4 Magic Frequencies for Mixing BASS GUITAR

Find out my go-to frequencies for EQ'ing bass guitar + how to use them to get powerful, balanced bass tones that ground the mix.
☛ Learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes with my FREE Mixing Cheatsheet: mixcheatsheet.com
Check out my Low Control plugin: www.blacksaltaudio.com/low-co...
Watch this next: 3 Controversial Tips for Great Low End • 3 Controversial Tips f...
Music I’ve Worked On: open.spotify.com/playlist/6I7...
Website: hardcoremusicstudio.com
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MY FAVORITE GEAR:
Computer / Interface:
Mac M1 Studio Max sweetwater.sjv.io/anOMOo
Avid Carbon sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQ6M6g
Apogee Duet 3 sweetwater.sjv.io/y2qXqb
Monitors / Headphones:
Avantone CLA-10a sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyMyZ
Audio Technica ATH-M50 sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMON
Microphones:
Shure SM57 sweetwater.sjv.io/daOMy7
AKG D112 sweetwater.sjv.io/Kj0MBy
Sennheiser e604 sweetwater.sjv.io/DKyvWa
Shure SM7b sweetwater.sjv.io/5g5vk3
AKG C451b sweetwater.sjv.io/jre9Rv
Shure SM81 sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LnD
Audio Technica AT4050 sweetwater.sjv.io/JzKMqr
Preamps/Outboard:
API 3124 sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LRD
EL8 Distressor sweetwater.sjv.io/XYmMd4
Favorite Plugins:
BSA Clipper blacksaltaudio.com/clipper
Escalator blacksaltaudio.com/escalator
Low Control blacksaltaudio.com/low-control
Waves SSL Bundle waves.alzt.net/dMd4q
Waves CLA Compressors waves.alzt.net/0va0P
Waves Platinum waves.alzt.net/jxz2M
Slate Trigger 2 sweetwater.sjv.io/MmAM53
SoundToys Rack sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyd
Auto-tune Pro sweetwater.sjv.io/OreMYr
Vocalign Project sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyA
Cranesong Phoenix II sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMrz
Instruments / Amps:
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare sweetwater.sjv.io/1r9vDR
Gibson Les Paul sweetwater.sjv.io/B0nvz1
Evertune Guitars sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyM6P
Fender Jazz Bass sweetwater.sjv.io/nLX5R6
Sansamp Bass Driver DI sweetwater.sjv.io/OreM9Q
EVH 5150 sweetwater.sjv.io/4PGvr9
Mesa 2x12 cab sweetwater.sjv.io/75avGA

[@aerov2484]

If I may, if you're in drop D tuning, 73hz is the first harmonic. The actual root frequency of the low D is the octave below, so 36,72hz.

[@amethystlegion]

Was just about to comment on this. The lowest normal note on a 4-string bass, E1, is 41.2Hz. However, it's also true that most speakers people actually listen to music through have pretty serious frequency dropoff well above that (and many start to roll off around 100), so targeting the first harmonic is not necessarily a bad plan. Generally you'll want to HPF the bass away below about 30-40Hz anyway because the entire mix just accumulates so much mud down there, and bass is the worst offender there. And I say this as a bass player that loves my low end tone.

[@downtownbillyandthenewjivefive]

@@amethystlegion On top of that, most people are listening to music with earbuds, so headphone mixes should be the starting point.

[@hans-joachimbierwirth4727]

@@downtownbillyandthenewjivefive Only if you have years of experience. Never underestimate how awful headphone mixes can sound on high end systems.

[@Marco_Makes_Music]

Please continue this series! I already downloaded your cheat sheet but there is just something about watching you actually do it in a mix! I feel like I’ve learnt more from your Magic Frequencies-videos, watching you mix with only the SSL-channel than I have from watching any other videos. I would also love to see a series where you show how to compress all the different instruments but only using the compressor from your SSL plug-in. I just love the simplicity of it.

