Deep Bass Vst Plugin
The key to any good mix is a balanced spectrum of frequencies…
Finding instruments that compliment the kick without drowning out its delicate range can be extremely difficult. Luckily for us, the sub-bass exists and serves as the unsung hero of energy and strength.
VST 4 FREE - Free Audio Plug-ins and Archives. Free VST downloads: Digital Acoustic (Nylon strings guitar by TED) - Spicy Guitar (Physically modelled acoustic guitar by Keolab) - ABPL II (Precision electric bass by Ample Sound) - Bass Module (Bass by MaxSynths) - Classic.Gtr (Spanish guitar by Quiet Music) - Pling4 (Plucked string by Xoxos. Gorilla Bass by SampleScience is a Virtual Instrument Audio Plugin for macOS and Windows. It functions as a VST Plugin, an Audio Units Plugin and a VST 3 Plugin. Plug-in, App & Soundware Format (s).
With so many Sub Bass VSTs out there, it can be tricky to pick out your ideal bass amongst all of the options. The Sub Bass, although limited in application, can completely affect the overall mood of a track.
Since many VSTs are built genre specific, it’s also important to sift through the specs of every potential candidate, before committing to one to fill your specific needs.
We’ve done the homework for you, and have compiled a few of what we consider the best Sub bass VST plugins on the market.
Other Helpful Guides:
Loopmasters Bass Master
See Price & Demos
Loopmasters Bass Master totes itself as a synth dedicated to “the art of bass.” Other than that claim, it’s overall an impressive plugin for its affordable price.
The plugin has 127 different waveforms built in and is used for mainly electronic music. The plugin caters to a range of experience levels, as its user interface is friendly and laid out in a way that makes it easy to quickly find a sound that suits your needs.
Features and Specs
With 350 included presets, the Bass Master can be used as a diverse soundbank if nothing else. It is based around two sample-based oscillators, which Loopmasters feels adds a retro feel to the plugin.
The VST comes with bass boost, which can be used to fill in a lacking low end. In addition, there are 13 filters within the plugin to further craft the sound. The VST also has three mappable control knobs on the interface itself and embedded in each of the filters.
The direct out controls on the interface mean that the sound can be mastered and compiled within the plugin, to produce a more polished sound. It’s also armed with internal distortion, chorus, and reverb, furthering processing possibilities.
Above all, the Bass Master takes up an impressively low amount of CPU. These detail might seem insignificant, but low end based plugins are typically notorious for taking up way too much of your computer’s power.
Although critics may find the lack of oscillators limiting, the Bass Master is great for getting a decent sound quickly and for bass beginners alike. Many like that the plugin is relatively simple, which reflects the nature of most desired sub bass sounds.
Bottom-Line
As your technical skills progress, it may be time to switch over to a plugin with more built-in mappings and features. However, for the price, the quality of the Bass Master is undeniable, and the preset sounds alone make up for any shortcoming. The Loopmasters Bass Master is quick to get you a bass sound without compromising your budget or computer speed.
DopeSONIX Bass Engine 2
See Price & Demos
This plugin is made for hip-hop and modern rap with a focus on a wide, fat, warmer-toned sound. DopeSONIX Bass Engine is uniquely inspired by 3 eras of hip-hop and is organized as such. Whether you’re looking to travel to the early 2000s or the 1990s, the Bass Engine will help you get there.
Features and Specs
Although it does not have adjustable oscillators, the bass engine is built in with the standard Attack, Decay, Sustain, and release controls. Moreover, the plugin was built to be a fast track to desired hip hop sounds. The lack of technical customization is deliberate, and in exchange offers efficiency with 300 preprocessed sounds ready to be used directly in a project. Moreover, rifling through presets is quick and easy- You won’t have to painstakingly wait on each patch to load.
Coupled with this factor, the DopeSONIX takes up a minimal amount of CPU, so it’s a great VST to use, even on low powered laptops/tablets. You have the added bonus of being able to program bass sounds within the plugin, so you don’t have to stress about always having a midi controller on hand.
