Bass Levels on Fairport

[Keith]

Mark

I have just been listening to OTNH for the first time properly, and it's a top album, equal or better than R&G (depending on how I'm feeling)

Anyway, I noticed how little "bottom" there is on the sound. When Peggy kicks in, such as on I'm Nearly There (and what a superb player he shows himself to be), it really notices what's missing for most of the time.

Was it a conscious decision on the part of the band to keep the album light, or is it just the nature of the instrument mix that forces this to happen?

Cheers

Keith

[Liam Schwilik]

Hi Keith,

Maybe I was a little shy with the bass? Sometimes Peggy will ask specifically for less bass, sometimes the mastering, If I'm not  present (As with OTNH), things can happen that are out of your control-I'm not saying they did on OTNH?

When mixing, it's always the bass end that is the hardest thing to get right, so it's highly likely there is a discrepancy. As with many recordings at Woodworm, the bottom end is very difficult to get spot on. The room/monitors had never been set up properly because of the vast cost involved, so unless you have plenty of time to check levels on plenty of systems, it can be problematic... often things have to be "in the can and on budget" in a short amount of time so, an album is rarely finished, but just an agreement to stop working on it made, normally due to schedule and budget.

I hope this answers your question?

Mark.

[Keith]

Thanks Mark.

(No idea why I called the track "I'm nearly there", clearly he is "already" there  )

As a follow up, if I want to boost the bass, often turning on "loudness" does the trick, especially at parties.

Why is that?

[Paul]

I can answer that sir, I did my work experience at Goodmans when I was a kid.

The loudness button artificially boosts both the bass and treble, leaving the middle unaffected.

Paul

[tony the roundhead]

Thanks Mark.
As a follow up, if I want to boost the bass, often turning on "loudness" does the trick, especially at parties.

Argggh! The loudness control! Invention of the devil. Do not be tempted to push the button - that way lies damnation.

[Liam Schwilik]

Right on Tony! Only problem then, is the demand for me to get it right in the first place!

Keith,

I've been thinking. Peggy has of recent years been playing 5 string. Darn things go down too low. Anything below bottom E is very difficult to make sound clear. It can end up just a rumble. Peggy used to be far more happy to sound like he played a bass with pick. These days I get the feeling he would rather sound more mellow, as if played with the fingers. Trouble is you lose definition. I may be wrong, but I've got a feeling the track I'm Nearly There is below E? Not had time to reference it yet.

Mark

[Keith]

Ah, I see. Time to pop it through the hi-fi with the sound turned RIGHT UP! 

Poor neighbours.

[Steve]

The loudness button artificially boosts both the bass and treble, leaving the middle unaffected.

That's my understanding too, but also it has more effect at lower volumes. I think the idea is to counteract a characteristic of human hearing: lower and higher frequencies are less significant at lower volumes. The loudness button tries to make the low/mid/high balance sound the same at all volumes.

I've always hated the things, they seem to overcompensate. The solution is simple - switch off the loudness, set the tone controls flat and TURN IT UP LOUD. There. That's better.