[@TheOddKris]

If I ever make a decent amount of money off of mixing, I'm paying you back! Thank you so much this channel is a gold mine ❤

[@zeclomal2265]

Same here! Jordan taught me like 90% of what I know about music production.

[@sisyphushappyband]

I will say that I recently completed his course on ProMixAcademy and it's made a HUGE difference in my mixes. Totally worth it!

[@johnnhoj0420]

@@sisyphushappyband a b. 😊😊ngchhc iviivicv

[@matthewnanes]

I downloaded that cheat sheet a couple of years ago, it's helped me a TON. I saved them in my presets in Logic and it's been a great place for me to start my mixes. I've leveled up since then but I always start with those now.

[@Igotabadbrain]

Your channel has literally changed my mixing and quality about 2000%. Really appreciate your work! Thank you so much!

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Great to hear!

[@admnbz]

me too

[@billyhughes9776]

Straight ahead and to the point, that's what I love. Source is always key -- thanks Jordan!

[@jessepadgett9070]

Thank you so much for this and so many other tips! You have helped my mixes tremendously, especially when you offered advice about workflow tips/the mixing process.

[@scott7521]

This guy is one of the best for teaching.... so clear and concise.

[@Bthelick]

Remember any peaks in the sub range are dependant on the key of the song. If you're boosting 55hz then you're boosting the note A. If that's a bad note for the key or not the home of the chord progression then you're doing more harm than good. Imo if you don't know the key of the track and the chord progression then just use a shelf only.

[@ThalamusGhipopotamus]

at live concerts, will you also tune the kick drum to the key of each song?

[@Bthelick]

@@ThalamusGhipopotamus that's rarely a good idea, you'll just end up with one long drone out front. Even in dance music I rarely recommend. I actually made a video on tuning kicks already.

[@christhembones8244]

Thank you! Just what I was looking for. This also helps me understanding how to utilize the SSL plugin better.

[@d.s.9692]

I find that this advice does get you some good results. But from my time working in studios, I'll offer some contradictory things. 1) The fewer EQ maneuvers you do, the less 'artificial' it will end up sounding. You say you rarely cut frequencies, but if you took a pretty wide Q band at about 500 or 600 Hz and dipped it, you'd end up with similar results that sound really smooth & organic. 2) My experience with pro engineers is that the fundamental frequencies of an instrument are almost never boosted, for several reasons. First of all, it's not interesting. Overtones are what convey the character of the instrument, not the fundamental. Secondly, it makes for more dramatic dynamic changes, forcing you to lean more on compression. You can make a bass sound really solid and warm with a boost at around 200-250 Hz. This also gives you a bass tone that shows up on small speakers. If you find that you have to boost the lowest bass frequencies of the lowest instrument in the band, you probably do not have a good recording. 3) For modern bass tones, please consider multi-band compression at recording time. There are quite a few compressors that will get this done for you, or you could mock it up yourself with EQ and filtering. I'm finding this to be a magic bullet for getting all the warmth AND all the presence I could ask for, and I don't have to work hard to get a good EQ out of it.

[@zeclomal2265]

Could you please go deeper in your 3rd point. I find it very interesting but I don't know how to EQ and filter to achieve the goals you are commenting.

[@d.s.9692]

@@zeclomal2265 Multi-band EQ can get done by basically splitting your signal into two paths - one is high-pass and the other is low-pass. You then perform compression on each path, and then mix them back together and EQ from there. Usually you'd want to compress them differently, because low frequencies and high frequencies have different dynamic characteristics. On the low side you can set a slower attack & longer release, but on the high side you would want it to be a bit snappier. Or maybe just compress the low path and leave the high one alone. Experiment with them. There are pedals that actually do this and they're fantastic - the TC Spectracomp and the EBS Multicomp are some good examples. The effect doesn't really jump out at you by itself, but it solves so many problems in a mix. A warning though: overusing this effect definitely does make it sound weirdly artificial.

