Using subwoofer to transcribe bass lines?

[guitardefector]

Does anyone do this? I just stumbled upon this. When I turn off my main speakers on my receiver and let the subwoofer play alone, the bass part comes out with amazing accuracy. You will hear a little bleed from the vocals but very minimal.

I'm excited!

 

[Schmorgy]

Alternatively, using the EQ settings in your choice of Media player (most if not all of them have some) and cutting the higher bands and boosting the lower bands will also make the bass stick out in the same way.


Doing the reverse also makes for a good time to practice covers.

 

[N.F.A.]

I've heard somewhere that speeding up the parts brings the bass out. Is there any truth to that?

 

[guitardefector]

Alternatively, using the EQ settings in your choice of Media player (most if not all of them have some) and cutting the higher bands and boosting the lower bands will also make the bass stick out in the same way.


Doing the reverse also makes for a good time to practice covers.

I've tried this...with minimal results. There was still a lot of bleed from other instruments. However, this subwoofer trick, if you wanna call it that, emulates the isolated bass lines you hear on YouTube. Mind you, I've also returned to vinyl this year and I've noticed better isolation on the licorice pizzas than on my downloaded iPod stuff. Go figure?

 

[guitardefector]

I've heard somewhere that speeding up the parts brings the bass out. Is there any truth to that?

Yes, I've heard that, but what kind of gear do you need for that?

 

[bluesdogblues]

Aha neat trick of you man.
I never do that, nor speeding down/up the song. I'd like to train my ears to be able to hear the bass (or else) in it's 'natural' format of the record. Of course many times I catch the wrong of note, rhythmic playing etc. It's OK for me not to always exactly copy something. But by keeping to train them like that, I'm sure that I'll get better along the way.
Well, in the old days musicians even learn the songs from radio ! LOL..so I mean it's much better now.

 

[FretNoMore]

I've heard somewhere that speeding up the parts brings the bass out. Is there any truth to that?

Could be, higher fequencies are easier to hear ...
... problem is that when transcribing I seldom feel the need for speed.

 

[N.F.A.]

I've never tried it either. Pretty sure that amazing slow downer will also speed up. Been awhile since I used it. Subwoofer trick is cool though.
Update - I checked my copy of Amazing Slow Downer and it will speed up the part to twice it's original speed. I will try this out soon and report back. I guess it will be a new thread. I've hijacked this one enough. Sorry... (NB - I'm on a Mac, not sure what is out there for Windows)

 

[El Bandito]

Use amazing slow down and change the pitch a few octaves. The bass will stand out more without increasing the speed.

 

[bluesdogblues]

Once you 'digitized' the song into the computer, actually it's not too hard to do it (slow down, speed up, pitch change, EQ out the vocal as minimal as possible,...anything..) with DAW/audio editor software or even some computer media player app.

 

[lyla1953]

I'll use Transcribe for those hard to hear notes. The software has four features that help - I can EQ just the bass, loop, slow the song down or I can shift the octave(s). Personally, slow down + loop +
one octave shift up works the fastest/best. It also has chord and note finder features as well but I've never had to use them. Transcribe is a great tool - check out the free trial.

 

[MrLenny1]

Great, whatever works for you.
I still praise my Tascam BassTrainer MP3 version.
Best gizmo I have bought ever.

 

[DirkP]

But don't buy a subwoofer just to do that. (Most of) you have a subwoofer at home: your bass amp! Maybe turn the tweeter down.
Dirk

 

[Art Araya]

I've heard somewhere that speeding up the parts brings the bass out. Is there any truth to that?

Only if that also raises the pitch. Its the higher pitch that makes the bass line easier to hear.

A bass line flying by faster at the same pitch would be more difficult to pick up.

 

[N.F.A.]

Thanks. Good point. I will try it that way

 

[Weberman]

I always used a filter in Pro Tools (usually just low-pass), adjusting frequency and Q until I hit a sweet-spot. I might try a couple of other inserts, but that usually does the trick. A freeware suite should allow the same. While inside the DAW, you can also adjust pitch, if you so choose. The only thing with pitch-shifters is that they sometimes introduce artifacts that may be easily interpreted as incorrect notes.

If you are really strapped for cash, you could also try playing the song in a different room. The wall will filter out a lot of the high-end frequencies. It isn't a great solution, but might be helpful for some.

 

[divetone]

I've heard somewhere that speeding up the parts brings the bass out. Is there any truth to that?

If you have a vinyl 33&1/3 version of a song you are learning you can play it at 45rpm on your turntable and the part might be more audible. The key will raise a fourth ( a song in A will now be in D ). The part, though, does fly by faster. This is an old school aid for computer illiterates.

 

[Johnny Crab]

Been doing the sub trick since the 1970's when I got an Acoustic 370 & 301 cabinet(1 x 18 folded horn) and noticed that the 18 cab had a natural cutoff of highs. I'd run a line out to the 370 input and use the graphic EQ on it to further cut highs/mids. In the 80's, the band's PA gear was stored at my home and 2 subs(Cerwin Vega earthquakes) sat under my primary "stereo" speakers to make movie watching AND figuring bass parts out much easier. Now? I either practice at home with ACME B2's that put out almost the same lows as an 18(esp. at close range) or through a Bugera Nuke run bi-amped(lows to a front-loaded Seismic 18 sub, mids & highs to a Seismic 15/horn PA top). The Nuke has an adjustable crossover that is set at about 160 Hz and a balance knob that lets you dial anything from "sub only" to "mix of sub & top" to "only top".

It works and you get bass you can FEEL as well as hear.