How To Get A Mathematically Perfect Low End Mix!

[@CristianPoow]

This is the ultimate kick/bass mixing tutorial that everyone needed for decades.

[@TheK391]

great knowledge big z! always comes up with the best

[@BrandonShere]

I have been wondering for a few months now about this. I watched many tutorials on making your kick and sub in phase with each other, but I quickly realized that pitch completely messes it up so it only works on one note (which conveniently the tutorials were using only one note). This all seems so obvious now, but thank you for making it make sense man!

[@geeo_official]

I´ve never seen someone explain it so understandable. Thank You!

[@TothTimea32]

so u never used google lol

[@dimipartcaster7770]

Toth hahhahahaha, that was awesome 😂😂😂

[@bob-sk3cn]

Broooo let me save you some time, look up alexmadeit you’ll never watch one of these terrible videos again 🖤

[@whole_caveman_or_lions_den]

@@TothTimea32 stay toxic buddy! Love you too 😘 Anyway, I totally agree with geeo_official this video contained some VERY useful information that has helped me understand phases a little bit better! Now I could have gone on Google like idiot above said, but than I'd probably have to spit through numerous search results, while this video simply popped up as a recommended video on KZbin! So thanks @Big Z for the Video! And thanks idiot above for the laugh because of your inconsiderate douchebag reply :)

[@whole_caveman_or_lions_den]

@@TothTimea32 stay toxic buddy! Love you too 😘 Anyway, I totally agree with geeo_official this is video contained some VERY useful information that has helped me understand phases a little bit better! Now I could have gone on Google like idiot above said, but than I'd probably have to spit through numerous search results, while this video simply popped up as a recommended video on KZbin! So thanks @Big Z for the Video! And thanks idiot above for the laugh because of your inconsiderate and not too smart reply :)

[@maddow4629]

The best way to control the phase when the pitch is changing that to assign the phase to the velocity and you can control it in the piano roll.

[@vumlux]

Or even better, assign it to the note, that way you can achieve the "psychopath" method, just without all the work

[@Breakfast_Time-r3c]

thanks bro@@vumlux

[@fkuchticek]

@@vumlux But every note can start in different offset to the kick. So this is usable only if you have very straight and stable rythm in bass.

[@vumlux]

Yes, it could get rather messy with a very busy bassline. But you could also assign the velocity to the note modulation as a "phase law", removing the phase modulation on notes with a certain velocity. That way you could for example have the "phase correction" happen only when the bass interacts with the kick, but not in busier parts. @@fkuchticek

[@sneakerhead4770]

@@fkuchticekwouldn’t u use another bass or synth bass for that. Mb something with more midrange and the other one stays with the 4 on the floor

[@itsthewestend]

Great explanation! TBH i feel like its not a huge problem because its also ok to have some separation between the kick and bass. For example your side-chain could be setup so there is really minimal overlap and potential phasing and that can also help with the groove of the track

[@quariusmusic]

7:45 THIS🙌 But the knowledge here is Superb, I didn't knew the Noise Cancelling thing

[@IlyaPrevost]

You make the best tutorials on music on KZbin!

[@EsoVieTH]

Finally someone who has an honest approach to this topic and actually seem to understand it. I didn’t think I was going to learn anything but I did, in the part with noise canceling in headphones. Definitely going to recommend this video if someone asks about phase relationship within the kick & low end. Good job!

[@birdscramzel]

Been watching a few years. His take on things is just class and very coherent :)

[@bob-sk3cn]

What if you dont have serum? This video is barely even useful bro if you want a compact banger u wont find anywhere else, look up alexmadeit, thank me later

[@tareqhamdan5297]

One of the djs from Dada life had a video on this.He modulated the phase within serum to the velocity of the midi and changed the velocity accordingly to keep in phase. Completely changed the game for me!