[@postman9699]

I find the biggest keys to great sound and minimal processing efforts come from a great performance executed on a great sounding instrument. All the dynamic processing you do after that to "fix it" means the performance and instrument were lacking. I should just be frosting the cake come mix time..or that's what the goal would be.

[@morbidmanmusic]

your no 1 has been tested as far as boost vs cuts and all things being equal it made NO sonic difference.

[@alessandrosummer]

Could multi-band compression work for a Muse-like distorted bass?

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Grab your free Mixing Cheatsheet to learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes: www.mixcheatsheet.com

[@leolovetoparty]

I singed up a couple of days ago - have yet to receive the email...

[@SeverinoSE]

Does this mixing technique apply to slap bass, too, please? In particular the high pass filter at 4k. I see some mixes where they actually boost the high frequencies. Is that ok or does it clash with the cymbals? Thanks!

[@AES47670]

I like your videos! However, here you're advising to boost at 1 kHz and 1.5 kHz on the bass, but the cheat sheet says 1kHz and 2-2.5 kHz (and 1.5 kHz for guitars), which is confusing to me. Could you please clarify?

[@MUSCLEAMP]

@@leolovetoparty same here

[@joeclifford183]

Hey would this cheat sheet work well with a live setting? Or just in studio?

[@cmenacez8748]

Best video I've seen so far about this topic, very straight forward and informative. Thank You for the tips!

[@dezdalton1958]

Great topic EQ on Bass Jordan, Thanks for sharing your wisdom and expertise ... this is Gold! To get those low frequencies I've using Waves R-Bass, Logic' Pro's on board Sub bass app, Waves SSL EQ and your BS Audio Clipper for weight. I think I'll now purchase your BSA - Low Control plugin for my production arsenal! 🧘‍♂

[@RichardCowdrey]

One of the most useful and logically presented instructional videos on the subject

[@BAwesomeDesign]

I do pretty much what you're doing on the SSLChannel plugin; however, I also like to engage the SSL compressor after the EQ just to tap the level a little... maybe 1db of GR 3:1 ratio. Like cutting the ends off the scallions when cooking or something. Little moves add up. Nice video!

[@DjentlyVISUALS]

I´VE.BEEN.WAITING.SO.LONG.FOR.THIS!!!!!!!! Thank you so much, my friend! Thank you!

[@punksnotdeafrecordings]

This is really good stuff man! Keep up the good work!

[@edsohovocals]

These videos are all soooo freakin' good. I am actually shaking my head in disbelief. Never before has a set of videos made so much difference to my mixes. (I promise I'm not sponsored!) I've watched these type of videos before and I thought I'd taken things in, but evidently not! Are Jordan's vids just so much more practical, or well explained, or not smarmy? Thank you one trillion times over.

[@TheRobGuard]

Thanks for the Mixing Cheatsheet! Will be very helpful for me!

[@bob4analog]

Thanks! This validated and enhanced what i thought should be for bass mixing. Great cheat sheet for reference. 😀👍

[@albertoluciani8705]

I love this format! Really straightforward and helpful. Would you consider sharing how do you route your mixes in future videos? Looking at your videos over the years i never quite understood why, for example your snare reverb doesnt go to your drum bus and stuff like that.

[@morbidmanmusic]

try it both ways and with a limiter on your drum buss which is often the case.. You will answer your own question. there is no right way if you like the sound, but you have to look and listen to have choices. All sorts of things can work.

[@spamezclaspamezcla9634]

Hi, Life its simple, and now mixing its as simple as life, there's no more hard work anymore finding the lost frecuency, thanks for your honest and simplicity, your a great guy

[@matthewmcguigan4293]

Bass player, this video came up on my feed. I've always gravitated toward mid boosting, and my preference for eq tends to be trying to balance out the various notes that I'll be playing up and down the neck of my bass. I generally try to boost 800/1k and set my low pass around 3.5k. I'm going to try your recommended tweaks on my board (ampless stage sadface) and see what the results are this week. Shout out to the best bass pedal of all time: FEA LABS DB-CL. Thanks!

