Bass Enhancer Plugins: How Low Can You Go?
Tools to perfect the low-end in your productions.
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Bass Enhancer Plugins: How Low Can You Go? · Source: Plugin Alliance / Denise Audio / Slate Digital
We’re looking at bass enhancer plugins for maximizing the low-end of kicks, basses, and other critical elements in your productions.
In this Article:
Bass Enhancer Plugins
Not to be confused with bass management, which is a function in multichannel and immersive audio, bass enhancement processors provide tools for generating harmonic frequencies both below and above the range of the key low-end instruments in your tracks. While subharmonic generators create sub-bass below the input signal for a greater impact, other bass enhancement tools introduce harmonics above the source to make it cut through the mix more easily.
As an iZotope Ozone user, you’re probably already quite familiar with this process through the Low End Focus module that is included with the software. Meanwhile, Apple Logic Pro has its own SubBass plugin built in. If you’re new to working with sub bass frequencies, note that you will require speakers or headphones that can reproduce the frequencies below 60 Hz.
Bass Enhancer Plugins: Waves Submarine
The Submarine plugin is a dual-subharmonic generator that uses what Waves calls “Organic ReSynthesis” to create frequencies one or two octaves below the selected frequency band. From individual tracks to channel groups and your main mix bus, Submarine can help you achieve a deep low-end that translates across a range of different playback systems.
To start using Submarine, dial in the frequency range of your input source and then use the two subharmonic generators to find the correct sub-frequency balance for the sound. Not every source requires both generators to be active, so you can turn them on and off to hear exactly what each one is doing and balance their levels individually.
In addition, you can also add saturation to the sub-bass being generated with the drive control and alter the sound envelope with the dynamics control. What’s more, the mono bass function ensures that the sub-bass stays out of the stereo spread. Overall, Submarine is an affordable plugin with a decent amount of control for enhancing low-end elements. Get it at Thomann.*
Bass Enhancer Plugins: Brainworx bx_subsynth
With bx_subsynth, you can add a sub layer to any instrument in your mix. Unlike an EQ that can only boost or cut existing frequencies, bx_subsynth generates an octave below the range of the sound being processed. The bx_subsynth has been modelled on the dbx subharmonic synthesizer 120XP, which was used to make a bass guitar sit better in the subwoofers.
The bx_subsynth plugin has detailed controls to determine the level of subharmonics being generated, and there are three sub-frequency ranges that you can control individually (24-36 Hz, 36-56 Hz, and 56-80 Hz). Meanwhile, there are also tools to shape the stereo width, and the mono maker control helps you to assign the processed signal to the central mono channel.
In addition, the Edge section lets you add more tonal shaping in the form of saturation, while the filter introduces a resonant bump that makes the low end more pronounced. The bx_subsynth is also available as a UADx plugin for Apollo and Satellite DSP systems, and there is a free, scaled-down version called the bx_subfilter.
Bass Enhancer Plugins: Universal Audio Little Labs VOG
The Little Labs Voice of God is a resonance processor designed to accentuate the low end of voice recordings to give you that classic FM radio announcer tone. However, this versatile processor can be used on a wide range of sources, and it’s particularly effective for separating low-end elements in the mix.
The VOG allows you to introduce a resonant peak anywhere between 20 and 300 Hz, while adding a steep -24 dB per octave roll-off filter at the same time. Although the design of the VOG is remarkably simple, the results are fantastic, and it’s easy to get the hang of the interface to apply the processing to any sound.
Simply select the center frequency (40, 100, or 200 Hz) and then fine-tune the frequency dial until you hit pay dirt. The VOG is really great for adding that extra pronounced bottom to kicks and basses. Although this UADx plugin version is only available for Apollo and Satellite hardware users, there is a free version called the Boz Digital Labs Bark Of Dog.
Bass Enhancer Plugins: Denise Audio Bass XXL
The Bass XXL plugin from Denise Audio is a bass enhancement processor that will help you to get unwilling low-end elements to translate even on small speakers. The processing of Bass XXL can be focused on a particular note or frequency band, but the plugin also has a useful MIDI tracking mode that follows each note of the bassline.
Once you’ve set how you want the processing to work, you can then adjust how much harmonic saturation you want to add. It’s best to do this part by ear, and you can also activate the oversampling function for higher-quality processing. Also, there are some handy controls, like pre-delay to preserve the transients, and mono to limit the spread of the added harmonics.
Meanwhile, you can also adjust the range and slope to precisely tune the onset of the harmonics, so they’re sitting right where you want them in the mix. Overall, Bass XXL is an interesting prospect, particularly for producers who work with bass-heavy 808-driven beats, as it allows you to add definition and harmonic texture. Get it at Plugin Boutique.*
Bass Enhancer Plugins: Slate Digital Infinity Bass
The Infinity Bass plugin provides a range of processing options for low-end instruments, allowing you to achieve a sound that is textured and punchy. Each of the four processing modes provides a slightly different tool set for various applications, so you can choose between a Punchy exciter, a Warm dual-band subharmonic synthesizer, a Deep sub-bass generator, and a Phased mode for dealing with faint low-end elements in the mix.
Once you have chosen the processing setting, it’s really quick and easy to dial in the perfect sound in each case. While the amount and frequency controls are relatively straightforward, the role of the character knob changes according to the processing mode you have active.
This makes it the single most important control on the Infinity Bass plugin, as you can introduce saturation in Punchy mode, while in Deep mode, the control will adjust the decay and dynamics of the sub-bass being generated. Overall, Infinity Bass is a flexible processor that allows even a beginner to get decent results on a variety of instruments and musical styles. Get it at Thomann.*
- More from Slate Digital
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