[@synth_coven]

This is genuis

[@ieatthighs]

@@synth_coven GENIUS*

[@synth_coven]

@ieatthighs lol I'm an idiot

[@wterf11]

this is why modern "808s" are the perfect solution for this, because they usually an already mixed kick + bass wav file that u can place at any frequency without having to mix each note differently.

[@Maradnus]

That’s another reason why modern music is sounding boring & generic

[@SingularityMedia]

808s aren't samples. Unless you use 808 samples. Just use a sine kick generator if that's what you want.

[@juvnchy]

That’s exactly why it’s awful. Because if you go high off the root note, the 808 sounds fine but that’s when the kick starts sounding weak and washed out. 👎

[@raedewav]

Don't get into music if you're that lazy bruh. If samples solved everything why are we even making anything original anymore?

[@elijahlucian]

@@wterf11 everybody in this thread needs to stop f-n gate keeping

[@NPC_averagemale003]

A kick can be mathematically described as a sine wave that is being transposed from a high frequency to a low frequency with a sinusoidal amplitude curve. Essentially you can just cut out the tail of the kick at the sample point when it reaches your bass's frequency and align the bass's phase with that sample. The phase cancellation occurs because you are allowing the tail to continue dropping in pitch frequency past the bass frequency. If you try to match the phase perfectly your bass would not have a constant amplitude as the kick's tail amplitude would sum with your bass and your bass would pitch down as you try to match the kick's pitch drop then you would still need to figure out a way to pitch it back up. So might as well just cut the kick's tail 😅

[@mountmyrrh]

Nice I just made all my drum one shot samples super short (because I love the sound) and so I low key just solved this 😅

[@loislevy]

Your videos and the way you structure them are always a treat!

[@Plaw01]

Big Z - i've watched dozens of videos on this subject. You make this so understandable. Well done!

[@jarettholmes2815]

Great video. A small note on phase & speakers: The cones in-and-out movement corresponds with the waveform it is reproducing. When outside noise is duplicated and phase flipped the waveform interferes with the incoming audio and nulls any overlapping frequencies. The sound isn't blasting into your ears as there is no movement of the speaker.

[@Manuel_Manzotti]

In order to have a perfect low end, it is important that both the kick and the sub-bass and the bass play in different places so as not to overlap each other. It is also important to separate the frequencies of each element, so that everything is ventilated and does not interfere with each other. Thus, you don't need Phase Invert or things like that, the important thing is that the track is from the beginning a well-defined production, and from the mix, separate the frequencies between them as much as possible.

[@drydessert4198]

Did you try plugins that automatically align phase? Melda has one, SSL have one, ... there are a few in the market. From the top of my head, I can remember these two. Producer Dominik Eulberg mentioned in a video course that this plugin (I think he uses the one by Melda) makes a big difference. I didn't understand what he was talking about, honestly. After watching your video, I think that might have been exactly what he is using this plugin for. Definitely worth a try.

[@highbred]

Awesome video! The problem that you show at 4:01 can be avoided by just changing pitch in audio after you have sampled your kick. That's how we pitch our distorted 909 kicks in hardstyle. You just find where the attack (kicky sound) and tail (subby sound) best split and cut there, then change the pitch of the tail. Cubase's mpex sounds great for this, as well as cool edit pro, kontakt, adobe audition and I've heard great stuff about Logic Pro too, but never personally used it. There's also a plugin that specifically does this, it's called Nimble Kick. Basically does all of the above for you in a plugin, and then you can play your kick in midi. just watched a bit further, yea you do have to mind the phase of the two, but you'd cut the audio at zero crossing anyways so it shouldn't be an issue. Don't know about other DAW's but cubase has a snap to zero crossing feature that comes in clutch for stuff like this hehe 7:39 Haha shit, guess I'm a psychopath xD

[@kaiju2127]

Most tips videos out there don't actually provide any tips or will give some basic advice "use some white noise for your drop" they just make you think they give value with the title of the video but it's just to get your attention and they don't provide for anything, your channel gives ACTUAL techniques and tips for music production. Keep it up

