Mixing Bass: Tips for Mixing a Fat Bass Tone

Aug 16, 2018 | 271,192 Views

Producer & recording/mixing engineer Joe Barresi (QOTSA, Tool, Soundgarden) gets down and dirty with that low end when mixing four different bass guitar tracks (DI and amps) to one big fat bass tone.

When dealing with several tracks, relative phase is an issue to consider and pay attention to first. Taking the time to do that might save you much time and effort when trying to dial in the perfect bass tone. It can really make or break a mix.

"Dead notes" (where the tone just suddenly disappears) are another teeth-grinding-hair-pulling issue you might have come across when mixing bass guitar. Joe usually likes Renaissance Bass or MaxxBass to help him deal with that one.

Depending on the character of what your mixing, LoAir might be a better fit to provide the low-end support your track needs. You can go from big, to "bigger" to gargantuan!

Last but not least is controlling your bass' dynamics in a way that contributes to the tone you're looking for. Joe achieves that quite easily with the CLA-76 Compressor/Limiter. Other options to consider are the CLA-2A and the CLA-3A compressors.

This video is part of a series of instructional videos with Joe Barresi. More videos in the series:

Also check out Joe's ProSound Workshop.
Music: “Mercury Gift” by Zico Chain

[{"nodeGUID":"72c09481-6b09-44ad-8639-b9219eff2557","nodeID":128,"documentName":"CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter","documentID":128,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/cla-2a-compressor-limiter","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/cla-2a-compressor-limiter.png","msrp":249.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":88,"mainOrder":10008,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":91,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"CLA2ATDM","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Modeled on the legendary electro-optical tube compressor, this plugin emulates the original\u2019s smooth frequency-dependent behaviors which made it a favorite of engineers everywhere.","tagline":"Smooth, warm, natural-sounding tube compression","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Compressors","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"1k\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":929,"rating":4.85038,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"346bc682-4c05-4b53-a96d-7f8372fb4c0c","nodeID":130,"documentName":"CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter","documentID":130,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/cla-76-compressor-limiter","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/cla-76-compressor-limiter.png","msrp":249.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":88,"mainOrder":10014,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":95,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"CLA76TDM","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Inspired by the famed mid-\u201860s Class A line level limiting amplifier, Waves CLA-76 compressor plugin offers the superfast attack that made the original studio legends.","tagline":"Super-fast FET compression with legendary tone","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Compressors","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"1k\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":824,"rating":4.82524,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"b0ef8e6c-2f40-4783-97b3-41f8fa9b2df0","nodeID":261,"documentName":"Renaissance Bass","documentID":261,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/renaissance-bass","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/renaissance-bass.png","msrp":79.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":62,"mainOrder":10024,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":184,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"TBS10","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The industry\u2019s favorite plugin for delivering a richer, deeper low end that translates even on small playback systems. A tried-and-true workhorse for countless Grammy-winning engineers. ","tagline":"Rich bass enhancement for music and voice","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Bass","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"600\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":487,"rating":4.79261,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"d298dd86-3af6-4b27-94b8-b505be6d7201","nodeID":225,"documentName":"MaxxBass","documentID":225,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/maxxbass","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/maxxbass.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":70,"mainOrder":10063,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":151,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"V5-MBD40","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The bass boost heard on countless hit records and major motion pictures, MaxxBass\u00AE bass enhancer plugin creates rich low frequencies using psychoacoustic technology.","tagline":"Enhance bass and add low end, even on small speakers","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Bass","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"100\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":241,"rating":4.79253,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"7602fad5-b522-4566-97be-19c8c9665b23","nodeID":129,"documentName":"CLA-3A Compressor / Limiter","documentID":129,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/cla-3a-compressor-limiter","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/cla-3a-compressor-limiter.png","msrp":249.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":88,"mainOrder":10082,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":93,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"CLA3ATDM","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Based on the early \u201870s solid-state unit with its transparent compression curve, the CLA-3A compressor plugin delivers the quick response and subtle harmonic distortion of the original.","tagline":"Solid-state compression for classic 70s bass, drum sound","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Compressors","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"100\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":289,"rating":4.85813,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"056c03aa-27fd-4d30-9122-1fd96b2ee5f3","nodeID":209,"documentName":"LoAir","documentID":209,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/loair","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/loair.png","msrp":79.000000000,"skuPrice":27.990000000,"discount":65,"mainOrder":10128,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":142,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"LOATDM","note":"","documentPageDescription":"With adjustable frequency and low-pass filter controls to shape your ultra low-end, LoAir subharmonic plugin can process polyphonic content and create LFE tracks from stereo or 5.0 sources.","tagline":"Subharmonic generator for stereo and surround sources","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Surround","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":203,"rating":4.80788,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"841ebd37-0417-41da-a6be-46f2ca6a355c","nodeID":30,"documentName":"CLA Classic Compressors","documentID":30,"documentUrlPath":"/bundles/cla-classic-compressors","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/bundles/600/cla-classic-compressors.png","msrp":599.000000000,"skuPrice":49.990000000,"discount":92,"mainOrder":10210,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":242,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"USW379-1362-651","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Waves and Chris Lord-Alge join forces to bring you impeccable models of four compressors considered true classics by audio engineers the world over.","tagline":"Classic compressors, revered by generations of engineers","departmentID":1,"gsfCategory":"Modeling","fixedPosition":true,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"100\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":512,"rating":4.86914,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""}]

Loading....

More Mixing & Production Tips