Balance Kick and Bass levels in 30 seconds! (QUICK HACK) 🔊
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- Опубликовано: 7 авг 2024
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This video shows a really quick way to balance your kick and bass levels, using only free plugins in any DAW.
Download the VU meter I use for free here: www.tb-software.com/TBProAudi...
The blog version of this tutorial is here: www.edmtips.com/mixing-kick-a...
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• Balance Kick and Bass ...
#mixing #kick #bass
Give it a go and let me know if it works for you! 👇
I always thinked a bass is lower than kick
Great video there are a some videos out there showing how to get mastering levels with a vu meter
.was wondering if you can do one with the TBPRo meter because the other are with a different metering and they also have it set at -10 ????
Would like to see this done with this meter! I guess some use it to set the limiter? Not too sure!
Great video!
Maybe we would have to change the reference section to -10 ??? If that is the section to do it?
Also would this be done after gain staging and static mix or just after gain staging!?
Thank you!
Dude the weird thing is I've always mixed kicks and bass like this, I've always preferred how it sounded but had no idea I was actually doing it right all along 😂 thanks for the link to the free vu meter that will help me out really appreciate it
What would you do if you had a quick double-kick throughout which by default increases the energy and it goes over the -3 VU mark? Would you go with the PEAK at the double kick marking that the spot for -3VU or with the single hit portion at the -3 VU mark. I know it's supposed to be "around -3VU"; however, these are precise tools and just asking what YOU would do in that situation. I generally go with the SINGLE kick's reading.
Great tutorial mate! I finally made my bass & kick sound balanced! Thank you!
I love this channel, I had a question in a mix I was working on, and not only did I get my question answered quickly without having to sit through a bunch of fluff, I felt my time was respected so I stayed around to watch the whole thing and learned something that will help me in my mix right now. That's pretty sweet.
Stoked to hear that, Dark Desert movies! Anything else in particular you’re struggling with and would like me to cover on the channel?
Wow! Loved this :) Thank you and keep posting these tips!!!
This trick completely changed the sounds of my productions when I found it nice short vid love your tutorials
Thanks! Glad to help :)
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
Thank you so much. I am prducing a garage track, and I needed an idea of how to go about setting the kick and bass during the eq and mixing stage, as I realised that they might affect the overall texture and balance of the track once all the elements were added together. I guess I got really lucky finding your tutorial straight away, as you have used a garage style track to illustrate the point. Brilliant. Thanks again!
Really informative. And works perfectly!
Glad it helped!
Thanks! Very useful!
Love this!
Great stuff! Thanks!
You're welcome!
Thanks for the awesome tip!
You're welcome!
what a total game changer man thank you SO much, man I was going absolutely insane for a while....you saved my life
Glad it helped!
@@EDMTips just wanted to say thank you again, super game changing tip...I do house/deep house/minimal and this will be a real important tool of all my mixes from now on
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
Wow, that's gold. Thanks a lot, Will.
Glad you enjoyed it, Fabio!
Simple and genius 👍
Been using this tip since we saw it on recording revolution channel years ago. It definitely will get you in the ballpark quickly but some tracks need a little more attention so always use your ears as final judge!
Woa thank you very much, that's work perfectly !!
You're welcome, glad it helped!
Will try this
Should i be using this technique with all the other elements in my mix?
Thank you!
Sounds really great!
Thanks!
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
That's a great tip! Thanks!
No problem!
EDM Tips I was having a massive problem with this on a song I'm currently working on. I applied this today and it worked great! Happy days :)
sick hack thanks a lot, quick question: if i dont do a 4 to the floor kick/groove (more a jumping pop music kick groove) my VU goes around -3db but also much beyond and below, is that then still my '-3db range' (it does hit -3db often tho) .. same for the bass? or in other words: if the vu meter hits -0.3db often then thats fine to be a target or it only works that way if it only hits -0.3 all the time? thanks
This is a great tip, thanks for it
You're welcome!
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
very good cheers mate
You're welcome! 🙂
Nice sound! Love me some EDM...mostly DnB, DubStep and Deep/funky house. I'm subbed for more! Thanks! :-)
Thanks for the support!
Any particular favourite tunes or artists?
@@EDMTips absolutely! It's all I listen to so I have many..... Bcee, Gridlock, Camo &Krooked, Skrillex, Zomboy, Mark Farina....etc....
Awesome. TB make great software.
Yep!
Wouldn’t that reference level you have set on the vu correspond to a -18 db at O ?
hi, thanks fr the tip. what about when you really like the sound of the kick but in the track it seems you dont have all low freqs you wish or you can feel in other tracks. happens a lot with me
Thanks for that! My question is: Do I need to get the whole bass bus (including sub, mid, top bass) to 0 or only one of them? Then the question is also how loud/which volume should each of those be within the bass bus? Its pretty hard to find the right volume balance between all these in the end actually 4 elements (kick + these 3).. especially when I later play around with the EQ or compression again it changes the whole volume relation again..
