Author Topic: Setting Sub Levels  (Read 8582 times)

Some Dude

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Setting Sub Levels
« on: June 14, 2016, 09:58:08 pm »
Haven't had this problem very often but every now and then when I'm mixing a track with a very low 808 style sub it will sound well mixed on my headphones, monitors, and laptop speakers. However, when I go play it out over a large PA the bass will be far too loud and drown out everything else. I need some new tips and tricks on getting the sub levels in a strong, but not overpowering, range before I embarrass myself by playing a blown out mix during a set lol.

Mussar

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2016, 10:14:31 pm »
Reference more. If you're actively comparing your song to commercially released music that you like side by side in your DAW, you should never have any problem with levels.

attila

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2016, 07:11:45 am »
On my masters I aim to have my sub hit roughly between -12 and -9 fwiw

myda

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2016, 12:34:20 pm »
it reaaalllly depends on the type of music u make, but for trap-ish stuff I usually have my sub hit around -6 to -4 dB. it depends on how loud the other elements are too though. I agree with mussar, reference a ton

manducator

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2016, 01:36:15 pm »
Comparing to other tracks is the key you are looking for. Use a low pass filter on commercial songs and copare them with your song with a low pass filter.

And compare with a frequency analyzer, but what you hear is more important.

Marrow Machines

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2016, 04:11:20 pm »
oh my mix, i get my subs at -4db or a tad lower.

but i like bass...
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Some Dude

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2016, 06:35:34 pm »
For everyone saying you get your sub at -4 or -6 and such what is that relative too? If your sub is at -6 what is your kick at? And is that peak meter?

myda

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2016, 07:23:09 pm »
oh I mean that it's like -4db on ableton's spectrum, not the peak meter. my kick varies track by track; sometimes the sub of my kick is the same level as my sub bass (not at the same time of course), while other times it's -12db and not as low(madeon-ish kicks)

Marrow Machines

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Re: Setting Sub Levels
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2016, 07:34:31 pm »
For everyone saying you get your sub at -4 or -6 and such what is that relative too? If your sub is at -6 what is your kick at? And is that peak meter?

kick's at -10ish or so...

actually, i think my sub comes just a little below that, but by the way i have my gain set to my volume, it comes in at -4.

i just checked one of my newer songs, and my sub goes a tiny bit above -10db, and my kicks and barely peaking at -10db

these are the gain levels after adjusting the volume fader accordingly

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