Need some inspiration? The DopeSONIX Bass Engine 2 comes with 50 Hip Hop midi bassline patterns that can be edited or exported to get your mixes going. For minor adjustments, the VST has built-in glide, pan, and drive controls. To add to the retro vibe, Bass Engine 2 is equipped with an analog-inspired reverb. It is very affordable without sounding so.
Bottom-Line
Above all, the DopeSONIX Bass Engine 2 presents a refreshing look at the sub bass- Its unique organization by decade reflects real respect for the hip-hop genre as a whole and has the sound to back it up. Although some may be bothered by its lack of personalization and technical controls, it presents a quick way to get to a hip hop specific, quality, sound without the distraction of sometimes superfluous controls.
JST Sub Destroyer
See Price & Demos
JST Sub Destroyer, although powerful, does not act as a standalone instrument. Rather, it can be added to existing instruments to add more girth and punch to your sub bass sounds. Moreover, it has a niche in EDM music for creating wobbly synth noises, often seen in genres such as dubstep.
Features and Specs
The Sub Destroyer has a simple look to it with few controls. When added onto any track, it can convert the signal to four different wave types: Triangle, Square, Sawtooth, and Sine. It includes two different visualizers, one by waveform, and the other by dB meter, so you can easily track where your frequencies and levels are hitting.
It has two main knobs- A standard lowpass filter and a volume knob. On the drive knob, there is a smaller character adjustment, to add interest to your sounds. Moreover, there is a “harmonic enhancement” feature to bring out those resonant tones that may be difficult to capture otherwise.
Classical and midi automation can be done within the plugin. The VST itself is super affordable and doesn’t take up a large amount of CPU, partially since it is not a standalone instrument.
Bottom-Line
The simple JST Sub Destroyer is a great addition to any preexisting bass sounds that need that extra boost. The lack of built-in sounds is a slight drawback, as the plugin is great at producing what it promises- Width to any low end quickly and efficiently. Overall, the plugin is great for the price and gives the community an option to alter preexisting sounds, rather than replace sounds completely.
FAW SubLab
See Price & Demos
The FAW SubLab synthesizer plugin is very versatile and is used in mainly future bass, trap, and hip hop sounds. For those looking for a punchy 808, the SubLab has all you could want. It’s composed of three different sound engines: A sampler, a unique sub bass oscillator, and a standard synth. The layering of these three entities is sure to make a sound that stands out.
Features and Specs
SubLab comes with 250 analog style kick samples and 6 different bass modules. Most notably, the plugin comes with a pitch auto-adjust feature for any Sub signal. Any sample dropped into SubLab will automatically be pitch analyzed to maximize efficiency.
Moreover, this feature is coupled with a spectrograph, so that you can visually detect where your sub’s frequency lies in comparison to the rest of your track. In order to highlight the kick amongst the powerful subs provided by the plugin, FAW has included a built-in sidechain compressor to achieve this effect quickly and easily.
The VST also comes with a widening tool, which is especially useful since 808s are historically mono processed signals.
For the classic hip-hop distorted 808 sound, Sublab comes with 4 different types of distortion. Moreover, any 808 kick can be turned into a Sub with the Zero-Crossing method. Essentially, the plugin will detect the most sustained section of the kick sample, and loop it, making it appear longer. For what it’s worth, the plugin is pretty affordable.
Bottom-Line
Overall, this plugin is super worth it for the price. Some engineers might find it limiting as it is mainly geared towards 808 hip hop and trap styles. However, the sample pitch matching feature alone makes the process of producing much easier. The 808 as an entity is relatively modern so it’s definitely worth investing in a plugin that truly understands it inside and out.
