Andy Wallace Bass Mixing Techniques

[@JulioCamposVEVO]

this is currently my favorite mixing channel in youtube, thank you very much greetings from lima, peru

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@JulioCamposVEVO thank you so much!! I’m flattered!

[@lander.96]

Thanks for this video. Loved what Andy Wallace did on Grace with Jeff Buckley. Jeff even returned to Andy after having mix sessions for his 2nd album with Tom Verlaine.

[@Dan-np5zb]

I actually tested using chorus on both sub and main bass tracks in a song that has a psychedelic vibe with lots of bass solo lines, while the guitar is doing only one finger style riff and it worked like heaven. Guys, don't be afraid to experiment stuff!

[@tpn4781]

ppl might not understand ... Andy Wallace is the Godfather of modern metal mixing... bar none!

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@tpn4781 Amen!!

[@thatstheguyoverthere]

Coincidentally you started uploading these Andy Wallace mixing technique vids just as i was beginning a binge into studying his workflow! Consider me subbed, keep it up man :)

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@thatstheguyoverthere thanks so much!!

[@bonesdog18]

You’re a fresh page for me, and you’re really giving us all just what we want. I watched some older videos of yours, also very informative. You’re like an underground audio nerds nerd. Thank you for your service 🫡

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@bonesdog18 haha, thanks so much! Underground audio nerd is so accurate, I might need that on a T-shirt!

[@Dan-np5zb]

Thank you so much!!! Been using some of those tips on my mixes and it's a game changing... Keep posting bro

[@JPHenryAudio]

Great to hear! More on the way

[@joshkorody7376]

Yes this is what i needed, been using a sub generator plug in and although its cool at times i didn't want that octave effect it was giving me, this is way better!

[@JPHenryAudio]

I always thought it was just bc I was a bassist in a past life, that I never liked the fake sub thing... just too unnatural. It's cool for Kick drums, though!

[@AA_MusicGuy1111]

Another amazing in depth explanation. Though it’s worth noting his emphasis on automating A LOT, like note by note to keep the volume of it leveled. I find one lane “leveling it” and another lane (eg logic has multiple volume lanes) being broader automation. Additionally especially with bass, monitoring accuracy is critical as far as making the notes which stick out even because those will often be inaccurate in bad listening environments.

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@AA_MusicGuy1111 great points!! I remember Andy using the big wall Mains monitors for sub accuracy, and NS10s for the upper-mid details while riding the faders.

[@Spencera224]

These Andy videos are dope!

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@Spencera224 thanks!!

[@natlove219]

Thanks for clearing this up for me!

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@natlove219 thanks for watching!

[@alexanderkhait]

I stopped understanding the concept in tutorial videos of " turn the knob until you hear the effect, then turn it back a little so you don't hear the effect". Why do something if you can't hear the effect?

[@BlackenedNL]

First video I have seen from you, awesome job! Subbed and gonna check out more

[@JPHenryAudio]

Thanks and welcome!

[@BeatsAndMeats]

Neyrinck V-90 Symphonic is a perfect emulation of the Symphonic plugin and it’s only $30 right now. There’s also Element Bass (great full bass suite plugin) which has a 3-D knob which is the Symphonic on one side and the Roland D-Chorus on the other side.

[@JPHenryAudio]

I’ll def check that out, thanks!

[@BeatsAndMeats]

@ I HIGHLY recommend both plugins! With Element Bass, try the Three Stage preset and the Prog preset and dial in the 3D effect to your liking or use the V-90 and dial in the parallel mix parameter and it sounds HUGE instantly.

[@twitcheyspleen]

Thank you ... this is all good stuff

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@twitcheyspleen thanks for watching!

[@seamusmcsorley7638]

Been enjoying these videos, much appreciated. The band kinda sounds like Incendiary, dope

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@seamusmcsorley7638 thanks for watching!!

[@IMSkerstborrel]

Just what I needed, thanks. Where and how would you automate these? For instance, do you prop up the chorus with these? Assuming you change the levels of the sub and main, and the ratio of the Valhalla swirl?

[@JPHenryAudio]

I tend to find where the sub sits best and leave it be, then ride the Main subtly (a few dB) when I want it to pop out a little, usually in a spot where guitars or vocals aren't doing much and the bass is doing something fun. Since the aux send to the Valhalla is post-fader, you'll naturally have a touch more of that when you push the Main bass up.

[@1176hambone]

Quality!

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@1176hambone thanks so much!

[@davidtodd1458]

Is that song by hollow ground

[@andivax]

Overloud Modula. On everything. That's Andy's secret trick.

[@marcdanielnelson317]

"just tapping 6 dbs of compression!" 😆 in all seriousness, nice video.

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@marcdanielnelson317 ha! That’s nuthin’ 😜

[@TDDmusique]

You're assuming that a bell at 35 is a bell at 35? And that the bass is in tune?

[@pjuliano9000]

I heard second hand ... which could obviously be BS .. that Andy would crank 350Hz of an EQ and run it into a compressor and then EQ it after ...

[@Dan-np5zb]

​@@pjuliano9000 I think JP has a video on that. It's actually 35hz not 350hz. He's actually cutting some of the low mids after cranking 35hz using a Neve 73

[@Dan-np5zb]

@@pjuliano9000 oh and he's also using a Chorus with like 0.30hz rate and 3 to 5mm depth, in order to create movement. It's pretty cool! (But be careful with phase issues, so, I recommend you check in mono once in a while)

[@Dan-np5zb]

@@pjuliano9000 also you can test using the mix knob on the chorus

[@DanielPestanaTranslations]

35 on a Neve channel, not 350. That’s the way I do it.

[@JPHenryAudio]

It’s 35hz, which is the fundamental frequency of the song’s key (lowest note C#). Every studio needs a musical note/frequency chart for this kind of stuff.

[@Dan-np5zb]

I tend to also high pass on 30-40 in order to get a cleaner low end..

[@JPHenryAudio]

I like having *something* down there, but it's gotta be either kick or bass, depending on the project or song. Can't be both or it gets too messy

[@Dan-np5zb]

@Henryamps it makes sense. Bro, what do you think of opening a "Mix Critique" for your subs/members?

[@JPHenryAudio]

@@Dan-np5zb I could be into that for sure!

[@lisan_al-ghaib]

Man this sounds a lot like a Fieldy (Korn) bass

I know this song :)

[@JPHenryAudio]

It’s a banger! I’ll prob post the full mix after we get thru all these breakdown videos

@Henryamps I really like this series, Andy Wallace is such a god sent :)