My bass gets sucked up by something.

[Stretch]

Hey guys,

first post!

I have a bit of a problem, my bass gets sucked up at random places, the sound/velocity just seems to go down.
I'm using logic pro 9. I've checked the compressor and the EQ and the synth (ES2: synthesizer 2) itself, but all appears normal, nothing strange!
Also the volume automation hasnt been messed around with. Any of you fellas had this before? This is mindboggling!

[Block Party]

Could be your room cancelling out certain frequencies. Could be something else in your track causing a phase issue which also would cancel the bass, such as the kick drum or a second bass tone.

Does it do it in isolation (on solo)?

Does it do it when listening on headphones?

Does it do it on other tracks?

Are there any plug ins on the bass synth? You mention EQ and a compressor, try it without them to see if that changes the playback.

[Block Party]

and welcome to the forum! 

[Snoo]

Could be another sound fighting for the same frequency space I'd say. What else is there when this happens? Kick drum? Other instruments with lots of low freq energy?
Make sure your giving all your levels lots of headroom so you aren't slamming 0dB. And give your bassline room by highpassing things that don't need that range or cut them with an eq.

[Block Party]

Make sure your giving all your levels lots of headroom so you aren't slamming 0dB. And give your bassline room by highpassing things that don't need that range or cut them with an eq.

 

[Stretch]

Thanks for the welcome!

Well the bass kind of repeats itself every 16 bars, and it only occurs at random points,
but I thought I heard a small resonating thingy, so it could be conflicting with a certain frequency of something else.
Looks like some usefull things to try out.
I'll let you guys know when i find a solution

[Snoo]

May be worth bouncing it to a wav if you haven't already. Then stick a meter on the insert of that track with a peak hold function and see if the volume is actually dropping.

[Stretch]

Hey guys, after a couple of hours...

I found the problem! It kinda was the kick, apperantly it had a very long release on around 20 Hz (practically cant hear that) .
I think I must have messed that up in the beginning when I was turning random knobs for a good sound.
The bass isnt 20 Hz but apperantly the release was long and loud enough to "suck up" the bass.
Solved it with a Channel EQ on the insert of the kick

Regards, Julian a.k.a. Gilt

[Snoo]

turning random knobs for a good sound.

Glad you got it sorted mate. 

[Block Party]

Good.

It pays to learn what the random knobs do!