Softube Monoment Bass
See Price & Demos
Softube’s Monoment Bass is focused on creating basslines that stand out in the mix. Ideal for house and electronic music genres. It was created through collaboration with household DJ names such as Vandalism and Madison Mars. Each of these artists, along with a couple of others, have set presets within the plugin, each adding their unique take to what it means to have an exceptional bassline.
Features and Specs
The plugin itself is centered around a single, but powerful bass synthesizer. Monoment Bass includes a number of built-in samples, all sourced from boutique or small-batch synthesizers and instruments. The built-in synth and imported/embedded sounds can be layered within the plugin to create a unique low-end that stands out in a mix.
These sounds can also be detuned or pitch adjusted to add interest. For further tweaking, the plugin includes a couple of features to edit signal texture. Along with a section dedicated to ambience, Monoment Bass highlights an “aging” knob, which is a unique combination of distortion and pitch shifting to emulate a more vintage feel.
All of the sounds included on the plugin are stereo sourced, making all samples sound lush and wide. Softube states that samples were also recorded in “triplicate”, meaning that each sample is available in every key and tonation, expanding your possibilities as a producer. The plugin is very affordable and well worth the cost, especially if you’re looking for a good source of retro bass sounds.
Bottom-Line
All in all, the Monoment Bass is a good buy. Although it is limiting in that all samples are exclusively stereo, the plugin is very user-friendly and allows one to get the stand-out bassline they need in a short amount of time.
Rob Papen SubBoomBass 2
See Price & Demos
The SubBoomBass 2 is an impressive instrument known for its low-end synth sounds and occasional percussive elements. It includes all the presets from the previous version, and has an endless amount of effect knobs so that you can get really specific with the sounds you’re creating. With its versatility, this synth is used for anything from film scores to pop music. Let’s dive into the SubBoomBass 2’s most notable features.
Features and Specs
This plugin is definitely one of the more intense ones. With over 1,900 built-in presets, the possibilities are endless. Although the instrument is only equipped with two oscillators, the interface automatically routes these signals to filter/envelope sections, so that the sounds can be ornately edited and crafted.
/best-free-vst-mastering-plugins.html. Moreover, there are more than 128 waveforms alone to choose from per oscillator. The plugin has two built-in sequencers, including a distinct 16 step sequencer to give the user a visual of their sound.
SubBoomBass 2 includes a modulation matrix, focused around altering the texture and shape of tones. Within the matrix, there are multiple effects to choose from. These can be added directly onto the oscillator, or used for adjustments during post-processing.
With so many options, the SubBoomBass 2 may take up a good amount of CPU depending on your device’s specs. The VST is super affordable for all that is included.
Bottom-Line
This instrument overall is a great resource for unique sounds and a plethora of signal possibilities. Although it may be heavier on the usage side of things and not as friendly of a user-interface, for its preset library alone, this plugin is well worth the cost.
Other Notable Mentions
Native Instrument Massive
See Price & Demos
Native Instrument Massive is a famous and powerful wavetable synthesizer used among mainly electronic producers. This instrument is made to be strong… With 3 built-in oscillators and an additional one for modulation purposes, there’s no doubt your computer will need to work hard. Despite this drawback, Massive proves to live up to its name in the best of ways. The synth is packed with wide, high-quality sounds designed to make your mix shine.
Massive is packed with macro mappings and modulation knobs for increased control. Due to the abundance of features, the user interface can appear a bit cluttered, so it may take a little longer to get to the sound you need. However, with more specificity comes the potential for a more distinct, high-quality sound. The 3 oscillators within the plugin come with 80 different presets to experiment with. Notably, the VST has routing and voicing controls within the interface, giving more power to the user. Modulation settings can be dragged and dropped onto different channels, making creation easy, once the basic controls are understood thoroughly.
Massive requires a bit more up-front financial investment, but for those looking to dedicate themselves to a worthwhile synth, Massive is a superb option.
