchy part would be in the 120-350-ish hz range.
At least to my aging ears and minimal technical knowledge of the subject.
Percussive. Somewhat Tom-tom like.
A snare cuts through the mix due both to its high end content and its mid-punch. But the punchy part would be in the 120-350-ish hz range.
At least to my aging ears and minimal technical knowledge of the subject.
Every one of those terms means exactly what the user intended it to mean when he or she employees it to describe tone.
Wow. No clear consensus on this at all.
“Punch” to me is in the high-bass, low mid area - 100 to 250 hz. A really punchy sound, regardless of other characteristics, is one I feel as a physical impact on the body - fast in attack, but often with a quick decay to the sensation.
I’m surprised people are describing “punch” as something in the high-mid/treble frequencies. I personally would never describe a treble instrument, like a violin or trumpet for example, as “punchy”.
“Punch” to me is in the high-bass, low mid area - 100 to 250 hz. A really punchy sound, regardless of other characteristics, is one I feel as a physical impact on the body - fast in attack, but often with a quick decay to the sensation.
I’m surprised people are describing “punch” as something in the high-mid/treble frequencies. I personally would never describe a treble instrument, like a violin or trumpet for example, as “punchy”.
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I always thought “punch” is more of a feel thing, like when you can feel the attack of a note. You can feel all loud bass, but “punch” is when you can feel the sharp focused front end of the pressure wave slapping your chest.
I LOVE they used Berry Oakley as the "Reflective" (example)!
I think both of these tracks were recorded with an early Precision bass, as well (?). Bogert is statistically quite possible; whereas, JPJ is normally (mentally) associated with his Jazz Bass. I think I read somewhere, he recorded with the early P bass on many songs. (Lemon Song, for sure?)
If so, that would lend a lot to the attack/punch of these wonderful tracks...
It's the sound I got out of the $299 EBMM Sterling SUB bass I was playing at Guitar Center today, during lunch break (powered through a MarkBass amp)!
I easily associate those terms with a defined frequency range.
In my audio mind, “punch” is low midrange. “Burp” is higher up the spectrum, heavy with attack, little sustain.
[Misinformation on] Punch is produced by hitting the strings hard with downstrokes only. The word was derived from Punk. [Misinformation off]
