Low end and harmonics
Low-end regions
Sub-bass, bass, low mids: three zones with very different effects.
Below 60 Hz you feel more than you hear: the pressure of sub-bass, often missing from small speakers. Between 60 and 200 Hz lie the weight and punch of the kick and the bass. Between 200 and 500 Hz, the body of instruments, but also the build-up that makes a mix muddy.
Many mixing problems live here: two instruments fighting for the same zone, a room resonance, too much body.
Listen on headphones or good speakers: small computer speakers do not reproduce sub-bass.
Listen for
- A dull, almost physical pressure in the deep lows.
- A rounder, heavier "boom" around 80–120 Hz.
- A thicker, "boxy" sound around 250–400 Hz.
The classic mistake
Judging the low end at low volume or on small speakers: you will underestimate the deep lows.
Put it into practice
Bass detective · Discovery
Bass detectiveThe lesson is complete when the level is passed (35/50).