Thanks broo!! Nice to meet u, im from indonesia 😉
This way or Pink Noise? If I use Pink Noise for gain stagin, can I use this trick? or my gain stagin become unbalanced?
What are your thoughts on Bass Enhancers like Renaissance Bass or the like? Are they redundant to the mix? Will they create muddiness or unnecessary harmonics? Techno-focused production.
Love to see the grooving while listening haha
It's important! :)
just a quick question ....when using the bass in this method are you using just the sub or both the sub and midbass ?
What if you have a sub layered under? How do you decide how loud the sub should be compared to the rest of the bass?
Yea this technique isn't working for me either. I have 3 layer kick and 3 layer bass. If I use the grouped kick and bass it sounds like the bass is wayyyy too loud. Maybe I have to much glue on it? (I tried turning off the hi end of the bass too)
That's the easiest and clearest hack on balance of kick/bass I have ever seen. Can't wait to try, it's been always a struggle for me. Do you know something similar on relation of sub bass/top bass? That would be also very handy! And, btw, thanks for the quality and inspiring content!
Great idea! I'll have a think about that...Thanks for the support!
@@EDMTips Can't wait!
This is great advice! Thank you. If you were sidechaining the bass with the kick would you still use this technique post processing too?
You can hear in the video that the bass is already sidechained.
not working for bass its louder than then kick, and when I play just the kick picks in red in the vu meter even if put the level in -12db, any suggestion or something is missing?
I prefer the british way of engineering because its more skill bassed...some other countries i wont mention i feel get caught up in equipment and fency solutions...this trick changed my mixes along with gain staging and lovely pink noise😢😢😍😍😍 to set intial balance...thankx for lessons means that a guy who could never afford to go to a engineering school can now have a decent mix👍👍👊
Awesome!! You're welcome, and thanks for the support
Is sidechaining to be done Before or After the Vu meter trick?
I can barley hear my bass and kick if it's set to -3 and 0 in relation to all the instruments in my set. I have all tracks set to 0 on my VU meter, the meter itself is balanced at -18. any tips? Thanks
Does this apply for when the bass hits on the off beat and not ON the kick?
can we use this trick for Trap and hip-hop genre??
So are you saying everytime we should make the kick hit on -3 dBVU and then add bass to make it hit 0 dBVU? Is it what you're saying?
Diff notes play at diff levels (your meters here illustrate this very well). For this reason, would it be better to glue compress the bass, send to a buss (to level the notes in the bass) THEN couple it with the kick?
Yeah, for sure. In this kind of music you wouldn't want too much dynamic range in the bass
Such a gem tip dude.
Thanks!
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
does that go for the sub too?
ok mixed beat. For balancing vocals how to do with vu meter?
bruh u just saved mah mix
thank you very much
You're welcome! 🙂
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
Nice tune
Thanks! It's out next week :)
Awesome as usual Will 👍
What vst is that bass off ? And is that a standard 909 kick ? Got nice body 👍
Thanks! That bass is about 3 different sounds layered together. I haven't got the project open in front of me, but probably Sylenth1, a sample and maybe a Serum
@@EDMTips thanks 👍 love the videos keep up the good work, always inspiring 👍😊
@@kirka303 You're welcome! Will do :)
Hey. I just wanted to know if your unmastered track sounds good on your phone after you export it.... Will a good master make it perfect?
Cuz my unmastered tracks sound good but I think my mastering is bad so it just makes kicks and 808s muddy.
I just wanted to know if my mixes are done correct at least.
I usually only check my mastered tracks on my phone
What about adding the snare? Another 3 db? 🙏
I've used this method with mixed results. Generally, the technique does work and allows mixes to translate well between speaker systems. However, the method kind of falls apart if the bassline does not hit at the same time as the kick, similarly to the bassline in the video with a lot of upswing notes. Also, this method really cannot be used if you're side-chaining the bassline to the kick, either by means of a compressor or dynamic EQ. Different courses for horses; depends on the program material.
oh man, thankyou! I was getting frustrated with this but the music i make has the bass fall on the offbeat.
Thank you , but how to balnce it? If you use sidechain or the bass not hit at the same time with kick!!!
@@itsisma6228 If not hitting at the same time, then give the kick and the bass the same, or similar volumes. The bass will most likely vary from note to note, so put it a range that's slightly lower than the kick if you want the kick to be the main driver of the song. You can't go wrong. Remember, this and the video are only guideline to set the foundation to build the rest of the elements on. Theoretically, it doesn't matter what volumes you start the kick and the bass at. It's all relative.
@@charlesbonkley Thank You so much mate ! I appreciate your help🙏
Absolutely this. Have seen this trick trick recommended on other channels that mix mainly live bands with drum kit kick and guitar bass. If I have synthetic kick and synth bass, this absolutely burries the kick.
Why 0 and 3? Shouldn't they just be equal? Thanks for the vid :)
How come the relative range stays the same if you adjust both sliders by the same amount of db? Or does ableton account for that when moving 2 sliders simultaneously?
It just keeps them at the same relative levels. So if your kick fader is set to -2dB and your bass fader is set to -3dB, if you grab them both and move them down together, they will still remain 1dB apart. Is that what you mean?
Is the leveling of both to 0 on VU meter before plugins and EQing are added to each or after? Please answer
It would be best to get them to about the same level independently. Not while playing them together. Get the bass to peak at -6 and then get the kick to peak at -6. Check the volumes periodically as you are making eq/compression/sidechaining adjustments. Once you get the bass and kick sounding good together, then bring in other elements of your track and use the volume of the kick and bass as a reference.
Hi man, when using this technique, they will have a nice balance, but what if I do this and maybe I don't like 'cause the bass is to loud, can I do it to my liking? Or this is a general rule for having a good balance between them? Thanks for the video.
I sometimes try getting the kick to hit a bit higher like 2 on vu so that when i add bass👈 its kissing zero gives less bass but balance still👈...my solution try it out
@@sibusisotshabalala3662 thanks man
It's just a rough technique for if you get stuck; of course, go with what you think sounds best!
@@EDMTips Thanks for the reply!
@@john23336 No worries!
Would it work with three signals as well? Let´s say, I got a kick, subbass (strictly
How did you get on?
what if i have a kick, 808 Sub bass, and Normal Bass
Doing it same as its shown in vid, but still my kick is just too quiet if i follow this -3 on vu meter, what could possibly be wrong?
Low energy kick. Maybe parallel compression will help you and boosting around 300Hz. Make sure kick is on the same key of the bass. I know is kind of late... (6 months). Also, apply sidechain to the bass, and invert the exact sidechain and apply it to the kick (ShaperBox is the best for this). This will make the perfect space for the kick.
I know this is an old comment but if the kick sounds too quiet then you probably need to cut some of the masking frequencies from the bass track and maybe even boost a little high end on the kick.
i would like to have a clear answer on what levels a base drum , base, piano is for a good preference, har d to get a straight answer on this online , dont know why , i normally leave everything about - 6 db, is that wrong ?
its all about taste...its your mix its your music. use reference tracks can help you
I tried this plugin, but when I go to run it Windows sends up a warning sign. Has anyone else had this?
Actually, if i stick to this way, the bass is twice louder than the kick. I thought something might be wrong with my sounds, so i've... recorded your video to audio sample, cut the kick and bass, put it into separate channels and done it again (so it's your sounds). Still the same. What's wrong with this ? It can't be DAW (i'm not using Ableton) because the vumeter plugin works the same way on any DAW. What could be the reason?
Are you using mvMeter as in the video? Remember also, that RUclips may be changing the loudness of the video's audio. Therefore, I wouldn't trust it as a reference.
To me, this is a ballpark method. With that in mind, if your bass is too loud (also check its frequency content), then turn it down. If it SOUNDS good, then it may actually BE good.
it happen to me could you fix it ?
i always thought the kick should be louder than the bass but when i do that my bass always sounds too quiet, i will try this method!
Let me know how it goes :)
is it possible to do this with all elements of a track? i find it very hard to get the balance right
I wouldn't recommend it because all of the other elements are pretty much to your taste. Setting the kick and bass like this just balances the kick and bass, as well as gives you a reference for the other tracks. Bring everything else up to whatever sounds good to you. If you want a visual aid, try using Voxengo SPAN on the master just to watch the other elements as you bring them in. That should help you from going way overboard anyway. I'd recommend bringing in any other drum elements after the kick and bass. Then start bringing in leads, pads, fx, vocals, etc.. Filter out the unnecessary low end from everything that doesn't need it. If your bass or kick has a lot of mids or highs, then you'll probably want to add some sidechaining to the instruments that are clashing in those areas to lower those areas of the kick and bass. A really good plugin for that is Wavesfactory Trackspacer. Put it on the instrument that you want to stand out, sidechain the bass or kick to that track and watch it work! It's kind of like a compressor/dynamic eq.
nice track ! where can i listen to the full track?
In most departmental store elevators anywhere right across the land...
What about of sub level?!
Cannot seem to follow this with the metre. My VU metre is not affected by the volume at all even when i lower the level to zero. It is still bouncing off the red. The only way the VU metre is affected is when i change the low end roll off frequency with an EQ. Then i can lower the needle to -3. What am i doing wrong?
mine too man. did u find a solution?
Is it mendatory for adding kick and bass in mono please.
No, but just be careful your sub100 Hz frequencies don’t run into phase issues
I followed along but my bass sounds louder than the kick. Mind you, I only use on-ear headphones, so that might have something to do with it
Recently I watch masterclass of Jason Joshua he is the mixing engineer of despacito....
And he share this secret technique
For drum buss
That he put every NLS buss(from waves) Plugin 8 in the Row...
Like put that plugin 8 Times (without touching any just leave it there).....
And the drum sounds have More body more with
I think you should try it out
By the way thank u for this kick and bass video
Thanks for the tip!
How can I get my bass to remain at a consistent volume instead of jumping up and down depending on which notes are being played?
It's probably your speakers favouring some frequencies over others, and is very common. In fact, our ears are built that way, too. However, if it IS in the playback, compression could help.
@@EDMTips Thanks for the reply. Keep up the vids!
Does the bass jump up and down when listening on your headphones? If it still does then you need to use compression or multibrand compression to fix it, if it doesnt then it is definitely a frequency problem in your room and speakers
just try to adjust the volumes of the bass in the pianoroll and. its more natural
I did this but now my bass is red lining whilst my kick is peaking at -15dB ??? Sounds awful. Anybody know where I am going wrong?
because your kick and bass is either not playing at the same time or not in the same frequency at the same time. Get similar volumes from your kick and bass independently.
Hi,
What if setting those levels my bass sounds too bass and loud? What am I doing wrong?
Could it be the frequency content of your bass-line? If a lot of subby lows, then it can perhaps be causing boominess at the bottom end.
Then they are probably not playing at the same time. Set the volume of the bass and kick independently. Don't try and hit zero if they aren't hitting together or hitting the same frequencies at the same time. This video is a little misleading, or at least not very well explained.
@@ToxiKraft With time I found my way. Thank you 🙏🏻
@@giorgiosale639 I figured lol mostly just a tip for people reading the comments
I dont get this this makes the bass louder than the kick ??? I always thought the kick is the loudest part ???
i did this and my kick and bass are so quiet now I cant even hear it on my speakers at 100% volume. Same settings.
Is this better than using the pink noise technique to balance out kick and bass? Or would you do this first and then balance then together into the rest of the mix using pink noise?
Great question! They are really two different approaches to the same thing, so I would use one or the other
Try it out, and tell us, if the result is quite the same in both cases. I guess, the noise technique might be problematic at the low end of the mix. Depending on your speakers, room etc.
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
All that linking and no info on what song you were playing??
so its the bass sounding louder than the kick??
Nope
This will give them similar energy
@@EDMTips Nice, i'll always had tried the "true peak" mode, then i was having my kick peaking at -10db, and the bass always quieter, -2 db in comparison with the kick, if i do it your way, the kick peaks at -18db, but if its make my kick and bass more cohesive i will try this, thank you will
Two signals, each -3dB, ADD to 0dB . So, both have equal energy, like Will explained. But as the kick usually contains more attack (transients in general, higher peaklevels), it would still sound louder than the bassline.
@@mkrespo2577 The trouble with the peak way of doing things is it can vary so much depending on how punchy your bass is (the kick will always be punchy. Or "kicky", rather!)
Usually i use Voxengo and look at how high the low end of the spectrum hits, than i rather have the kick 2 db higher on the low and than the bass so it creates a pumping effect, with the kick as leader.
So you mean the RMS must be in 12DB ? And peak hit 0 ! I don’t get it
Thx for your video, I Need a Russian translate
doesn't work for me. i tried this technique and test mij music in the car. Rip windows. way to much bass
Sorry I watch your video after one year
Let me share my experience
Different basses have different shapes and energies and this trick is not suitable for all kicks and basses ,
The secret is
Kicks and basses always must have the same dbVU on vu meter, for example when your kick energy shows -6 dbVU on vu meter, the bass has to show -6 dbVU on vu meter, this is one of the most mysterious tricks that pros never say to anyone.
please check it out, you will be surprised,
Good luck
A big mistake to make your gain staging from the volume and not the the gain, we call it gain staging and not volume staging
It doesn't work. The bass sounds monsterously louder than the kick.
Unless the bass is sidechained* Otherwise you're going to get a super loud bass lol
Oh my god, take those Behringer Truths outside and set fire to them. FFS.
Nah...I like them!
some of the best producers i know use truths. They're a half-decent clone of genelec 8031s. I know it's easy to bash behringer, but not all of their products are bad
Thanks for the awesome tip!
You're welcome! I got your email the other day.....just need to find time to get back to you!
@@EDMTips Haha, no worries at all! Take your time & continue making great material for us! ;-)
@@joachimmorrens1179 Will do!