[@onoesmurlocs]

Never been happy with my bass , this really helped , thanks!

[@simonwalker2073]

Your work on the Auras albums is fantastic. Well done.

[@rome8180]

Honestly, I prefer 800 Hz to 1k. I know that's a small distinction. I feel like 800 Hz is a little more out of the way of the guitars but still achieves the same effect (while sounding less harsh). But then again, I mix for less aggressive genres than you do.

[@Jrel]

@rome8180 800 Hz area is what I prefer too since the vocalists I've been working with don't want much between 1 to 1.5kHz interfering with their vocals. I'll usually duck some of that region only when they're singing.

[@Fiascopia]

I've had a lot of success with boosting there on the bass and just cutting the guitars there a bit.

[@callindberg2242]

@@Fiascopia I’m doing the exact same probably 80% of the time. Boost 800 and 2.5k.

[@alessandrosummer]

Sometimes boosting 800 makes the bass sound a little bit boxy.

[@TachyBunker]

Thanks a lot! Explains things greatly.

[@heavyvibrationstudiopl3256]

That was awesome advice.Thanks man.

[@lmpcrew]

Awesome Video buddy will check out your plugin for sure 🔥👌🏾✊🏾

[@tekkau2]

Man , this is crazy helpful . Thanks for Sharing!

[@valerijgransen]

Thank you so much for this and so many other tips!

[@gonebymidnight2881]

these videos are amazing thanks man ✨🙌🏼

[@brentinjapan]

As soon as you said 1K I said NOPE! But that's the beauty of music - everyone has their own taste so I watched to the end. Like many bassists who commented here 800Hz "ish" is where I also boost. For me 700-800. The reasons are 1) 1K is the prime guitar area, and pop vocals live there too. You don't want to compete with those and if you do you'll have to boost so much the mix may be harsh. 2) Basically nothing else is at 700-800 so it fills a gap and that's the easiest area to get bass heard. 3) It's hitting more of the fundamentals or lower harmonics of the bass rather than the noise. 4) I personally like the sound. After 700-800, 1.5K is great - totally agree. But 4K for the upper limit. I'd say 5K. Many bass amps have tweeters and there's some nice air up there, as long as it doesn't class. Thanks for the video though. Great plugin! Well done!

[@alessandrosummer]

Maybe on a pop slap bass It's better to LPF at 5K, with a drive bass in a heavy song I think it sounds better going down to 4K

[@danamorrell7810]

Thank you for this video! I just wanted to clarify something that was unclear to me upon first watching. At 6:25 it's said that if a song is in drop D, the fundamental frequencies of the low octave range from around 70 hz to around 147 hz. This is for a normal guitar in drop D. If a bass guitar was tuned down to D, the fundamentals of the low octave from D1 to D2 would range from 36hz to 73hz. (Which makes sense given that the 4th magic frequency is the range from 0 to 100hz.)

[@LucienBill]

I recently discovered your channel, and it's awesome! Thanks

[@PEACEinYESHUA-oj7vc1pk7w]

Brilliant! I love the compressor you've made❤

[@Sqvirt3809]

Thanks a lot, my mixes with your advices about EQ became better!

[@maalberto]

Very helpful Jordan! Thank you!

[@AndreasOxholm]

thanks! This was very helpful 🙌🏻

[@stevenneufeld3791]

another amazing video! thank you

[@silverwings1843]

I want to thank you for this video. I have been working a Bass track for a good while. And always getting lost lost or boomy in the mix. This EQ sequence save the mix. And you are so right. You cannot mix solo. It will sound great but sour altogether. I used Wave's SSL. Also I used your EQ line for a Kick track as well. But with a parametric. Most YT vids make everything so complicated. You use Cliff Notes. Thanks

[@richardsmusic5577]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE VIDEOS :)

[@soundideas9298]

Great stuff. Subscribed.