[@marwanelmeligy8235]

Thanks Z This is really insightful 😊

[@BigZMusic]

Thanks for watching man 👍🏼

[@mohammadkanaan6697]

Noise cancellation technique explanation blew my mind 🤯

[@Stvrk]

In big mixing sessions, the latency added from plugins like soothe, pro L, and linear phase EQs actually changes the quantization of shaperbox, adding latency at the beginning of each cycle (yes, even when I change it to audio sidechain) Almost thought you showed me the magic bullet for low-end mixing but the latency is an absolute deal-breaker

[@OilRacki]

So first off.. THANK YOU for being the guy that finally states the flaw in most of the videos out there. Most of the tutorials on this are all like, here's my simple 4 on the floor beat with a 1 note repeated baseline.... lol I can mix that shit easily in my sleep, and it was always frustrating for me to see these tutorials ignore this obvious problem. Unfortunately the simple 4-on-floor, /w simple bassline is a style of music I have no interest in making, and I struggle with mixing when a) my bass synth is a variety of notes (i mean, even just following the chord progression.. nothing crazy) and b) not necessarily in sync with the kick as far as rhythm. I think I still have some blanks to fill in on my own, but I think using the scope to "get as close as possible" like you showed will help me make it work.

[@AudioAssassin]

I have to say, dude... I love your work. I've been producing for 24 years and people have told me that I should be making tutorials as well but I can't be stuffed, lol. I spend most of my time producing. Whenever I sidechain a bassline to a kick, I use two sidechains. One for the general volume and the second for just the bass frequencies. Which sits at the zero volume point for a little under a quarter of the beat. The second sidechain is flat at zero vol and when it comes up its perfectly linear as opposed to the first sidechain which has a typical SC curve.

[@agentmethod]

well explained. also the grit when you talk over the bass is dope. the high end artifact-ing making you sound chipmunk-y is a wild side effect.

[@Jarxiel]

havent finish the video and have to leave you a comment, thank you

[@ileryon4019]

6:08 me :) YOU CAN ASSIGN THE KICK PITCH TO KEYBOARD AND YOU CAN USE A MACRO CONTROL TO SPECIFY, LIKE IN SYTRUS FROM FL STUDIO ( WHICH MEANS YOU NEED TO MAKE THE BASS IN SYTRUS, AND HIGHPASS THE KICK, AND BLEND IT PERFECTLY.

[@TheBullterrierFan]

I'm speechless bro. Your knowledge is stunning. The part about Hz's brainstormed my head. Maybe it's the time I'm watching this but... dude. This channel is fire.

[@speedcrawlmusic]

Will be trying this! Thanks for the vid! 🙌

[@KARLKANE]

obviously bonus tip: allign the phase of the bass note that is most commonly in the track. or else the bass note, that you want to emphasize, for example the root or the dominant. also consider: if you make 1 note bass drops, try the to change your whole key and the bass note to F or F sharp (and ofc also align kick bass phase) - subwoofers go brrrr

[@Addiction-Therapy]

This is the best explanation I have ever listened to! Thanks Zach!

[@schqrr]

3:15 super interesting I've always wondered that thanks for explaining simply

[@ViktorNova]

I'm a partial psychopath! 😄 It's pretty quick to just leave your kick as is and have some automation changing the starting phase on the bass synth for each note and once you have a section of the song done, that automation can easily be copied to like the 2nd/3rd verse etc. I've found having another automation lane that slightly increases the attack time of the bass synth envelope for some troublesome notes is sometimes necessary when you can't get max correlation with phase alone. Oscilloscope is mandatory 🤘Signalizer is a great free one that works well for this. awesome vid!

