Bass Boosting help.

[zack5]

I've managed to bass boost my songs to my liking, no distortion or anything. However, when the bass kicks in, the song's volume goes down. From what I understand, the bass is muffling over the song. Is there a way to make the song louder without jeopardizing any part of the bass boost?

[Trebor]

I've managed to bass boost my songs to my liking, no distortion or anything.
However, when the bass kicks in, the song's volume goes down ...

If you use a compressor after the bass-boost that reduction in volume when the bass kicks in is inevitable.
Solution : don't use a compressor after the bass-boost.

[zack5]

Thank you for your reply. What should I use for an alternative, if one is available? Thanks.

I am using audacity with Windows 10.

[DVDdoug]

I've managed to bass boost my songs to my liking, no distortion or anything. However, when the bass kicks in, the song's volume goes down.

That shouldn't happen "accidently" unless you are getting distortion. Clipping is distortion but it's also a kind of dynamic compression, pushing everything toward the same volume.

Are you sure you're not distorting? Unless the recording is very quiet, it's unlikely that you can boost anything without clipping unless you also adjust-down the volume. Did you use Amplify or Normalize to check or bring-down the levels after boosting the bass? Do you have Audacity configured to Show Clipping?

[Trebor]

... What should I use for an alternative, if one is available?.

You could install a multi-band compressor plugin into Audacity , e.g.,
and set it to ignore the bass frequencies, so it would compress everything but the bass.

(Some people actually like the pumping-bass effect that you are trying to avoid)

[zack5]

... What should I use for an alternative, if one is available?.

You could install a multi-band compressor plugin into Audacity , e.g.,
and set it to ignore the bass frequencies, so it would compress everything but the bass.

(Some people actually like the pumping-bass effect that you are trying to avoid)

Thank you for the suggestion. I have downloaded it. However, when I try to enable it, it says it's enabled, but it isn't. According to Audacity's wiki, "64-bit VST effects are not supported on Windows or Mac even on 64-bit systems." I have 64-bit Windows 10.

What other multi band compressors are there, or is that the only one? If there are none, what other possible options do I have?

[Gale Andrews]

... What should I use for an alternative, if one is available?.

You could install a multi-band compressor plugin into Audacity , e.g.,
and set it to ignore the bass frequencies, so it would compress everything but the bass.

(Some people actually like the pumping-bass effect that you are trying to avoid)

Thank you for the suggestion. I have downloaded it. However, when I try to enable it, it says it's enabled, but it isn't. According to Audacity's wiki, "64-bit VST effects are not supported on Windows or Mac even on 64-bit systems." I have 64-bit Windows 10.

What other multi band compressors are there, or is that the only one? If there are none, what other possible options do I have?

If you want GMulti get the version for 32-bit VST hosts.


Gale

[zack5]

If you want GMulti get the version for 32-bit VST hosts.

Thank you, that worked. I'm a bit new to this, can someone give me instructions how to raise the volume without touching the bass?

For example, "Set the threshold in Band 1 to..."

[Trebor]

The quick way to boost bass using G-multi ...

1. Create an in-sync duplicate of your track by pressing "Ctrl"+"D".
2. Apply the G-multi setting shown below only to the duplicate track, it will then only contain exaggerated bass.
3. Create a mix to taste of the original track and the bassy duplicate using each track's gain sliders.

Gospel, Before-After bass-boost via G-Multi.mp3

bass-boost is excessive for purposes of illustration

(770.34 KiB) Downloaded 16 times

Note: the "M"ute buttons on bands 2 & 3 are lit, (so only band 1 can be heard).

Bass-only-G-Multi preset , (bass expander).png (31.45 KiB) Viewed 906 times

Bass-only-G-Multi.xml

This xml file contains the settings I used : to be imported into G-Multi plugin

(1.52 KiB) Downloaded 13 times

[zack5]

The quick way to boost bass using G-multi ...

1. Create an in-sync duplicate of your track by pressing "Ctrl"+"D".
2. Apply the G-multi setting shown below only to the duplicate track, it will then only contain exaggerated bass.
3. Create a mix to taste of the original track and the bassy duplicate using each track's gain sliders.

Gospel, Before-After bass-boost via G-Multi.mp3

Bass-only-G-Multi preset , (bass expander).png

Bass-only-G-Multi.xml

Sorry to say, but that isn't exactly what I was trying to get. I'm asking about raising the volume without affecting any part of the bass at all. Thank you for your effort though.