Dubstepforum.com

When I listen to other peoples music you can hear the sub even when listening with shitty mp3 headphones. Currently I just use a sine with next to nothing done to it as this does give the desired effect of low end beefing out my basslines. But what I am trying to achieve is for my sub bass to be audible when on its own, without a bass synth above it. I've tried adding a triangle wave and stuff like this but that just sounds lame. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Have you tried layering a low passed reece with it mate? Adds a nice bit of definition to sub.

JFK wrote:Have you tried layering a low passed reece with it mate? Adds a nice bit of definition to sub.

I've just trailed it and that works pretty well, thanks. I was just wondering if there was a standard production technique though, or if it's just good production to make the impression of a sub present for those listening on lesser equipment.

The reason people without subwoofers don't get sub is because their speakers don't pick up sub frequencies.
Basically, you can't.

um, there is a common technique that's used by recording engineers to make the sub bass more audible on systems that don't reach sub bass frequencies.

it's called distorting it like 4db and introducing harmonics. high pass that where your kick drum is, and you're golden.

bassinine wrote:um, there is a common technique that's used by recording engineers to make the sub bass more audible on systems that don't reach sub bass frequencies.

it's called distorting it like 4db and introducing harmonics. high pass that where your kick drum is, and you're golden.

Have you ever listened to what that sounds like without sub-woofers? It's not really effective, and to your average listener who doesn't have one, that'll just be boring anyway.
On another note, in some tunes, such measures don't work so well.

zerbaman wrote:

bassinine wrote:um, there is a common technique that's used by recording engineers to make the sub bass more audible on systems that don't reach sub bass frequencies.

it's called distorting it like 4db and introducing harmonics. high pass that where your kick drum is, and you're golden.

Have you ever listened to what that sounds like without sub-woofers? It's not really effective, and to your average listener who doesn't have one, that'll just be boring anyway.
On another note, in some tunes, such measures don't work so well.

in my opinion - it never detracts from the track, adding tone and blurring the line between your sub and mid.

on that note, i don't know of any dance music mastering studios who don't distort/limit the sub at least a little.

sub, by definition, isn't audible without a sub. heh.... its just layering. as stated above. Triangle, reese, square, whatever. Just layer the sub line with something that can be heard, roll off the sub frequencies, and layer it with your sub.

-[2]DAY_- wrote:sub, by definition, isn't audible without a sub

Sub bass is anything between 20 to around 90hz, you don't need a sub woofer to hear it at all, many speakers go lower than 90hz.
All a sub woofer does it concentrate on these frequencies alone.

i think it stands for subsonic. Which means below audible sound. its just semantics, but yeah.. as per the OP if you want sub line to be more audible on normal speakers, layer with low passed square, high pass square layer at ~75, let sine sub remain underneath

Sub is deffo in the audible sound range. and i think your thinking of infrasound that's generally felt rather than heard.
But yeah, square waves works well, have more overtones

If you want to hear the notes without a sub woofer, than raise the octave.
You can also achieve this with parallel compression, if you are so inclined.

could add a square wave osc or something. square has more harmonics, rather than sine which is more just for the feel.

Try layering a low passed square wave that's one octave up from the sub, but very subtle.

This thread might be helpful for you http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=192284

-[2]DAY_- wrote:i think it stands for subsonic. Which means below audible sound. its just semantics, but yeah.. as per the OP if you want sub line to be more audible on normal speakers, layer with low passed square, high pass square layer at ~75, let sine sub remain underneath

I don't think it does stand for subsonic. I *think* that's a reference to speed/velocity rather than frequency, as in a normal plane is subsonic (below the speed on sound). Sub is just a prefix meaning below and so the term sub-bass?

It's odd in that my studio monitors say they go to 50hz but can be pushed a bit lower by blocking the air ports (45-40hz), however, playing a pure sub at 35-45 hz, I can still hear it through them?! It's odd, maybe I'm interpreting feeling it as hearing it, dunno. The ways to deliver those frequencies on a range of sound systems is (to my knowledge) adding upper harmonics to the sound. I use sine sub bass lines almost exclusively, I love the warmth and texture of it, and unless I have a separate bass/low mid line (or a busy tune as is) I will add either subtle distortion, a square/triangle (tho I find the effect less so with tri) to the oscillator, or just layer up the bass with a completely separate synth and filter to taste. I also sidechain a lot more than I used to with pure sine subs, with a slightly longer release than you would normally have to compensate for a low bass kick. That way I guess psycho-acoustically you pick up the sub better because of the dynamics change. however that wouldn't help you on a pair of shitey iPhone earplugs.

valuable tips here. will use.

i hate when I'm making a hiphop beat and in sections where its only drums and sub bass, listeners that don't have subs will lose track of the key and it'll sound weird when I bring back the other instruments. Now I know how to let them hear the subbass without subs

I would use a saw over a square, it has more even harmonics witch make your sound warmer. square waves are mainly odd harmonics. I usually add harmonics with saturation. have you guys ever heard of the plugin. redline preamp? phattens them subs nice ads lots of harmonics. Really though If I don't have the subs I listen to other music.

P.S. Redline pre amp sounds mega on drums check it out.

Waves Maxxbass can come in handy as it allows you to mess with harmonics and help bump up your perceived bass noise--although it is easy to overuse hence somewhat troublesome if not utilized correctly. Definitely has helped me get some bass that translates to sh*tty laptop speakers and the like. Might be worth exploring.

jrisreal wrote:valuable tips here. will use.

i hate when I'm making a hiphop beat and in sections where its only drums and sub bass, listeners that don't have subs will lose track of the key and it'll sound weird when I bring back the other instruments. Now I know how to let them hear the subbass without subs

That's exactly the sort of situation I'm on about.