Xfer Records Serum
See Price & Demos
Serum is a well-known synthesizer among novices and professionals alike. Known for its use of wavetable synthesis, this instrument is versatile and powerful. Although bass sounds are not the main purpose, Serum offers a large selection of low-end presets. Generally used for electronic music, this synth includes 10 different effect modules alone, allowing the user to craft the sound of their dreams.
Deep House Bass Vst Plugins
Serum’s most basic set-up consists of two wavetable oscillators, noise generator, and a sub oscillator. The sub oscillator is unique to the synth and can give your low-end the touch it needs to stand out amongst other tracks. The oscillators were engineered for studio-grade performance, and preserve higher frequencies often lost during traditional mixing. Each oscillator can have up to 16 voices. Serum is definitely not light on the relative price point or CPU usage, but for all that’s included, it is well worth the price. The synth is loaded with 450 presets and 144 different wavetables.
Aesthetically speaking, Serum is formatted out in a very user-friendly way. With a central keyboard coupled with multiple visualizers, the synth is accessible to beginners, yet allows for further growth due to the breadth of the plugin. All in all, it is a great synth to add to your arsenal, regardless of whether or not you are focusing on spicing up a low-end.
Spectrasonics Trilian
See Price @ Amazon
If you’re seeking a more conventional bass sound, i.e one emulating a physical instrument, Spectrasonics Trilian is an excellent option. Trilian has 60 different bass instrument patches, mimicking that of stand-up, acoustic and traditional basses. Each of these patches has additional voicings and styles included. Trilian shines best in pop/electronic genres.
In addition to the traditional sound, Trilian also offers over 300 samples from big name synths (Korg, Roland, Dave Smith, etc.). The VST allows you to select articulation patterns as well, making the sounds appear even more organic. The interface can be toggled to your preferred viewing- Spectrasonics includes a rack or text view. Unfortunately, you cannot import your own samples into Trilian. The plugin is a little pricey, but more than fair considering its over 100,000 distinct sounds. Your CPU might be compromised whilst using Trilian, but you have the option of downloading only the patches you need to help alleviate the burden.
Trilian is a great option for getting those tricky acoustic bass sounds. Moreover, its synth sample library is impressive, making it a worthwhile purchase for many projects, regardless of genre.
Final Thoughts
Sub Bass VSTS are essential to creating mixes with power and depth. The foundation of a song is important, so it makes sense to invest in an instrument that speaks to your style. Regardless of your needs, there’s definitely a plugin out there for you.
Without a doubt, a tight bassline is central to any good track. The bass adds soul, rhythm, and so much more, essentially creating the foundation of every song.
However, it can be tricky to find the best plugins for bass with so many options out there..
Low-end frequencies are delicate enough already, so it’s important to arm yourselves with tools that respect their fragile nature and allow the bass to breathe through.
Let’s take a deeper look into some of the best options on the market.
Our Top Choices for Bass Enhancement and Mixing
Related post: Top Sub Bass Plugins
Bassroom By Mastering the Mix
Click for Price & Demo
Bassroom lives up to its name-.The EQ plugin is designed to emulate the sound conditions of different rooms. The plugin places you in a 3D sound visualizer, separated by different frequencies. This unique approach to mixing is innovative in itself, and perhaps ideal for mastering the art of bass mixing. A bassline should be heard and enjoyed through all acoustic conditions, not just on professional studio monitors.
The plugin is broken down into 5 different EQ bands that go in between 0-320Hz. Each section can be toggled to have more or less energy, depending on what virtual space you select your sound to be edited in.
Bassroom features live bypass automation, and its EQ and Q filters are designed to highlight the best tones of bass sounds. The plugin also offers 60 different presets, each catered to a specific genre of music. This feature allows the user to not only craft desired sound, but learn more about bass mixing among multiple disciplines. The VST also allows you to import a reference track, which a producer can then match their EQs to.
Bassroom is very affordable, intuitive and acts as a valuable learning tool as a valuable added bonus. Check it out.
