Mixing Low End: The Ultimate Guide for Balanced Bass

[@stevenleonmusic]

Dang, had me for a whole 20 minutes before I realized I was being sold something. Amazing.

[@2Sexy4MyMusic]

Uh. It's an iZotope video. lol

[@lindennelson3678]

that's what i love about them. they have useful information for everyone, and information for people who already have their products like me. so knowing how to apply the tips in their software is useful.

[@aidanlizotte9124]

It was useful information honestly, the tools being suggested are not essential

[@danielparkermusic]

Me watching this with my subwoofer on thinking my apartment is about to get hit by a plane

[@SeeU-x5h]

Never forget

[@elijahaaron]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Metareduxxx]

Lmaoooo hell yeah

[@dcchapma1013]

😂😂😂

[@samnielsen]

Wow, you really managed to explain so many things I haven’t been able to wrap my head around before, and in a very easy way! You’re a really good teacher 💪

[@martinlarrivee5081]

Your voice is so awesome that it reprograms directly my subconscious brain

[@mmmultipleblastoff]

😂😂😂😂

[@johnmoney910]

Its that mic lol

[@TheSpeedyr6]

I feel the opposite

[@PrincessDaddy-s2s]

I'm not sure who came first, him or Kush Audio, but there's an uncanny rival and stylistic similarity

[@Ninjibpsy]

I read this just before the video loaded, you weren't joking😂

[@wesleyeason5031]

This Gentleman is the best instructor if you-will. If every encounter. I put my "Good" headphones on my bad android. And started the video over. To have someone explain technical specs and knowledge with such simplicity and with logic is not easy. I have always been a visual learner and with dysgraphia I had to discover. I loved this knowledge but school in the 80s perhaps still. Had teacher's in the science arena whom most near all left me feeling confused. I need to understand before my motor skills will memorize. Not to hug this post, schools are by in fact designed to have you memorize if you understand later or well memorizing you are over utilizing motor skills. The essence of Dysgraphia is to block anything that doesn't make sense. This is the crux of memorize teaching over understand. I have a whole new greater respect for Isotope. Thank You.

[@hakangurdol]

Tonal Balance control 2 is now my major control surface in this last 6 months, this visual experience helped me to improved my mixing skills a lot.

[@schoo006]

This must be one of the best tutorial videos out there! It inspires me to squeeze even more quality out of my mixes. 👍🏻

[@barkode]

An immaculate work of art to untangle the concept of frequency harmony. A+ for me!

[@IKARIking67]

VERY good use of descriptive language to explain the "what" and "Why" in these scenarios. Saved some viewer years of trial and error with this one.

[@MylesHouseMusic]

Awesome Info! I needed this. Will definitely have to watch it 16 more times.

[@wesleyeason5031]

Absolutely the greatest Mixing & Mastering instructor in my humble opinion. I have learned what feels like the zeitgeist of music production. I came up in Detroit with the origins of Techno. Pink Floyd introduced me to my love of synths. Rush Signals turned me into a full hearted lover of electronic music. Synth Pop was already moving me. I reached out to people on just synth musicians, I was introduced to JMJ. Industrial Music became very important to me. Today's production of IM has improved and the Kicks are phenomenal. With this lesson I'm nearing what feels like full confidence in my production skills. Thank You.

[@beakiddo5251]

I’m from the Detroit metro area too! Music is very important to me and especially the quality. I’ve spent most of my life going to clubs. Techno, rock, funk, jazz, hard core metal I love it all and if you grew up in or around Detroit it’s in your blood. Detroit is absolutely the best when talking music, any band will tell you Detroit always represents. ✌🏻

[@SsgtHolland]

Geoff explains these concepts so well, a joy to watch.

[@mystikrebel1089]

the video i needed and i did hear the sine wave blowing up my place lol I am using yamaha 8hs monitors also

[@uncle.scrappp]

been doing this a while... this is the most comprehensive low end content ive ever seen. ive been doing this a wile.

[@chris-ib2lc]

You guys are the best in the business you guys are on a different level with top level quality softwares

[@shorerocks]

Gee. I know all this, been doing this quite a while. Why am I watching? This honestly is the best guide to low end I have ever seen. Just... excellent video. Thx for doing this!

[@larrymagico]

This was easily one of the best treatments of low end I've heard. I just hate that I'm not in my studio RIGHT NOW to try out some of these concepts!

[@dawmix]

Another great tutorial using effective Izotope tools. The side chain tips are good as are the low and high pass filtering techniques. Also very good showing the use of tools in the mix. Well done, thank you.