[@thibaud57]

Or you create a track for each note and group them. But is it really worth the time? I don't think so. Key is to find the sound working together with interesting rhythm

[@rapsoli-w2q]

Man to be honest you clarify everything in the best way❤ Wish you the best man❤❤

[@faridmurshidov1940]

U can use note modulation and attach it to the phase in the serum

[@LockWithNoKeys]

Ya Virtual Riot just made a video that did “Note” modulation to LFO length and it blew my mind haha I never even thought to do that despite it being right under my nose!! 😅

[@parkavemusic]

How would you do that? In the Matrix?

[@BigZMusic]

Great idea, but changing phase alone isn’t enough to perfectly line it up with the kick. The rhythm of the bass throws off the phase too and it also has to line up with the pitch of the kick. So there’s too many variables to just use note modulation

[@daeonmusic]

Or you can use 3 or 4 instances of the synth depending on how much notes your bass have, cpu intensive 😅

[@faridmurshidov1940]

@@LockWithNoKeys always read the manual)

[@martinneervoort4137]

This is just excellent! Well done and great way to bring over most important info needed summarized perfectly - I wish you did this 8-10 years ago 😊😊😊

[@mehrun5700]

Kahmr’s mixing engineer actually does fix the phase for every bass note

[@panorama_mastering]

Sound design masterclass! Great work mate!

[@KevinTPLim]

This is a really really good video. You’re a great teacher! :D

[@jacobharris3017]

incredible production quality thank you for this

[@Peter-gu9ph]

I have been having this problem with bass for years and never knew how to fix it - and judging by the countless other videos I've watched on KZbin noone else seems to know either - so a huge thanks Big Z for your great work to figure this out, and your generosity in sharing it!

[@silv3rius371]

Make your kick shorter using the side chain. Make every sub bass note equal in volume visually if you can not hear it right. Place your kick drum sub in the same note as the key of the song and then do these wonders explained in the video.

[@iamdwsm]

The most useful 8 minutes on mixing low end anywhere on the internet

[@elijahlucian]

Instead of this shaper, would a side chain dip be enough?

[@aduzadolozi]

Dope Song 🎵 bro👏🏽👏🏽🔥

[@hunterbadamo3098]

Wow. This is incredible knowledge. Great video

[@linds_muzik]

One of the best videos explaining low end period

[@electronicdancearchive5878]

Well done buddy. You nailed a tricky subject in less than 8 minutes. Brilliant.

[@PakkaMusic]

super interesting man amazing job!

[@Skandalistic]

I really enjoy your tutorials and explanation videos. you explain things very well and I acquire plenty of knowledge that I actually put in to work in my production

[@elijahlucian]

@ 5:03, How do I even hear the low c on my phone speaker? When I try this, a low C simply disappears. Is it really a sine wave? A sine would only be the fundamental, but in your pro-q, it shows all kinds of harmonics.

[@thibaud57]

Because its saturated. You can see there is harmonics and not the single root not. Plus if you shape a wave that is not exactly a perfect sinewave it helps too

[@edlangen]

is it possible to use this technique on hip hop?

[@SBKhere]

bro i was experimenting with this whole day and had a same conlcusion and now i see you added the same topic video, we live a simulation :D

[@Zaalogg]

How do i trace the shape of this kick and bass with shaperbox volume plugin? I dont have this snapshot feature of the wave to wrap the curves around? It displays only when playback audio is coming in over time.

[@Soundsauca]

Big Z is on it like a Scotch bonnet. So many useful things here man. Thanks a million!

[@DoosaOfficial]

I swear I know all of this stuff and have seen other videos all over about these things, but never one so well broke down and put together. Subbed!

[@iammrkindness]

Can't you print both into one file after alignment and then stick that into a sampler, so when you pitch shift, the whole waveform shrinks or expands while the alignment remains intact?

[@frantic2688]

The random airpod breakdown blew my mind great work homie!

[@mattbukovski92]

Sometimes I'm this psychopath and I actually do align kick with each sub note separately, in such cases usually I prefer to have them on audio tracks and then I cut the bass notes and fade/align them manually. Actually, this is a great idea for an app / VST / synth / DAW that could automate this process :D

[@tebi1kurieudidon172]

It already exists...