MBassador by MeldaProduction
Click for Price & Demo
While the best practice is to re-record weak track parts, sometimes that luxury is not available. MBassador by MeldaProduction proses a unique solution for those of us in this all-too-familiar predicament. The plugin is able to generate sub bass and generally more hearty bass tones from preexisting audio.
Audio input placed into the VST is automatically divided into 4 different bands which can be toggled on/off to preference. /free-drum-vst-windoreddit.html. The plugin uses low-pass filters to determine the best frequencies to highlight and reference from, usually at a Hz rate a bit below where the kick drum rests. From there, a mimicked Bass and 2 different Sub Bass patterns can be enabled to boost the low end. These sounds are plugin generated and supported by MBassador’s embedded 3 processors.
To add girth, resonance, higher tones, and artifacts can also be added. As a reference, there is a built-in limiter on the interface which is extremely helpful, especially with low-end frequencies that our ears tend to distort. Within each artificial track, there are two modulation knobs: Saturation and Tone.
The plugin itself is very user-friendly and fairly simple to use. It’s made bare on purpose- It doesn’t take long for you to achieve the low-end boost you’re looking for. Unfortunately, you cannot alter the pitch of a signal within this plugin.
As for the price point, it is affordable and pretty comparable to other plugins of its stature. Overall, this plugin is great for giving your mixes an extra shine, especially if they’re lacking a comprehensive bass during the recording process.
Submarine by Waves Audio
Click for Price & Demo
Have you ever played a track on a larger sound-system or subwoofer and found that the bass just doesn’t cut it? Waves has created a plugin that promises crystal-clear clarity and sub tones up to two octaves below your desired low-end sound. If you’re looking to give a track a little more girth, even to just boost it for an event where you know the low-end levels will stand out, this plugin is a life saver.
Submarine is based around two central sub generators. It features a frequency visualizer and EQ, so you can pinpoint exactly what frequency will be used to generate monstrous sub frequencies. There is also a frequency range timeline, where you can adjust either end should you want to boost a particular range instead of one specific frequency.
Waves markets this product towards users looking to play their sounds on large sound settings/clubs, so it’s important that this plugin is used with a grain of salt. Although undeniably powerful, it may not be your go-to on every track, as it is most suited for club/dance electronic music.
A huge benefit of Waves Submarine is that it uses a form of granular synthesis in preprocessing to ensure that the artificially produced frequencies are at perfect pitch and reconstructed in a way that coincides with the original signal.
Overall, the plugin very much worth the price if you’re looking to create, fat club sounds.
Sasquatch Kick Machine by Boz Digital Labs
Click for Price & Demo
This plugin is pretty straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. The Sasquatch Kick Machine takes any kick sample into its interface and gives it the extra low-end power it needs. The simplicity of the VST allows it to be useful across the board in any genre of music.
Once loaded into the interface, the kick drum can be modulated with 3 different toggle options: 1) Click- The punchy part of the kick 2) Oomph- The heavier frequencies within the kick used for building a strong low end 3) Drive- The overall level of the signal. These 3 toggles are very sensitive and effective, so getting that large sound isn’t difficult.
The VST bases all changes around the signal alone- It has no internal samples. Although this could be seen as a drawback, it also means less CPU usage.
The Kick Machine is overall pretty affordable and is a great tool to get you the strong, noticeable kicks you desire. After all, a good low end is not just about sub bass.
Bark of Dog by Boz Digital Labs
Click for Price & Demo
Not all great tools have to be expensive. Bark of Dog offers a remarkably simple and effective plugin for boosting your bass at the very affordable price of FREE! Created by an independent producer, this plugin allows you to shortcut the EQing process hassle-free.
Bark of Dog is essentially just a high pass filter catered towards boosting bass sounds in the mix. The creator himself states that the VST produces an effect that “can be created with any stock” EQ, however, this does not diminish the value of the interface.