[@RafiBarides]

Thank you for sharing this information in a way that is digestible instead of making it fancy to show off how much you know ❤

[@thejimclarkmusic1]

You Are the Star Trek of music…. I have even learned how to “present” better! You serve as an on-site mentor. This is because of the detail. The extraction is “Wisdom”, not just knowledge. One comment referenced that they listened 20 minutes before realizing that they were being sold. “Selling” is problem solving. Finding a need and designing “the fix” is the best selling as well as integrity selling. When value is added, it is a win win. Finally, (I sound like you now) giving strategy that becomes an integrated skill set for life is best!

[@alexinfanti4252]

Yes, Jim, I agree with you and, if you have, take a look on "ARE YOU LISTENING" series on this channel, with Mr.Jonathan Wyner, fantastic!!!!!

[@nokturnal886]

WOW! I'm at the 18:30 mark and I wasn't even in the market for a "balance control" plugin, but Tonal Balance Control looks AMAZING. It offers so much, it's actually insane. Also, everything up to this point has been insanely informative and easily explained. I'm not sure what this guy gets paid, but he needs a raise immediately!

[@strylan]

You have a good way to bring your wisdom to others. I really appreciate this.

[@OverdriveMusic]

Glad you mentioned the importance of a good headphone amp! So important.

[@kharma777]

This is one of the best "getting started" tutorials I've seen yet in this space, much appreciated.

[@mkpro1043]

I was desperate with the low end resonating wildly in my room out of my Alesis monitors. The idea of closing the resonator may be a life saver. Great content in this video. Thank you.

[@Gemiiniimusic]

The amount of information I wrote down in my notepad surpasses every source of audio knowledge I looked up to this date.. Thank you so much for this

[@braddasseymusic]

Really great video. I already knew most of this, but, I learned some new things. Thank you.

[@rexturner8208]

One thing I will say is your sound quality & speech are excellent. Speech was not too fast. Not too slow. It is easy to learn from you. As an EE I thought your technical explanations & examples were spot on. FYI I saw a review on a site that sold V11 that claimed it rolled off the bass on everything.. That had me almost convinced not to get it. Now I can see he just didn't know how to use it yet. So I'm back to buying it while the price is reduced. Thankyou!

[@olearyml57]

Really helpful presentation and great pedagogical skills. Thank you Geoff.

[@paulcollins2004]

I like the comment about plugging the base ports on a loud speaker for a tighter base. I've had an old fisher stereo from the 70s and it didn't come with ports on the speakers and the base sounded great. Glad to see someone else appriciating that type of base. Great content.

[@raywayne]

Thank you for a clear presentation of how to clear up the bass end of my mixes. I've had a semi-professional studio for 30 years and mixed tons of CDs. The marketed ones were always mastered by Paul Stubblebine (his proteges were John Greenham and Michael Romanowski), so they sounded great, but I was always in the dark as to how he was actually "fixing" everything. I now have a even smaller set up without the bass traps etc...that I had, but with the same low end guesswork, which is definitely the guessing zone in mixing. You explained everything so articulately and are an excellent teacher. Bravo !!! I have subscribed as I want to be exposed to more of your wisdom and experience. Thanks again, John Rewind

[@joyachanatry]

I love that you mention how smart devices and phones don't perceive or give definition to audio quality. If only people would believe me what I say this.

[@AloneOnTheIsland]

The most comprehensive tutorial on a subject I've ever seen. Thank you

[@iZotopeOfficial]

Glad you're liking it!

[@galiakitanova6935]

Thank you very much for your explanation! Low frequencies are my favorites. The bass guitar sound is very gentle for my ears!

[@JB-xo8sr]

As always, we'll done. The two most impactful factors I've observed are speaker calibration and tonal balance.

[@MIHAO]

cheers, always a pleasure to listen to geoff

[@bay0r]

this great guy here is a gem. was a pleasure watching & listening

[@WatchMyShorts303]

I can say i have watched soooo many tutorials on YT and this one was one of the best ever watched. thank for this.

[@rome8180]

I find that the less I worry about low end, the better. I like to mix on headphones and speakers where I can't hear much low end. I'm talking NS10s and Sennheiser headphones. I use midrange EQ boosts and R-Bass to make sure the low end cuts through on all playback systems. Then at the end of the mix, I check on a different pair of headphones to make sure there isn't too much sub-bass. I normally just have to do a small cut. I find if you get the midrange of your mix right, the other stuff falls into place.

[@1000_Jeezai]

Ding Ding Ding!

[@edwardstaszko]

So much covered in so little time! This is the most comprehensive explanation of so many subjects on these issues I have ever heard. Great preparation and pacing. I feel armed with with so much new knowledge, thank you!

[@BurningBushPedagogy]

You are a blessing to the world, this is like university learning mixing so clear and understandable. wow applause

[@alejandrososa2310]

something interesting, look at the scheme backwards to see how we listen, that way everything can be more illustrative. Your explanations are very clear, tkhs!