[@THOMASTAYIMOEHL]

which one du you mean?@@tebi1kurieudidon172

[@heartbeatbillionaire]

what is it called?@@tebi1kurieudidon172

[@agapeleone5847]

​@@tebi1kurieudidon172 what is it called?

[@VirginHolyFire]

This is why I always manually adjust my 808s and line them up in phase to hit just after each kick. It’s much easier to work with audio clips than midi like you’re doing.

[@AMAX_AUS]

also turning on TRIG will make sure it starts from the same spot on your wavetable on serum

[@sevchyk]

If you have a crappy song, your low end will matter absolutely zero.

[@vinylmastersgr1036]

In new songs, bass is awful, very hard and dull, and drums hit so hard. There is no room to breathe instruments, bass is centered and loud and it "covers" all the details In oldies bass is perfect but when they make remastered versions (here in Greece at least as I know), they use the wav files and not the master tapes. They normalize wav files, also cut many highs and then make master again at around -6,90 LUFS, whether original versions of first 90s greek released cd pressings are around -14 and -17LUFS.

[@definty]

Mixing starts from composition.

[@sevchyk]

@@definty Really?

[@definty]

@@sevchyk yup, for instance and obvious one is don't layer lots of instruments that take up the same part of the frequency spectrum. Also build ups and drops will have much more effect from composition and mixing only adds a polishing or enhancement to it.

[@sevchyk]

@@definty Interesting. What is “instruments”?

[@jdstarek]

Came for mixing lesson, got that plus a science lesson. Love it.

[@JeffWrestledABearOnce]

I learned so much from this. Thank you! I hope both sides of your pillow are cold tonight.

[@FrequeBoutique]

:) Great blessing ! Superb 👌🏻

[@thibautmusic]

This video is so cool man! Thanks for that knowledgeee

[@Joscy]

this was actually very interesting to watch

[@clementeebel4920]

When you talk above the bass there is sine wave constructive interference 😂. Very nice video!

[@josealejandrogarciarojas1115]

Best video about low end I've ever seen. Great job

[@bmxescape]

Brilliantly explained! Thanks a lot!

[@Hexspa]

Phase is per-frequency. Polarity is for all frequencies. Noise cancelling earbuds invert the polarity.

[@shimonh3531]

Finally! Someone who explains so precisely and clearly, thanks bro

[@SouthStreet24Media]

Am I the only one who watches Big Z tutorials whilst thinking, "I will never be able to replicate this in real life"?

[@thibaud57]

I ve been watching thousand and thousand tuto on it the Last months. And very theorical and complicated (psytrance are specialist for that). But here its the simplest way and very nicely ecplained

[@gabrielepaoli669]

Best video ever on YT for learning the basics of mixing lowend!

[@TheMAU5SoundsLikThis]

Amazing video bro - visuals are on point

[@EllieReagan]

I love how when you’re just running drones and a pure sine wave - my iPhone speakers, no matter what volume, start distorting your voice

[@MANDEEMUSIC]

Very usefull, as always ;) I upgrade my Shaperbox from 2 to 3 😅

[@gregfisher43]

I think i never met any of a genius and helpful guy on the youtube before, than you BigZ! You help so much with your videos constantly when i watch any of them. Thank you for being selfless to share your knowledge! Love and peace🙏

[@dominicstrike]

That was so well explained.. thanks man!

[@dnnlmusic]

One of the best classes that I've ever watched! Thanks

[@wayveemusic]

You can generate a kick preset in serum and play it along with bass xD

[@Amiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii707]

"Sausage looking low end" now that is memorable hahahaha

[@overloaded808]

Concise answer on perfect sidechaining: without any change and never looking back with this as part of your starting template: Soothe 2 settings: Hard | depth: 18 | selectivity: 6.4 | sharpness: 0 | Attack: fast | Release: 1.0 | set high pass 500hz with 24db/oct Q: .07 then side chain it to your kick Done

[@tylerdowd4335]

This is excellent. These visual aids perfect.

