can't control bass with freeware (or can I?)

[Frippertronix]

There's a pretty good multi band comp and maximizer called T Sledge that's free, I'm not that skilled at setting them up, though, so I'm not sure I can give advice on the best way to compress only one note, or whether compressing all the other notes and raising the overall volume is the better way to get that F under control. It should be easy to get the info you need to know what the frequency is, though.

Why not just notch it with an eq that has a notch filter or a tight Q control? Nyquist EQ might work and it's free.

[Frippertronix]

there's defenetly a difference in bass content with the 2 notes. even the wave editor denotes it.
i just would like them to have the same bass content.
btw the more boomy note in this particular case is the hjgher note....which in a sense is louder.(although both notes peak at excatly same volume level as they are played through classic compressor)
both notes have same velocity and are played on the same synth (subduer).
all i want to knwo is if a plugin exists that compresses the bass content....the frequency.....like an EQ that adjust iotself to what it ears....dynmic eq maybe? if the name makes any sense maybe its waht i neeed?

Synths definitely do have peaks and valleys that show up when waveforms are mixed. I get it all the time in the upper octaves. You might try messing with PW on one or both of the osc's if you don't mind changing the patch, or mixing the waveforms differently, use different waveforms, or just try messing with settings and maybe you'll end up with a more useable sound (I know, that's pretty shoddy advice ). Don't know what else to say, except that I face the same problem with annoying peaks, particularly on my analog synths, but it's usually high peaks.

BTW, I just got Subduer and I think it rocks. Sounds excellent with my WWAYM filter and GMO-1 modulator.

[_starcraft_]

i don't want to individually eq ecach note,,,,which is what i do now....but i would like to find a solution ( a plugin) that will make all notes more uniform in bass content.
like a compressor lifts up the quiter parts and reduces the louder parts.....i thought something would exist that would lower the more boomy parts and enhance the less boomy parts.
i thought a normal compressor would do the job....but with this envelope bass i've done the frequency difference between one note and the other is still remarkable even when the track is compressed beyond recognition.

ps:thx i'll check that multiband compressor...cos i don't know what multiband stand for and what it does...but i gues it has to do with frequency content right....so it might help ...hopefully.

ps : yeah subduer is my fav free synth...and my main synth at the moment....but alias oscillators is a bit of a problem for a purist limeke me anyway.and it does cause some odditys on sunds. when i press very high notes i feel like puking....but i dont play much high notes anyway

[Frippertronix]

i don't want to individually eq ecach note,,,,which is what i do now....but i would like to find a solution ( a plugin) that will make all notes more uniform in bass content.
like a compressor lifts up the quiter parts and reduces the louder parts.....i thought something would exist that would lower the more boomy parts and enhance the less boomy parts.
i thought a normal compressor would do the job....but with this envelope bass i've done the frequency difference between one note and the other is still remarkable even when the track is compressed beyond recognition.

ps:thx i'll check that multiband compressor...cos i don't know what multiband stand for and what it does...but i gues it has to do with frequency content right....so it might help ...hopefully.

Yea, you're on the right track. Bass issues do often get smoothed out by multiband comps, and they usually come with presets you can experiment with and get an idea of how things are set for different effects. T Sledge may have such a setting that works for you.

Multiband just means it has the ability to run multiple compressors and they are filtered so that they each only affect certain frequency ranges, thus compressing different ranges differently according to the settings. They are a bit esoteric and part of that hazy bag of tricks that mastering engineers understand well, but us "mere mortals" aren't quite as qualified to use.

[Frippertronix]

ps : yeah subduer is my fav free synth...and my main synth at the moment....but alias oscillators is a bit of a problem for a purist limeke me anyway.and it does cause some odditys on sunds. when i press very high notes i feel like puking....but i dont play much high notes anyway

I usually filter the hell out of digital synths, particularly if I want to play high, which I try to avoid also. I usually use my analogs for leads, but even they also have to be filtered carefully or the highs can be harsh.

BTW, if you want a good free filter try Zap Filter. It has some decent Moog models and a few others. I find it sounds a bit fatter than most of the filters on the freeware synths. But I'm just in love with the NWRCFil I just got, and it was only around $35. I put it on everything now, even sometimes on samples. It helps make everything sond more "real".

[_starcraft_]

Multiband just means it has the ability to run multiple compressors and they are filtered so that they each only affect certain frequency ranges, thus compressing different ranges differently according to the settings. They are a bit esoteric and part of that hazy bag of tricks that mastering engineers understand well, but us "mere mortals" aren't quite as qualified to use

ah ok ! so thats defenetly waht i need then! spot on.
thanks for the help.
now the diffcult part is actually lerning to use it....but i'll mage i guess.
thx again.
ps ; about subduer my main problem is with the sine oscillator....its so muddy and not bright enough to be usable. i quite like its filters although i'm sure there ight be better ones out there....but i'll discuss all this in the appropriate thread....but i'll revive that thread tomorrow cos now i;m fallinasleep.
see you[/quote]

[kylen]

Does this "boomey" thing happen with headphones, or in another room? If not, there might not be a problem at all, except with that particular room.

This is essential - I didn't see an answer so I'm assuming is not the case.

[_starcraft_]

yes same problem with hedphones .thx

[P.T.]

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=72521

[kritikon]

If even an analyser shows up a heavier bass content, then almost certainly it's not a compressor you need to sort it out - it'll be the patch itself.