[@thenaturallaw]

definitely made me go "OH ok now I get why I should / shouldnt be doing that". great tutorial, super clear and helpful

[@amihaszna]

boiiii,u just won me with ur voice ! thanks for the tutorial

[@fazzzad]

This channel is fantastic, and this video clarified many crucial points about low end mixing. Thanks so much!

[@dblcrwn1374]

This video is unbelievably informative- thank you so much to Izotope and this extremely knowledgable gentleman!

[@rolandorban]

👏Thanks Guys! fo that kind of explenations

[@DeepakKalawatAaryan]

You cracked all queries for many at once in one video. Hats off to you.👏👏🙌

[@NB-qq8wo]

You sir are a very knowledgeable and gifted teacher. Thanks for sharing this with us! Bravo!! 👏

[@boogiexx]

¸listening to this on a7v's picked up a 50 hz wave instantly....it's even more obvious on headphones .... those A8h's you have are just beautiful...

[@cullengreaves736]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Definitely doubling back to watch all the gold that I’ve missed in previous videos. Cheers!

[@fyutch]

this might be the first of your tutorials i sat and watched patiently on regular speed haha i'll definitely be doing this more often. learned alot and excited to take my time learning more and implementing,

[@billys5965]

Awesome Geoff! The most well explained, comprehensive instructional on low end I have seen, and I’ve seen a ton. 😮 Total Balance Control is on every project. And, more recently, Low End Focus.

[@variable_sonics5101]

very good advice and breakdown over what I've been trying to get my head around in production and mixing endeavours! Thankyou

[@teaiheinz1910]

I'm a producer and come upon your ozone 10 tutorial well explained, my trial mastering in ozone was fantastic which my clients like it.

[@Jess-P]

Nice one! The part where you explained all of the frequency overlap in different instruments is really helpful.

[@anthonymazeppa]

this is great, only the best engineers can explain complex things in such a simple way

[@belgradeboy77]

OK. Now to watch again and take notes. This is gold. I could hear the 50Hz signal immediately on my Kali Audio LP6 monitors but on my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro headphones was not that obvious

[@mikefishmusic]

Good stuff man. Straightforward to the point and very comprehensive.

[@spacer584]

Useful and informative video. Thank you!

[@giannipetrocelli472]

Tonal Balance helped me a lot to understand my mixes better. There are a lot of Plugins out there but ozon is realy a gamechanger to achieve a more professional mix. Thank you for that

[@Keroser1983]

This is one of the best videos ever made. Very clear. AMAZING!!!!

[@fredferiz7391]

Woa! First,thank you on this presice topic. Wonderfull tips and infos streching from room treatment,monitors and lastly that LOW END problem. I really like the tip on compression for low energy (high pass).I was having that problem,to much pumping effect when i started mastering. Huge thanks for Izotope providing this wonderfull material to us! I wish happy mixing and mastering that low end for all of us!

[@SiegelBantuBear]

I listened so hard for that 50 nothing. Asante sana for the master class.😊🙏🏼

[@mikemccormick1624]

Geoff, just a brilliant video. Thanks so much!

[@ergophonic]

Just ripped this and ran it through SPAN. Can confirm that the 50Hz frequency was active from the beginning of the video but it definitely got amplified at around 0:31.

[@lukeGGlee]

it was pretty loud in the video…u couldnt hear it?

[@ergophonic]

@@lukeGGlee I could but I wanted to see the curve with my eyes to be sure of the volume increase.

[@Thomas-ge2xe]

I put my mixing headphones on and noticed the same thing. Thought it was just the fact that he didn't pause in the first 25 seconds, but makes sense that it was boosted

[@alexkid1]

What a fantastic video. Thanks for all the knowledge.

[@TheFrankiejay]

Excellent tutorial. I enjoyed and learned so much from it. One of the best, if not the best low end tutorial I’ve watched on KZbin. Now it’s time for me to implement some or all of these strategies. I may have to remix some of my songs but it would be worth it. Thank you so much 👍🏿

[@ChathumDulara]

Love this series! ❤

[@ChristopherCoote-hr4uo]

Wow this is fantastically insightful! I only wish I had seen this video sooner.

[@z-boss]

Such a great and informative video! Geoff is an amazing teacher, a true master of delivering clear and concise information. Thank you for quality content!

[@iZotopeOfficial]

Appreciate it!

[@OfficialStevenCravis]

Geoff, at 31:27 I think you solved what I’ve been wondering for ages: how to get the bass note sounds to come through clearly on small (phone etc) speakers!

[@HYDARmusicofficial]

Amazing video with amazing tools! Thanks guys!!

[@vivanmusicmaker]

Can't thank you enough for painting a whole picture with intricate details. Loved it.