[@same.different]

I watch your videos mostly to see you bobbin to the beats, but also the knowledge

[@mattiasmichelsson5808]

Honestly the best tutorials & explanations on Soundcloud, legend!

[@RhodesyRecordings]

Thats some crazy indepth knowledge Big Z, whicked video pal love it, ✌😎

[@samuelbreuer]

how do you make kick and base appear in different colours in shaper box? thanks for the great video!

[@AdamSalaah]

This is also true for vocals, where the EQ needs of a vocal will change with every note they sing. Rumor has it (according to him I mean lol) that Jaycen Joshua does a separate EQ for every different chord of a chord progression on the singer's voice. That is definitely insane! But you can't argue with the results I guess

[@BigZMusic]

True, that’s why I use soothe2 as an EQ on vocals so it adapts to every new note

[@iamxenobyte]

@@BigZMusicdo you have a video on that??

[@Dr-Curious]

OCD is a thing and it wastes hundred of hours on things that nobody can really hear in a mix because people can't control it. All the best mixes are done by ear, not scopes and theory.

[@ridgeisland]

Scaler EQ can follow the pitch of the song.

[@loubot3332]

This is the answer. Its ok to understand how to clear some space between 2 sounds​ but anything more is overkill and unnecessary@@Dr-Curious

[@RogerBrenon]

Then you can get crazier by rendering the separate tracks to stems before mixdown and use the phase plugin in RX to correct each wave phase between transients like all the mastering houses do before they master a stereo track. Correcting "Phase Rotation" can make a big difference on how your tracks react when going through plugins. Ever see a wave higher or lower than the center line? Optimal waves are even on top and bottom. If you see otherwise, your Phase Rotation is off and can cause digital distortions when going through plugins. Then Do the rendered song AGAIN before mastering. It's a long process but I've tried it and it does make a huge difference. This isn't something you can hear before going through plugins. You might think your plugins suck or your'e not using a good one. . You can see it though. I see a lot of 6 to 87 degree off alignments everywhere all the time when optimal should be at least within 2 degrees. RX will correct it so you can hit your plugs the right way.

[@viktorlarzev3528]

Well when y do programm your music how you showed in ableton is a one thing, but when you actually play music with intrument, no mater bass guitar or synth play on keys, there is nothing on straight lines, so then it becomes very diffucult to controll low end, then you need side chain comperssion, volume automation in arrangment, because you need to put volume down, not when kick is hiting, but a bit before, also dynamic IQ on bass for kick. And then it works.

[@sonarusmusic2381]

By far the best video you have done! Thanks dude! You should do an introduction to ASMR and Synthesizers i think beginners would benefit A LOT! Also could you do one on MIDI programing for us more experienced?

[@jrm9259]

From France ! Quality here ! Thanks for your work ♥

[@williangarciasantos]

Hands down the best video on the topic , thank you so much!

[@cerodb4695]

Great explanaition, I saw Dasclitch covering the same topic. Which was already an amazing tutorial. But yours adds extra depth to this knowledge, and that tells something because Dasclitch is pretty insane.

[@PatricBabenberch]

Dude, Im not one of the guys that always post "Great", but the track is great. with dynamics and more interesting pump than simple side chain.

[@joshy909]

One of your best videos yet

[@DJStatusss]

What if synth is a loop? No pause button

[@OriginallyG]

'impossible' man I had Noisia's song 'into dust' in a session earlier and I swear to God their bass is so perfectly aligned with their kicks in the main drop and the snares are cutting through so sharply it's abruptly stopping the sub, it's a masterpiece...

[@aviolentpurple9925]

The last thing you said, about changing the phase for every single note… maybe a plug-in could do this some day? Might sound pretty cool

[@0x_ethos]

been watching your videos the last few weeks, great work on the detail and explanation. subbed and supporting!