LOW END MIX TRICKS

IN DEPTH MIX TUTORIALS, Music Business advice, Live Q&A, Awesome Merch

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$100 off Dangerfox Desks Discount Code: coltcapp

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[ColtCapperrune]

What do you struggle with the most in your mixes??

[VirginHolyFire]

Another thing to mention is to high pass at the beginning and end of your chain because after dynamic processing and added noise, you will often bring up everything you cut out going into your chain depending on how much processing you did💯

[PaulEubanks]

Another thing that makes a huge difference is metering your low end on the master bus. Use a spectral graph plugin (after your limiter!) and reference your low end against other similar tracks low end. Sometimes all you need to do do is boost a kick or bass or sub synth up by a few db with the fader.

[ybz.]

I have never heard anyone explain things as clear as you do. thanks, man!

[SnWlf]

The biggest problem that most people have with mixing low end is that they can’t even hear it in their home/apartment studios. Mixing bass frequencies relies so dang much on the tuning of your room and without proper monitoring you’re pretty much screwed

[audioglenngineer]

I’ve been experimenting with low shelfs replacing my high pass filters, because of the reduced phase shift and ring. It’s a pretty great way to clean up the bottom, while adjusting the corner Q to emphasize or deemphasize the low end of the track from the corner resonance of the shelf, similar to a HPF. I find, especially cumulatively, across several tracks, shelving VS high passing can make a large difference, particularly in the high mids. It sounds less digital and tampered with to my ears. It’s a bit more dialing and time, but so far worth it for me. I’ll often crank down the shelf as low as it goes, both in gain and frequency, then raise the frequency up to where I would normally put a HPF. Then I’ll go higher with the Q if I want more slope and corner resonance, or lower for less. Got the idea from the “Are You Listening” videos from IZotope. Mixed a bluegrass tune today with way better results IMO.

[miltonex]

Wow!!! this is pure Gold for Low End!!!! thanks for sharing!!!

[monotroneofficial]

thanks colt! I used the mono-maker a lot on the mixbus, but I changed my approach recently, due to some feedback from a renowned mastering-engineer (zino mikorey). he says: dont use a mono-maker on the mixbus. a mono-maker is a highpass-filter on the side-signal of your mix. so a filter is gradually changing, turning the phase, while the signal goes down the slope. if you put a mono-maker at 150hz, this means, from 300hz to 150hz, the filter will turn the phase to be out of-phase at 150hz, and the lower down you go, it will turn further and further.
what does that mean for the "spacialness" of your mix?
the ms-encoding/decoding is an adaptiv and substractiv process (L = M + S; R = M - S; M = L + R; S = L - R). this means, if the side-signal is now out of phase at 150hz, the side-signal is now on the wrong side. and this keeps going on down the slope. so you will lose depth in your mix.
if you have any side-problems in the lows, you should fix them in the mix. so for example if you have a wide low-synth-bass and you wanna make it more mono in the lows, do it on its channel. same goes for all the other instruments.

[davebops]

Thanks Colt, I particularly liked the advice about making the low end frequencies mono.

[carl_]

Thanks! Great form to explain in detail in a easy way.

[mixedbyrogers]

Boost the fundamentals. That’s the trick

[xianduvallx]

Excellent, especially the first and last ones. Nothing improved my mixes more than simply learning how to set faders and filters properly, and managing the low end in my reverbs.

[TheDaveDodsonProject]

Awesome video thanks Colt! The mono bass at 150hz is something I need to try out.

[iancunningham]

One thing I like doing that I'm surprised you didn't mention is side-chaining bass parts. Side chain a bass synth to a bass drum and it'll pump and give both space

[ThisMichaelBrown]

Man, brilliant tips and I also find myself high passing higher and higher with time...I high passed my bass guitar at 60HZ in a recent tune!...cleaned things up...Thanks Colt, always pick up gems here

[mixedbyrogers]

It’s like back planning. If you learn mastering you can learn mixing

[curtisvincent]

Sevendust! My favorite band!
Thanks for the content Colt.

[BunkerAudioPanama]

Real great advice for mixing!!! My magic spot is 188hz. Low frequencies are so big that in a concert or live scenario, they will sound mono even if slightly planned because of either crossovers and the wave length themselves. That low end advice is solid. Those who pay attention will grow for sure in their asking palette if not already implementing these tips and tricks 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 Thanks for sharing!

[Brutuscomedy]

What's helped me recently is using a new monitor--Yes. I only bought one and mix in mono for the most part.--and utilizing its 80hz high pass option. It's a Presonus Eris E8 XT. I check mixes on a cheap computer speaker setup with a crappy sub but more importantly on Blue Sadie headphones as well. A portable JBL speaker is another tool for checking mixes elsewhere, including outside while walking the city. In terms of plugins, I still like IK Multimedia's Linear Phase EQ for transparently high passing the mix (granted, not turning the linear phase option ON so it's really just a reg EQ) and sometimes adjusting in M/S mode rather than universally, keeping more lows down the middle and shaving from the sides.

[yanudol]

FANTASTIC video ... Everything you say is just what I've got to understand too as the result of 30 years of experience, it's great to see how we all get to the same conclusions LOL.... Also, with the experience, I think that we all learn about the most important thing:: SOUND PHYSIQUEand common sense.