[@carlrowlinson2833]

I make hard techno so low end is absolutely critical as there's a lot going on. Some elements need prominence while others need to sit back. My tip is having a low pass filter on my master channel that I flip on and off when I need to isolate the low end with everything else still playing. It give me a clear picture of whether the kick still cuts through or if the mix is just mush. Reeeeeeally wish I'd learned it sooner!

[@DubFreakuencies]

And if you level match a reference to your track and low pass a/b between them even better, also a/b the LUFS of your low end against the reference.Your tracks are great btw.

[@carlrowlinson2833]

Thanks man! Still tonnes to learn though!

[@aljames7345]

Amazing work here thanks. Loving the unmask tool which I now have but haven’t had time to get into but will soon. Very excellent work thanks.

[@MrJmhess77]

As a new producer, this is so freaking cool to learn about. Thanks

[@JulesMugisha]

I feel lucky and grateful for all these free tips😲💣🔥

[@erasusdnb]

Tonal Balance is amazing, i use it all the time

[@jaklair]

the grind is real

[@Stormsurf001]

I heard the 50hz tone/rumble it on my cheap little Mackie speakers, turned up loud. Good test!

[@wyshwood]

Thorough and fascinating

[@Алексей-с8в2р]

This is ultimately low-end mixing guide thank you so much!

[@alephestudios]

sidechaining the bass with Soothe can add that movement in the low end that's musical and danceable, adjust the attack and release to create the movement. in the subs, only process under 100hz. Sound either punchier or more glued compared to regular sidechain.

[@Frank.Zimmermann]

Thanks for this very insightful video, Geoff. Closing the bass port of the near-field monitors is definitely a technique I will try-very interesting, I would never have thought of that. Learned something again, thank you so much!

[@PereRevert]

Ha ha the 50Hz sine at the very beginning is a killer way to start this video (in a positive way). Wondering if it was at a constant level though, it stops at 0:40 precisely but seems there's a slight level raise a few seconds before it stops. Anyway, congrats for such fantastic insights!

[@ManishVyas]

Great Video. Learnt a lot.

[@unnecessary-roughness3303]

This was amazing. Thanks!

[@kiselmusic]

This video is most useful!

[@maximeblais2032]

Best teacher ever !

[@miyasanta01]

Excellent guide! This was so good to watch! Great explanations!🔥

[@InnerHacking]

Great video, will definitely use these techniques on my mixes, thank you!

[@adamwasthefirstman]

#1. Great and informative video! #2. Oh man, my first reaction was, "There's no way Izotope should've let a video hit KZbin with a voiceover THAT muddy!" I had to pause and laugh for a good while when you revealed the 50 Hz tone under the intro. Brilliant!

[@adamwasthefirstman]

In response to my methods, currently I've felt as if I'm cheating a bit, but focused saturation has been a recent revelation for me. Transient + frequency control in one instance. I'm just old enough to have experienced recording to tape, though even then I was more comfortable in the digital realm. My recent discovery of focused saturation has reminded me of how my mentor would urge me to "drive the tape" on certain sources. And not just low end instruments. Trim the returns and presto, tracks you didn't have to futz with nearly as much. Particularly in combination with gentle and not-so-gentle high pass.

[@robertmacbean8890]

Thanks!! These kind of tutorials really help me to get by! Great!

[@Deprave0]

i was not surprised, that 50hz sound was so obvious)) btw, great fundamental tips, thanks for sharing!

[@andreschiriguay6395]

WHAT a great guy help me out big time that’s a big thumps up from me!!!

[@Jay-A]

Luv ❤ your studio setup! 🫡

[@TangleWireTube]

This is by far one of the best low end tutorials I’ve ever seen. I’ve been using a similar unmasking technique with a side chain Waves F6 to what you did with the Neutron unmask. It was nice to see a confirmation of that technique’s validity. Also, I might start using Neutron to unmask in my low mids and up. Really liked the recaps. My room space is trash and I can’t mix loud without disturbing the fam, so I’ve taken to using Waves NX with Bayerdynamic headphones and it’s really more than I could ever ask for. Hoping to add a subpack hepatic feedback element into the rig to feel the low end as well.

[@tsias1]

Best information I've seen on this subject. Thank you!

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Great video. One note on Tonal Balance… it’s important when using tonal balance to be using a profile that matches well with what’s in your track. For example, if your track is a raw track with no hihat or cymbal (high-end content), or if it’s ambient without those types of highs… you shouldn’t use a tonal balance profile with a normal amount of highs from cymbals, you’ll end up with a mix that sounds off. (If you always make tracks with the same type of frequency spread, like pop or club music then it’s less of an issue.) The problem with using your eyes to mix is that if you have set up your visual tool incorrectly, you’ll get an incorrect end result. So do match the profile you use to your material. Have it analyze a track that has similar sonics to yours if you’re doing something unusual. I like Tonal Balance a lot, but you can’t entirely stop using your ears. It’s just another tool to get you there.