[@unidoubt]

Nice video ;) I do the same thing in my mixes, and control the low end with multiband compression using only the lower band to cover the lower notes sub 100hz like you've said ;D It's nice to see similar technique,. I had to learn things myself the hard way ;D cheers

[@LloydMajor]

Thank you for the class!

[@dani.papaya]

BOOOOOMMMMM💥 I want to hear the entire song with someone singing pls🤩 love this sound!!!

[@champ1061]

Great episode. Subscribed, ding!

[@musicmaestrodj]

The bass player in that song was using a pick which produces quite a different sound than playing with your fingers. Perhaps you should do another video explaining how to EQ that style as well. Thanks for posting! I always appreciate your videos.

[@jameslandon9194]

Thanks for another great video.

[@olegsavelyev690]

Thanks for a fantastic simplicity! Would you have tips for mixing bass in the blues context coming up soon?

[@elbatero0784]

Excelente sonido, gracias por compartir

[@Dobroz99]

Thank you ! So helpful. I notice that electric jazz players often play there bridge pick ups and have more oh a treble sound. Any tips on this? Also would love tips on upright bass. Thanks again! Virgil

[@brandonparsons3472]

Loving your vids! Thank you! I do however, wish you were demonstrating these AMAZING EQ tips on a visual EQ. Or I just need to get better at these types. Either way,,,,Great Vids!!

[@N0B0DY_SP3C14L]

Pretty solid! Nice one.

[@TonyCarroll717]

Hey man I love your channel. Can you do a video on magic frequencies for Metal guitars and Acoustic guitars. Thanks.

[@dhankthapamagar3389]

GREATEST MAN ALIVE! THANK you!

[@TelmarBeats]

great job, many thanks

[@MaPa60]

Great method, tnx!

[@DanDanNoodls]

Honestly, as a general rule, I don't listen to a Music KZbinr's advice if I don't like the sound they're producing (because why would I follow their advice if I don't like what they're doing) and I LOVE the bass sounds you're making. Also, I love the advice that you put out. Such an amazing channel.

[@YagiWiraya]

thank you, this is really solve my bass problemss

[@krumino]

wow, great info!

[@CHUCHOMERCHAN]

brilliant thank you so soooo much

[@prinsezkaffeehexen8196]

Funny what you say about 4k, that's where I boost all the time to get more attack and definition ! 1k/1.5k very depends on the song, but I find 4k to always add something nice, and then I use a low shelf to lower just after that, then low pass at 8k or 10k. Then I'm not playing metal anymore so that may depend on the context obsiously ! I find that the most important move I always do is cutting below around 50hz, you get so much more focus !

[@nacholibre9929]

great advice

[@AviraasMusic]

Love your channel..

[@skaboosh]

Like the high cut idea, I've had a lot of hiss on some bass recordings

[@Platens]

Thanks again. Precious!

[@ilosngolo4930]

Thank you.

[@marioaguilera837]

please do the guitars!!! this is great!!!

[@funkaforfan]

I love the simplicity! But I was surprised not to see any Hipass filter.

[@TimmSpinn]

Agreed. I'll usually roll off up to 35-40 Hz to clean up any sloppy low rumble. Also leaves room for cleaner sub on the kick.

[@runemidsun]

Great vid, i will check out low controll plugin. Btw is the 14 day trial working 100%? Or with clip and pops?

[@stamecec2003]

dope dope dope plugin man

[@Asgaia]

I think there is more struggle. Most basses - espeically DI, but also Amp - has a build up in the range 100 Hz-150 Hz. You need to control that. Than there is the magic or strange frequency around 180Hz. A lot of live foh mixers boost that range. And indeed i can give the bass more fullness, but with a tendency to boxiness. It depends on how low and how loud the lowend of the guitars are. This range 100-200 Hz I found is the most struggling for bass, and also for guitars. And to make things worse, thats the range where the foundation note of the snare is.