The plugin is broken down into three different modes- Classic, Passive, and Combo. Classic Mode resembles the original, single-processor version of this plugin. It is the default mode of the VST and allows you to adjust the incoming signal by amplitude and frequency, focusing on the resonant bass tones. Passive mode is modeled after the “push-pull” bass technique. Here, undesired frequencies are removed according to the curve of the EQ, and the cut-off frequencies are boosted. Combo is essentially a combo of the two- Boosting all of the resonant signal tones with the Passive mode and cleaning up the signal with the “push-pull” method.
All in all, this plugin works great for its intended purpose and since its free, you’ve got nothing to lose!
LoAir by Waves
Click for Price & Demo
This subharmonic generator by Waves can be used for more than just bass. Commonly, LoAir is used to add a punch to kicks, other percussion instruments, and deep cinematic soundscapes. With any easily understood user-interface, this plugin can help you get the deeper tones you need in a jiffy.
LoAir is passed around an incoming signal and a couple of processing knobs. There are no built-in sounds, so all tones generated are stemming directly from the original signal, which makes this post-processing sound more natural. It should be noted, however, that the generated tones may require additional basic polishing outside of the plugin- i.e EQ, general effects, high-pass filter, etc.
The three main controls on this VST are “Range”, “LoAir”, and “LO”. The range sets the cutoff of the lowpass filter. LoAir toggles the level of the generated tones. Lo adjusts the level of the filtered signal. Having these parameters separate creates a unique balance that stands out in the mix. The plugin also comes with a handy “align” button, which helps compress these signals together, making the output more cohesive.
Although relatively simple, LoAir is pretty inexpensive and creates the subby tones our ears love efficiently.
MaxxBass by Waves
Click for Price & Demo
MaxxBass’ distinct way of processing makes it stand out among other plugins, making it widely considered one of the best plugins for bass out there. Instead of boosting the low-end signals or using a version of a high-pass filter, the VST works to artificially produce resonant overtones in your mix, making the low-end sound more full. This versatility centered around creating a fuller sound that can be applied to genres across the board.
Since this plugin is only adding resonant tones, it has the added bonus of not mudding up the frequency spectrum. MaxxBass analyzes the incoming signal and produces a couple of key tones. Your ears fill intuitive fill in the gaps between the original signal and the artificial frequencies, making the sound appear more full.
The interface is very simple, it is comprised of a visualizer, volume/level faders, and an internal limiter to prevent clipping. Although the plugin is pretty limited in function, its distinct way of addressing a weak low-end and affordability make it worth a try at the very least. It’s a step up from its counterpart Renaissance Bass also by Waves, as you have more control in terms of ratio, response, and EQing within the plugin.
Moreover, MaxxBass has a frequency visualizer of the original signal versus the processed signal so it’s easy to see where your new artificial frequencies are resting in the mix. Visual features like this one can make or break a plugin, especially when dealing with the low-end of a song- Our ears are better at distinguishing higher frequencies, so a visual aid ensures that we are producing the precise, in-tune sound our ears crave.
Renaissance Bass by Waves
Click for Price & Demo
Renaissance Bass is excellent at creating the punchy, dense bass sounds that are essential to EDM and dance music, and for this reason many engineers consider this the best plugin for bass. The plugin itself is super affordable and includes a couple of presets to try and experiment with. It’s a step down from MaxxBass, but if you’re looking to add the signature resonant tones and do post-production outside of the plugin, Renaissance Bass is an excellent option.
This VST is extremely simple but still proves to be a valuable tool. The interface contains an input signal toggle, a fader for changing amplitude, and an output fader with a visualizer to prevent clipping when adjusting levels. Similarly to other plugins, Renaissance Bass simply adds desired and pivotal harmonics to the low end of a mix to produce a chunkier sound. You can dial in your cut-off frequency pretty quickly, which can help speed up your workflow.
The plugin takes up a very low amount of CPU, making it very versatile across platforms. It can also be applied to kicks to give them a more punchy attack.
