Key Bass/Kick Drum EQ Frequencies to Thump the Chest And Get Trousers A' Flappin'

These are some notes I have for Thumping the Chest, Flapping the Pants bass EQing.

I am referring to bass "punch" you feel in the chest and also "clean boom"-the type of frequency that moves air out of the woofer by causing it to pump air.

I am NOT referring to "Sub Bass . Sub Bass are EQ frequencies 40 hz and below and used in rap music and also used to shake cars or home theater systems.
Slap bass and kick drums that are part of the songs "hook", will benefit the most from boosting these frequencies. The recording below illustrates the practical use in mixing.


Practical mixing example:

A great example of kick and bass punch in a modern pop song is "Like The Way I Do". You "feel" every time he thumps the low E string in the chest cavity. People used to play this song to test out their new hifi speakers. The bass on this song , played on a great stereo, will pump the woofers. When it came out in the 80s , people couldnt believe the clarity and impact the bass had even listening on cheap radio.Its also the first time people heard the Aphex Aural Exciter and the Hartke 4x10 cabinet. It was a landmark in bass recording in its time.



Random factoid:
The Aphex Exciter homes in on pleasant frequencies then expands on that frequencys harmonics. The result is audio that excites and tingles the hairs in the listeners ears. Anytime you hear music in a department store, the songs are "Excited" i.e...."harmonic frequencies the brain finds pleasing are boosted", to make you feel good and want to shop anmd spend money. The Aphex Exciter started all that.
You can notice it just by listening.

Notice the sweet tingly tickle in your ears? Its ever so slight but its there and noticeable on the cymbals and tamborine.

Exciters aka "Dynamic Enhancers" are used by Taylor Swift, Cher, Beyonce, Mariah Carey etc... and are 75% of what makes their vocals "sparkly".
Its also makes millions upon millions of teenyboppers "feel good" when asked "What is it about Taylor Swifts songs that you love ?" and they reply "I dont know , I just like her and I can relate to what she is singing about".
They sell lots of records.

Its not about the music , its about being "sparkly".




Key Notes:

Mix results will vary.

AVOID STEREO BASS. While Yes, it sounds good, you actually lose punch and impact with stereo. Most modern recordings are mono bass panned near center. In the event a chorused bass might be used, punch and impact degrade. Modern professional songs all use mono bass for impact.Mono is your friend. Likewise , double kick drums will be panned far apart but its not real stereo. Its usually two mono kick tracks panned apart. Still...double kick will always have less impact in a mix than one single kick panned dead center.I did not say it wouldnt sound good, it just wont thump that woofer as hard as the single kick.

Kicks and basses occupy the same exact frequency range in mixes.Slightly panning one left and the other right sometimes will allow them to coexist peaceably in the same area in the mix. The tighter the pan, the less impact you lose.

The average adult male and female will differ as to the exact frequency , however 130 hz +/- 5hz, is the range adults feel kick drum and bass "punch" resonance in the chest cavity. Men are closer to the 130 hz but women will feel within 5 hz of that.
You may drag your spouse in front of the monitors to use as a guinea pig if needed.You can boost a wide area or else boost 130 and also whatever turns on your spouse.

It is best to "focus " the bass or kick by center panning dead center of mix however if both kick and bass are in mix, you may pan one 3-4% Left and the other 3-4% Right . They will BOTH occupy the center then.Adjust tightly as possible. In the song above , bass sits center of mix while kick is panned at 11, oclock.

"Punch" or "Chest Thump" range of a bass or kick is approx. 125-160 hz on humans. Start boosting 2-3 db at the 130hz range as a start point.

If you do want to add some sub woofer bass action, do a slight boost around 23-35 hz range. This area gets sub woofers "pumping air" (Flapping the pants). This is also called "Tympanic Resonance". Think of a surround sound system and a bomb goes off in the movie.23-35hz is whats shaking the floor and sofa.

For safety be aware high SPL exposure at loud volumes around 4-16hz can cause the human body "involuntary excitation of the tympanic diaghram". Trust me you do not want that. FREQUENCIES AFFECT THE BODY.

There are people at car shows who will charge to give women orgasms by sitting in a car with a subwoofer system. It has gone on for years. The sub woofer will vibrate at a specific frquency and well..... FREQUENCIES AFFECT THE BODY.
Be careful when playing with sub woofers. Always practice Safe Bass!



Thats why the bass player always gets the girl.....

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