Processing Bass (METAL)

This is a subject that usually comes up a lot in many different forums ...Processing Bass. Keep in mind that there is not just 1 correct way to do this, there are many different ways depending on the mix. I wanted to show a "general", simple way to process bass.
I decided to use Reaper for this because there was a poll on here a while back asking what DAW is used and most of you guys chose Reaper, but if anyone would like me to post up pictures of how this would look like in Cubase, let me know. Let's start:

Start off by inserting 3 new tracks. Just to keep things simple and easier to understand, we will name them:

1) Group
2) Bass
3) Grit
*Make sure to Group the tracks

It should look like this:


--------------------------------BASS TRACK------------------------------------
First we'll EQ our Bass Track, For this I added Waves REQ 4 bands and Low passed it at 500Hz.
Looks like this:

Next, I added "ReaComp" and "MCompressor"
ReaComp is included with Reaper and MCompressor is a free plugin which you can download here:
http://www.meldaproduction.com/freevstplugins/mcompressor.php

Here are the settings for both:



-----------------------------------------GRIT TRACK----------------------------------------------------
Now to Eq our "Grit" Track, I added another Waves REQ 4 bands. You should high pass it at about 500Hz to 700Hz. It should look like this:



Next Add Waves L2 Ultra Maximizer, Settings are:


***Next in the chain for your Grit track, add in your favorite distortion, for example Guitar rig, Amplitube, Revalver. Every DAW usually has its own distortion plugin.Set it up to how you like just to add some fuzz distortion. on the mids.

------------------------------------------GROUP TRACK-------------------------------------------------

Finally, for our Group track we'll add two things.
1) EQ
2) Waves L2 Ultramaximizer

Here are the settings for Eq and L2:


Now when you are done recording your "Bass Track", copy what you just recorded and paste it in your "Bass Grit" track.

Keep in mind that your Grit track is only there to add a little distortion to the high end of your bass track, not to completely take over it. So adjust the volume of your grit track and set it so that its volume is a little lower than your bass track.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you feel there is anything I'm doing wrong or if there's something you know that I should be doing, please let me know.
Also If there is anything you guys would like to add, feel free.
Enjoy!

Useful Tip - Easily Explained

very nice.

always wish i knew more about bass.

now i do.

Where I can get those Waves plugins? Possibly they are very expensive.

arnoldase wrote:

Where I can get those Waves plugins? Possibly they are very expensive.

Sorry , next time I make a tutorial like this, I'll make sure to use free plugins. I'll find programs you can use instead of the ones I used. They are really good programs and do the exact same thing.


Waves REQ
Instead of Waves REQ, you can use ReaEQ which comes included with Reaper OR you can use MEqualizer which is Free. Get MEqualizer here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10891235/Bass%20Tutorial/MEqualizer.dll

ReaComp
ReaComp is free and is included with Reaper so you don't really need an alternative.

MCompressor
This is also already a free plugin, you can download it from here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10891235/Bass%20Tutorial/MCompressor.dll

Waves L2 Ultramaximizer
Instead of Waves L2 Ultramaximizer you can use W1 Limiter. W1 Limiter was actually made as a clone of Waves L2 Ultramaximizer. It is a REALLY good free plugin, you can get it here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10891235/Bass%20Tutorial/George%20Yohng%27s%20W1%20Limiter.dll

i am so proud of my members. kind and informative

im sorry, but can you comment a little on your EQ settings for bass, and which of them you think are metal-specific?

wins0n wrote:

im sorry, but can you comment a little on your EQ settings for bass, and which of them you think are metal-specific?

mate in the photos above you can see clearly the Gain, Frequencies and Q settings

In Group Channel there is a hi and a low pass filter that take away some useless frequencies that take some room of the mix.
You can sweep the Equalizer to see how and what frequencies affect the tone.

You should check this topic about sweeping it'll help you a lot:
http://mixingtips.org/crbst_32.html

Ask again if you need extra help

i know, but i was just wondering about that boost cut sheme in the mid-lows of the bass. seen this before, i was just wondering if he wanted to make room f.e. kick or its simply taste

wins0n wrote:

i know, but i was just wondering about that boost cut sheme in the mid-lows of the bass. seen this before, i was just wondering if he wanted to make room f.e. kick or its simply taste

if you are talking about the cut in 30-40 Hz i am pretty sure he does it to save some room. these frequencies are almost useless for bass guitar.

If you mean the hi-pass at 500hz he does it to acquire the "grit" sound of the bass, manipulate it and volume to taste

Very interesting... I'll try that as soon as can