The most likely culprit will be the filter - what frequency is the filter set at? If it's a resonant filter and there is any resonance whatsoever, then there will be certain notes that it will accentuate. If it's a lowpass filter and the cutoff is set to peak anywhere lower than the notes you're playing, then it will also accentuate more than just one note because of harmonics etc. I doubt very much that aliasing will have anything to do with it. On low notes, the harmonics that go above 22.05KHz that reflect back are going to be so low in volume as to be almost unnoticable. Certainly not high enough to cause that booming.

I suspect you'll find that if you move the filter cutoff upwards that it will no longer cause the problem. Of course that changes the sound of the patch too, so it's a juggle between changing the sound and putting up with problems on specific notes.
I almost never use highly resonant filters on any bass sound at all. I do use res filters, but generally boosting those low Eq peaks with such a filter is almost always going to cause problems. Another way around it if you really have to use a res LPF is to set it a bit higher, and then use your multiband etc to bring down the higher frequencies, not to control the bass frequencies necessarily. So don't fvck around with heavy compression on the bass band...change your synth patch and use the higher bands on the comp, without gain make up, to dampen the whole bassline. A frequency conscious comp in lowpass mode will work also.

Sorry, but if you use resonant filters on basslines, this is a consequence you get. Think about it - a resonant filter means it boosts an Eq range at a certain frequency. That's all a resonant filter is. And any mul;tiples of that frequency also get affected.

[P.T.]

This is a compressor that works by lowering the volume of selected frquencies when they pass a user set threshold.

Though, if your sound is actually based on samples you should re-eq that troublesome sample as others have already suggested.

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=72521

[_starcraft_]

If even an analyser shows up a heavier bass content, then almost certainly it's not a compressor you need to sort it out - it'll be the patch itself.

The most likely culprit will be the filter - what frequency is the filter set at? If it's a resonant filter and there is any resonance whatsoever, then there will be certain notes that it will accentuate. If it's a lowpass filter and the cutoff is set to peak anywhere lower than the notes you're playing, then it will also accentuate more than just one note because of harmonics etc. I doubt very much that aliasing will have anything to do with it. On low notes, the harmonics that go above 22.05KHz that reflect back are going to be so low in volume as to be almost unnoticable. Certainly not high enough to cause that booming.

I suspect you'll find that if you move the filter cutoff upwards that it will no longer cause the problem. Of course that changes the sound of the patch too, so it's a juggle between changing the sound and putting up with problems on specific notes.
I almost never use highly resonant filters on any bass sound at all. I do use res filters, but generally boosting those low Eq peaks with such a filter is almost always going to cause problems. Another way around it if you really have to use a res LPF is to set it a bit higher, and then use your multiband etc to bring down the higher frequencies, not to control the bass frequencies necessarily. So don't fvck around with heavy compression on the bass band...change your synth patch and use the higher bands on the comp, without gain make up, to dampen the whole bassline. A frequency conscious comp in lowpass mode will work also.

Sorry, but if you use resonant filters on basslines, this is a consequence you get. Think about it - a resonant filter means it boosts an Eq range at a certain frequency. That's all a resonant filter is. And any mul;tiples of that frequency also get affected.

yeah u naild it on the head....
its a bass with an Lp filter with low cut off setting and high resonance 8half wayt through anyway).
anwya what u describe applys perfectly to my excample.
problem is i can't change the patch sound ....cos that's how exactly i want it to sound.i will not setttle for anything less than what i had in mind.


ps: PT thx for the link. I'm gonna try it tonight.

[kylen]

I'm sure I'm not following this - at first I wasn't sure if it was a problem in a sound source or a rendered mix. kritikon correctly pointed out what to do in the case of a sound source, but you're saying there is a problem in the sound source but you like the sound but you are going to compress it to make it sound good...haha just shoot me - as long as you like it!

[PaulSC]

its a bass with an Lp filter with low cut off setting and high resonance 8half wayt through anyway).

Maybe we're close to a solution here: does your synth provide either of the following (basically equivalent) things:

1. A Key Follow (or Key Track or similar) parameter on the LPF that can be set to 100%.

2. A mod matrix where Key Follow (or Key Track or Note Number or similar) can be routed 1:1 to the LPF cutoff?

If this setting is possible, but is not currently set on your patch, then set it. Then play the "good" note (C, for instance), and tweak the LPF cutoff until it sounds exactly like before. Now the key tracking should take care of making other notes sound as clear and focused as the one you've just tweaked.

(If 100% key tracking is already set for your patch, then try adjusting it up or down slightly, which is basically like eq'ing the patch from the inside.)

[Frippertronix]

I'm sure I'm not following this - at first I wasn't sure if it was a problem in a sound source or a rendered mix. kritikon correctly pointed out what to do in the case of a sound source, but you're saying there is a problem in the sound source but you like the sound but you are going to compress it to make it sound good...haha just shoot me - as long as you like it!

He needs keytracking, as stated above, so he doesn't have to mess with the rest of the notes as much as just raising the cutoff for all of them.

I'm a pretty entry level programmer, but I'm not sure I'm understanding PaulSC completely, though. Why would keyfollow automatically clear the problem up? I thought it just wired its destination parameter to the high and low range of the keyboard, thus lowering the cutoff for higher notes and raising it for lower notes?