|
Fletcher-Munson told us that ears are less sensitive to bass
frequencies (and extreme high frequencies) at low listening levels.
|
| Unfortunately if the bass frequencies are
hard to hear at low levels than it is quite possible that bass frequency instruments such
as the bass guitar and foot drum can also be hard to hear at low listening levels. The
mixing engineer should make sure that the parts played by these instruments are not lost
at low level listening levels, even though the body of these instruments most surely will
be because of the Fletcher-Munson effect. |
| Keeping The
Bass Guitar |
| In its first octave, the bass guitar
generates
fundamental frequencies between 40 Hz
and 80 Hz. Thus you could say that the fundamental notes that the bass puts out are
between 40 and 100 Hz. The instrument also puts out harmonics between 200 and 400
hertz, two octaves up. |
| If you take an
equalizer and dip, using a shelving curve at 100 Hz
and reduce the first octave of the bass guitar, all of the harmonics of the instrument
become accented. You can also "replace" the energy lost in the bass by accenting
300 Hz with a boost of about 5dB. Once you do this you will find the instrument sounds
like this: |
| 1. It has adequate lows and body at loud listening levels. If you cannot say this,
reduce the first octave roll off to 1 or 2 dB. |
| 2. The bass will have a more even sound as it plays different notes, often making a
compressor unnecessary to even out the bass line. |
| 3. The bass guitar part will be very distinguishable at low listening levels.
|
|
| Keeping the Foot Drum |
| Often the foot drum is still heard at low
listening levels due to the attack of the instrument. Sometimes the foot has a
"cardboard" type quality to the sound which can be reduced with a 300 to 400 Hz
dip using the equalizer. Use the amount of dip that makes the drum sound the best - usual
amounts vary between 3 dB and 9 dB. When you reduce this frequency on the foot drum, you
also tend to get better distinction between the foot drum and bass guitar. You can also
boost 50 Hz to give the drum proper fullness but be careful not to over-boost this. |
| To make the foot drum more prominent in the
mix for low-level listening boost the "beater" frequencies as follows: |
| 3 kHz - boost to give a hard felt beater
sound. |
| 5 kHz
-
boost to give a hard wood beater sound. |
| 7 kHz - boost for a metallic beater
sound. |
|
