What extent should Bass be mono?

pamphlet · Post by **pamphlet** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:01 am

On a sound system like a funktion 1 how low does the frequency range go without using the bass bins? I have a delayed bass on one of my tracks and it just doesnt as sound good in mono. should i leave it as it is or maybe double the track and put one through a low pass and mono it and the other through a high pass and leave the delay?

mrgreynoise · Post by **mrgreynoise** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:06 am

no two systems/rooms are alike, no two crossovers are the same either afaik

but as a general rule, keep everything under ~120Hz in mono

BlueFog · Post by **BlueFog** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:59 am

apply the delay to the high freq's only.

prussell · Post by **prussell** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:09 am

pamphlet wrote:On a sound system like a funktion 1 how low does the frequency range go without using the bass bins?

depends which speaker you are talking about:
http://www.funktion-one.com/
but it's not just abut having bass in mono for sub setups, it has to do with different L/R bass signals being cut on vinyl. even if the cutting head can actually do it, during playback needle tends to jump out of the groove...

mrgreynoise wrote: as a general rule, keep everything under ~120Hz in mono

+1

BlueFog wrote:apply the delay to the high freq's only.

but if the kick/bass and delay is in mono it should be fine, correct?

BlueFog · Post by **BlueFog** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:06 am

prussell wrote:
BlueFog wrote:apply the delay to the high freq's only.
but if the kick/bass and delay is in mono it should be fine, correct?

it probably wouldn't. applying delay to the low bass frequencies would make the whole track sound muddy, i think. the delayed bass would probably interfere with the kick drum and other sounds too.

if i was him i'd use a layered bass. i.e. double the bass channel, then, on the first channel isolate the low frequencies only (<300 hz) and convert to mono, on the second channel i'd have everything above 300 hz in stereo and apply delay to it.

using 3 layers (low, mid, high) could sound even better, since you have better control over the frequecies/dynamics. imo layered sounds have more depth and sound more interesting.

hydrogen · Post by **hydrogen** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:15 am

be sure to check your mix in mono and

don't follow any of these rules.

prussell · Post by **prussell** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:51 pm

hydrogen wrote:don't follow any of these rules.

not good advice if vinyl is the end product....

prussell · Post by **prussell** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:55 pm

BlueFog wrote:
prussell wrote:
BlueFog wrote:apply the delay to the high freq's only.
but if the kick/bass and delay is in mono it should be fine, correct?
it probably wouldn't. applying delay to the low bass frequencies would make the whole track sound muddy, i think. the delayed bass would probably interfere with the kick drum and other sounds too.

apologies, i was speaking of the kick drum...i.e. a small contained delay to the kick to produce a staggered extra kick, so long it was still in mono. i realize this usually isn't the norm, just saying it can be done for certain circumstances (thinking specifically Gas/Biosphere/etc).