Mastering The Mix - Bassroom - any experiences?

[Caine123]

hi, BF phase, did anyone from you test this thing? i read great things on gearslutz but is this really that great or just another sub pusher?

[Mushy Mushy]

Based on your last sentence you have no idea what it does.

Besides did you Google for existing KVR threads?

[Caine123]

i meant mixing the bass. dont be so strict ;D

[Mushy Mushy]

i meant mixing the bass. dont be so strict ;D

Demo it?
Watch a YouTube video?
Read one of the existing threads?

[legendCNCD]

Yes. It can make or break your bass end But it really works very nicely shaping it, I didnt know if I'd need it but it came a handy tool.

[Caine123]

im just demoing it and wow i like it a lot! but as im in a hurry cause the sale ends soon i dunno if it is really a must have. hmmmmmm for end mastering stages this could be really handy.

did anyone test if a MB Comp and/or EQ cannot do the same?

[marcusmack]

I've been testing BassRoom (demo) with various music tracks of various genres, with synthesised and sampled kick drums, with synthesised instrumental sounds, and also analytically using a swept sine with spectrum analysis. My conclusion: I won't be buying this plugin.

The main claimed technical advantage for BassRoom is that it will not introduce dramatic phase shifts and yet, uniquely, also will not introduce substantial pre- or post-ringing. And I agree that when using low or minimum Q for each of the bands, pre-ringing does not appear to be audible with sounds such as synthesised kick drums - often the most critical sound for revealing this aspect of a filter. However, with Q at max, a short pre-ring is definitely audible, to the extent that I'd avoid using BassRoom with high Q settings. The claim that BassRoom is superior to FabFilter's "natural phase" filtering in that the latter still has post-ringing, is I suppose technically true; but in practice in many if not most cases the post-ringing of FabFilter's natural-phase filtering is effectively masked and inaudible.

But then the problem with using low Q settings in BassRoom is that in some cases it can be very difficult if not impossible to create - with any degree of skilled predictability - neat or surgical frequency response profiles, as compared with using other makes of filters such as FabFilter Pro-Q3, Melda MAutoDynamicEQ, or Waves GEQ (Modern). I suspect this aspect would be problematic for many pro mixing and mastering engineers.

Moreover, BassRoom's filters with high Q settings can be even less amenable to sculpting response profiles other than crude or very basic shapes. Having used analytical techniques to reveal the resulting Bode plots for various settings of BassRoom's filter bands, I can guess why its developers chose to avoid the conventional Bode plot display for BassRoom's GUI. I'd call BassRoom's frequency responses "quirky-derpy" and not convenient, helpful or very useful for professional work.

The GUI is somewhat like a graphic EQ turned through 90 degrees and I don't find its 'Chest of Drawers' image particularly useful, though its cartoonish look may perhaps appeal to some neophyte bedroom producers.

As for the genre-matching facility, it may be fun for some producers to find out about normative bass profiles for genres with which they're not familiar, but I doubt if genre-specific aficionados would need it or want it.

Bottom line: I don't regard BassRoom, in both technical and practical terms, as a better choice than FabFilter's natural-phase filters.

[SonikHorizon]

The match suggestions are influenced by the whole frequency range (not just bass range) so it can be a bit fiddly to get your bass right if your mix is balanced differently than the reference track or preset.

[sircuit]

When I demoed this thing I played about 20 songs mixed by serban ghenea and a bunch of other electronic dance music songs (various genres, awesome mixes). Absolutely no “ai” preset (each preset tested on all songs, took me half a day) concluded that the bass was right in those songs. So the analyzer part is broken beyond any practical use. What remains - a eq that prerings too easy. Their entire plugin collection seems to be flashy plugs aimed at weekend hobbysts

[noiseboyuk]

I like it. I often use it to effectively cycle a few alternate suggestions from what I have, and sometimes it works great. V easy to tweak of course.