Best Bass Vst Plugin
If you’re looking for something to beef up your bass quickly without much hassle, this plugin definitely works in a pinch.
Bass XL by Denise
Click for Price & Demo
There’s no doubt that this plugin is beautifully designed. The user interface itself is warm and welcoming, making it inviting to use. Outside of aesthetics, Bass XL works great for experienced producers who know what precise frequencies they want to boost within a mix. It’s affordability and power makes it a winning combination.
The VST works by boosting a frequency selected by the user. It’s catered towards bass and kick sounds, but due to this central feature, it can certainly be used on electric guitars, percussion, or other instruments. Bass XL allows you to hear the volume of the adjusted signal and processed signal independently and also offers the feature of compressing the signals together within the plugin, instead of just the processed one. Moreover, the plugin gives tone and position toggles, which aid in the mixing process.
Free 808 Bass Vst Plugins
You can save time and get closer to a fully finished bass sound within the plugin, streamlining your workflow. Not to mention, the plugin is extremely affordable. It might be difficult for beginners to know which frequencies should/need to be boosted, but for an intermediate/experienced producer, Bass XL is a great tool.
MixBass by PSP Audioware
Click for Price & Demo
This plugin is unfortunately not available on its own and is instead within a plugin pack, “MixPack2”. However, for those considering purchasing a plugin bundle anyways, definitely take PSP bundles into consideration. MixBass is very powerful and super successful at producing at convincing analog bass sounds that are few and far between.
This plugin is best used in dance and electronic music but can be applied to a number of genres with its versatility of controls. MixBass is packed with controls subcategorized by control, compression, character, punch, and output. The user interface resembles a rack mount hardware piece and is just as complex. That coupled with its lack of embedded visualizers makes it a tool geared towards experienced professionals, or those looking to commit a lot of time to learn the ins-and-outs of a pack.
This plugin is certainly powerful. Its central feature is a chain of audio effects designed to pull out the high frequencies within a low-end and carve out the top-end in conjunction to produce a meaty, clean bass sound.
Considering the other intricate tools within the pack, MixBass is very affordable but may require a bit more of a learning curve to access the plugins’ full potential.
Bass Mixing and Enhancement Tips
Regardless of what VST you go with, there are a couple of general tips and tricks you should use to get an effective low-end mix. Here a couple of things to keep in mind during your creation process.
Know what frequencies you’re looking for. Typically, bass and kick sounds rest in between 20-300 Hz. Visual aids in plugins can make this process easier.
Cut out unnecessary noise in the mix. Most of these plugins employ a high pass filter for good reason- Taking out frequencies in the delicate low range when they aren’t needed is essential for a clean track.
Figure out what should be highlighted. Often in the low-end, sounds are competing aggressively with one another to stand out. Decide preemptively what sound you want to draw attention to whether that’s the bass, kick, or an 808. This will help you determine what you should compress other elements to.
Add Harmonics. Adding barely noticeable frequencies that quickly beef up the low-end is simple with plugins like MaxxBass, Renaissance Bass, LoAir, etc.
Pan/Widen the sound. In order to avoid overlap, experiment with widening and/or panning low-end instruments. BassXL utilizes this technology to create a cleaner mix.
Use a reference track to emulate the desired sound. This is a standard practice throughout the music industry, and certain plugins such as Bassroom allow you to do this within the plugin.
Arrange low-end sounds appropriately. Create space in the mix so low-end sounds do not overlap too often. It’s very easy to create a muddy mix with even just one or two many low-frequency based instruments.
All in all, the low-end is a very delicate yet extremely important part of the mix. Bass mixing VSTs assist in creating the vital foundation of a song. There’s certainly something out there for everyone, and certainly the best plugin for bass will be what you want to accomplish. Try out one of these great options on your next mix, and you’ll definitely give your mixes that adding “punch” it still needs, without actually compromising the whole production.
To learn more bass mixing tips, check out our related articles: