Low frequencies from "can" speakers (PC speakers)

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rainmaker1011
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2010/02/21 14:36:25 (permalink)

Low frequencies from "can" speakers (PC speakers)

Hi,
what mixing technique should I use to make sure that the low-end will be full and rounded on both HIFI and PC speakers? In my latest project, I play on bass the lowest "E" (48Hz) pretty often and I cannot hear  it clearly through my PC speakers. It sounds great from my Yamaha monitors though.

thank you


Best Regards,  
Marek

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  DAW: Sonar Platinum 64bit PE//C2D@3,0GHz//6GB 800MHz RAM//LCD 24'' Samsung //Focusrite Scarlett 8i6//Windows 10 Professional 64bit//Toontrack SD 2.4 x64//NI Scarbee Vintage Keys//NI Alicia's Keys//112db Redline Reverb//Voxengo plugins//EWQL Composer Cloud
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    MIDIMINDS
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    Re:Low frequencies from "can" speakers (PC speakers) 2010/02/21 15:01:17 (permalink)
    No such thing, really.

    Most probably, you can hear the frequency response differently because of the actual build specs of the monitors/speakers.  (Example:  You're not going to get the same response from a 5" woofer as an 8" woofer.)

    However, you CAN focus on the harmonics of the bass so that you get a fairly well-tuned low end response.  (The Waves RBass plug is good for that application.)  Be careful, though.  Bumping the EQ across too many harmonics can make for a muddy mix. 

    IMO, you should focus on getting it sound as good as possible on the most neutral monitors you have (the Yamaha's?) and then make adjustments to the "master" using Ozone if getting the mix to sound good on the PC speakers is a must.   But whatever you do, don't "dumb down" you mix so that it sound 'good' on crap speakers by OVERCOMPENSATING for their shortfalls.  It will probably sound like crap on GOOD systems.

    Good luck...
    Jay

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    Jay
    MIDIMINDS
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    rainmaker1011
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    Re:Low frequencies from "can" speakers (PC speakers) 2010/02/21 15:15:42 (permalink)
    thank you Jay.
    Will look at harmonics for sure, actually I thought this could be one of the solutions.
    Do you know if there is a Voxengo plugin similar to RBass? Waves plugins are too expensive for me.


    Best Regards,  
    Marek

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      DAW: Sonar Platinum 64bit PE//C2D@3,0GHz//6GB 800MHz RAM//LCD 24'' Samsung //Focusrite Scarlett 8i6//Windows 10 Professional 64bit//Toontrack SD 2.4 x64//NI Scarbee Vintage Keys//NI Alicia's Keys//112db Redline Reverb//Voxengo plugins//EWQL Composer Cloud
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    rainmaker1011
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    Re:Low frequencies from "can" speakers (PC speakers) 2010/02/21 15:19:44 (permalink)
    oh, just found Voxengo LF Max Punch... putting it on my shopping list :)


    Best Regards,  
    Marek

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      DAW: Sonar Platinum 64bit PE//C2D@3,0GHz//6GB 800MHz RAM//LCD 24'' Samsung //Focusrite Scarlett 8i6//Windows 10 Professional 64bit//Toontrack SD 2.4 x64//NI Scarbee Vintage Keys//NI Alicia's Keys//112db Redline Reverb//Voxengo plugins//EWQL Composer Cloud
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    35mm
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    Re:Low frequencies from "can" speakers (PC speakers) 2010/02/21 15:35:11 (permalink)
    EQ & compression. You need your bass to cover a big enough frequency range to cater for different listening systems. Then you need to have compression to keep it under control, but with enough power to come through.
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    ba_midi
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    Re:Low frequencies from "can" speakers (PC speakers) 2010/02/21 17:54:13 (permalink)
    rainmaker1011


    Hi,
    what mixing technique should I use to make sure that the low-end will be full and rounded on both HIFI and PC speakers? In my latest project, I play on bass the lowest "E" (48Hz) pretty often and I cannot hear  it clearly through my PC speakers. It sounds great from my Yamaha monitors though.

    thank you

    One thing most engineers/mastering people do is to get a hard roll off below about 35 to 39 HZ (Hi Pass).  This allows you to push a little more of the higher harmonic frequencies without clobbering your mastering compression or speakers.
     
    IOW, you setup a steep/hard cutoff below about 39HZ.  Then you can push a little above 50-60HZ or higher.
    This acts, in a weird way, like a compressor for EQ.   Since you can push more of the upper freqs without getting the rumble, you can then experiment with what works for the monitors as well as cheapo speakers.
     
    There's no "one size fits all" here, though.  Every track has its own personality and requires sometimes very small adjustments (sometimes large ones) to make it work for that particular track.
     
     

    Billy Arnell (ba-midi)

    http://www.ba-midi.com/music/files
    Music gives me life, so I give life Music.
    Thanks for listening - Let's Dance to the rhythm of life! :)
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