Hello Production Studio. I don't come here often, because I don't produce, but I do lurk occasionally to try and gain some insight into how tracks are made. I have a technical query I'm sure you can communally help me with.

Over the last few years I've noticed dance records have begun to have multiple bass parts, in particular very subby rhythmic patterns that sit somewhere underneath the main bassline. This seems especially prevalent in the techy melodic proggy stuff I play. As near as I can tell, this started to become common around 2014 time, but it may well go back much further.

A couple of examples that illustrate what I mean:




Now, my understanding has always been that squeezing both a kick and a bassline into the bottom end of a tune has been one of the main EQing challenges for a producer, which is why sidechaining was such a popular technique 15 years ago. Certainly I can't think of anything from the '90s that would have multiple bass parts sitting together like this. So what's changed to make it so common now? Is it technology, technique or just style?

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Mixes:
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24
> Surface Tension [Progressive Trance]
> Back To Deep [Deep Trippy House]
> Terra Nova [Modern Progressive Trance]
> Rough & Ready [Modern Trance]

I am sure some of these guys will chime in with their thoughts but this is what I take from it.
Yes, you are correct. "Ducking" or side chain compression is used when you are attempting to combine two lower frequencies that are the same or nearly the same frequency so that they don't cancel the other out.
With that said, I believe there is a correlation with today's technology AND style.
Back in the day it was used for Rock but you only really had a Bass guitar and kick. Today with electronic music it is so bass heavy that you HAVE to SC in order to make the sub levels stand out.I mean you are using sub levels for kick,808's,Sines...I mean you have to
With that said, as for style it isn't just used anymore for lower frequency but can be used in mid and higher tones to get a pulsing tone from pads or hits. I reference Tritonal or Seven Lions for that because they REALLY push it
https://youtu.be/jDplwu9kH9Y (chk at 2:27)
https://youtu.be/PM60Sn8qxbM

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Phil

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I've never really been good at mixing but I'd say everything you mentioned plays a key factor. Sidechain or section gating is a logical formula to having a more clear and cohesive mix for cleaner asthetics, its not necessary but its fast and easy, effective, sounds pleasing most of the time. I'd imagine with the advancement of the internet, the sharing of ideas became more convienient and easier so everyone is priivy to mainstream concepts in every area.
Back in the day you had to add people to ICQ and AIM chat, MSN messenger to share ideas, now its like google this bam done. Also, tools have become better and formulated for specific applications such as these over the last 10 years but I can't recall the years correctly anymore. Software compressors and inadvertent compression tools and instruments have become better, more suited in filling out frequencies, but im not an expert in following vsts or whatnot, perhaps someone else can chime in.

Also keep in mind, sidechain is a bit out-dated compared to newer techniques, not so much a big deal anymore than it was in 2006.

Last edited by MSZ on May-18-2019 at 03:17

also parametix eq's/multiband eq's. people didnt have that back in the days, at least not 8 of them to give each bass element its own 'frequency band'. There are a few tracks like this, but most just have a sub+main bass and callitaday, but like older deep tech house and stuff, you'd find tracks with like 3-5 basslines interplaying, usually with filters doing the brunt work of separation. cant come up with any exzamples off the topof my head thooo so hah

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BA-DUM-TSS

quote:

ALFI - BOHICA - DJ MIX (Stream+Dropbox)

I like this thread, my version of using multiple bass parts would be something thing similar to the Hass effect for example one channel would be 0.99 Milliseconds and the other channel default so I can squeeze two mid basses before I bring in the sub bass, pretty easy isn't it?

I'm interested in learning other ways, too.