Let’s talk low end confusion. There are many methods and steps you can take to get a nice, round low end in your mix. However, that nicely balanced sound often escapes us and we’re left feeling a little disappointed. It’s time to put an end to that!
More often than not, we don’t get the results we want due to overthinking or overcomplicating our approach with plugins and fancy tricks.
Let’s have a look at the most overlooked approach to getting a great low end balance.
In this video, you’ll learn how to use your ears more effectively, quickly balance your low end so that you can save time and build a great mix…
So, I’d love to know…
What’s your approach to mixing the low end?
Leave a comment below!
professional sounding mix every time...
Stephen Hi.
I will openly confess my starting approach is nowhere near as systematic as you describe. I will try to adopt what you do. I have 2 questions though. Firstly: if EQ is used to sculpt the low end, don’t you need to revisit the balance? Secondly – and I realize this is a starting point – should the final balance be in the context of the whole mix? I may have misunderstood what you were saying – however, it sounded like you’d never need to go back and adjust the faders again? Sorry if I’ve got the wrong end of the message here. Please keep up the good work. George
My take is that EQ or any other processing shouldn’t affect the level of your tracks or the low end – unless, of course, you want them to affect the level. So, once you’ve set your levels like this, anything else you do should be to compliment the balance you’ve created. This final balance would be in the context of the whole mix because you can bring all the other instruments in and built your mix around the low end, if you so choose.
Okay, you balanced the kick and bass and find out the low end is not loud enough or too loud when you add the other instruments and vocals and you have to re-adjust your low end again. How does that work or am I misunderstanding.
Well, you can always bring up the other elements around the kick and bass. If you’ve set “the foundations” with the kick and bass, the other elements should be complimenting that balance and neither be too low or high in level. Easier said than done. If you have to adjust the faders later on because you hear there’s an imbalance, I don’t see anything wrong with that. This technique gives you a really strong starting point and generally, once I set the faders, they don’t move (besides automation moves).