[@ThalamusGhipopotamus]

side chain from snare drums at this frequency

[@urarassolov8560]

Thanks!

[@filippesta8953]

You are a God. Thanks a lot

[@elianmusic7452]

Those acoustic guitars sound freaking PRISTINE. Can you make a video on recording acoustic guitars & mixing them to sound this clean and bright without it hurting?

[@crunchysteve]

Stuff I wish I'd been taught when I worked as an audio producer in radio! Christ! We had to wing so much of this kind of core knowledge. It's kind of what I learned to do intuitively, but it's nice to have the "science" for it.

[@TheMixClub]

Solid Info.

[@larrytan73]

you are amaster saleman! i'm not mad at you bro!

[@danielprose]

Below 100 Hz and maybe even as high as the 150 hz can be a challenge for new mixers to get right. Especially when you got a kick drum, that might have sub frequencies.

[@Doctorfingertips]

Thanks champ!

[@CHUCHOMERCHAN]

brilliant thank youuuuuuuu

[@phoenixmediaforge]

TDR Nova is the perfect tool for bass with both EQ and parallel compression in one plug-in.

[@BrendonKPadjasek]

You're the man Jordan. Are those the ATH-M50x's you're using for bass reference? Also I'm assuming so, but can you automate the low gain on your Low Control plugin?

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Yes they are, but nothing magic about them... they're just the first studio headphones I bought and I've stuck with them

[@jonahkristan9111]

youre awesome man

[@specialbeat]

Growth video. Thanks......also, what band/song is this?

[@lunavela6708]

Thanks for this, mixing bass is hard!

[@millennialanimal]

Depending on how rhythmic or melodic the bass is I boost or cut 60 or 80hz in the bass and cut or boost the responding frequency in the kick drum.

[@woodward_alan]

Need some magic compression vids too!

[@Upsetkiller456]

I know doing split tracks is pretty popular within metal production but, I just don't really like how it sounds compared to a single Bass track. Incredible content as always, Low control seems amazing and will def be getting it! Where do you put in within the Effects Chain?

[@cylonvoiceguy]

I just got my hands on the 1978 studio multitrack session to a soul/disco song "Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn, there was a DI and amped bass, not very different but found it interesting it was mixed that way- super fat bassline on that song!

[@Ianuarius]

In addition to presence and power, or even over them, I'd say the most important function of bass is to add depth to the mix. Pretty good video. The constant zooming in and out really makes it feel super restless tho. I hate the fact that people think it makes their videos more edgy or something.

[@rickhorvath]

We should discuss mixing under cans. I just got the abbey road room plug just for this approach.

[@DAVIDJCARON]

Thanks for this..subbed and downloaded cheatsheet.. do you know of any free ssl eq strip plugins? Also, Re you available for mastering?

[@sora8537]

That Low control. Yess!

[@SandauxBeats]

This is awesome! Thank you so much! My question is, in the context of mixing the bass on a free plugin parametric EQ on ProTools First, how can I apply all those in ProTools?

[@tumusiimeseth123]

thank you

[@timnordberg7204]

Great advice here, my bass is sounding better than ever, especially when I'm mixing live. I'm seeing what looks like some pretty substantial squish on that 1176 readout, and I notice that it's after your EQ. Is that typical for you to do? I see a lot of "don't be afraid to do big boosts" on this channel, which has helped my mixing a lot--but is EQing into a compressor part of how you get away with it? I got some advice early on that a good rule of thumb is to cut before compression and boost afterwards. What's your take on that? BTW, I would love to see a whole 20m video on "different ways you can use an 1176". It's the kind of compressor you see everywhere and on basically anything, but it definitely has the most arcane interface of the classics. I know I'm not the only person who doesn't feel like they know exactly what they're doing when they open one up.

[@canuckdybdahl]

Amazin man !

[@PleasureToKillx6]

Do you have a vid on “magic” volume levels for different instruments and where they should generally be sitting before master? I have trouble getting sub bass frequency volume right.