Bass Mixing For Live Sound

Get better mixes, faster with my 3-step guide to perfect EQ:

Bass is the foundation of every live show and in this video you’re going how to do it right. No matter if it’s electric, acoutisc or synth, or if you’re using a DI, a mic or combining both, you’ll get a killer foundation for your next live mix.
We’ll take a deep dive into everything from instruments and amps, mics and positioning, and EQ and processing. Bass is hard, it takes a lot of experience to get right but with my guidance you’ll be able to get it sounding great, quicker.

[gregorykusiak]

In the combo DI&mic technique for electric basses, it’s not just in or out of phase between the two sources, it’s the actual propagation delay between the DI signal and how long it takes the cone of the amp to move air: A little channel delay (on a digital console) to the DI signal can be momentous and really help to get that instrument to sit as a foundational element in a mix. Get that right, *then* figure out the amp’s phase relationship with the PA.

[ileutur]

I'm glad sound guys like you exist out in the world somewhere. Usually when people see my pedalbord and the mic request on the input rider, they just roll their eyes and do the bare minimum, even though my setup is carefully chosen to be flexible for any venue and stage type. I've only had someone approach me to dial in the perfect room sound once in over 30 gigs

[jonassgundersen]

I learn new things from every video! Amazing work and clear explanations!

[HeronWSPGrant]

I've learned and applied so much from your teaching sessions so thank you very much. I am an aspiring audio engineer who just recently upgraded to a behringer xr18 .. which I learned from your channel as well .. I recently did a church gig with a band and used mic on bass cabinet only.. I only had 16 mic inputs and already used 7 on the drumkit and two on the keyboard.. I used 6 for vocals .. it wasn't a very large venue so the bass Amp was already almost filling the space so I just added a SM58 in front of the bass cabinet positioned how you recommended and got great sound and balance with the drumkit.. I was even able to send the drummer some bass signal in his headphones mix.. I think it worked out quite well. Thanks again for your valuable lessons.

[jmoreno]

Question: can I just run the bass through a DI box and through the speakers/subwoofer of the venue that way I don’t have to bring my bass amp? Or is using a bass amp AND a di signal through the PA the way to do it?

[adambyars]

I appreciate the work and effort you put into your content. Thanks for what you do!

[rolsonray]

Spreadin' the love my man...fantastic video

[SubOxyde]

Just stumbled on your channel, love the format and quality. Keep up the good work!

[snotvlek]

12:45 Alternative method to the 'side mic' is placing the small diaphram condenser with rubber bands behind the strings, if the bass does not come with a mount

[squidcaps]

Tip: ask the band what tuning they are using and set your hipass filter accordingly.

And remember that electric bass specially at the lower tunings has very little of the fundamental frequency: even if they have B tuning it does not mean you are getting really any 30Hz from the bass. It is all 2nd/3rd harmonics and octave up. Even at E tuning the lowest note has fundamental frequency as 3rd loudest. This is because of the physical dimensions, the strings dictate the ratio between fundamental and harmonics. Our ears however will complete the harmonic series and we can hear the pitch of the note, even if the fundamental is completely removed and only its harmonics remain.. You can cut a lot of unwanted rumble by starting your cut around the lowest note so that it already cuts away some of it.

Synth bass does not have the same limitations and they can easily have the fundamental frequency as the loudest...

[Nick-fil-A]

I can’t believe how much I agree with everything you said. It was all spot on

[muddymudhoneymud]

Your videos is very clear explanation..thank you so much bro...I learned a lot from your video..❤

[basstor]

As an owner of some basses….I have “active” basses with just a passive tone knob. I also have passive basses with higher output than my active basses.

[dylanjastle]

Recent subscriber! You have some really detailed and informative content.

Question for you. I’m looking at buying a bass amp that has an DI-out with an impulse response filter on it. Would an IR-filtered DI be useful to you in the context of a rock mix? Assuming there is some overdrive on the bass. Would you also want a DI straight from the bass or out of the pedalboard in this situation?

Thanks!

[Basie-o]

Live your content. How about a few points on the style of music. As you may know the sound of bass is very different for various styles (rock, blues, jazz, reggae, funk/R&B, ).

[AbiodunAdetutu-ggmv]

I like it, am just watching this I love it. But is it possible with xr18 beringer?

[claudemetzger]

A good sound is made with :
1 ) No microphone to pick up the sound.
2 ) seperate cabinets for bass and drum.
That is the final secret.
Unfortunatly most of the "sound makers" have no earing.