MYTH BUSTER: DOES BASS/SUB ALWAYS HAS TO BE MONO?

Hey fam,

Today I introduce a new category of posts. As you can probably guess by its name, these posts aim at questioning certain music tech “habits” or “general rules” floating around on a broader scale. 

These posts actually do not really aim at fully busting the myth, but more at sharing my personally view on the topic.

Propositions:

1. “Low frequencies, (such as in sub, bass and kick f.e.), always need to be mono. You can open the stereo width on higher frequencies."

2. “There is no point in having sounds below 200 Hz in stereo. Ears cannot really tell the direction of those sounds that low. Stereo is always implying directionality, but especially sub bass isn't as directional and can phase easily.”

3. “Mono sub/bass hit harder in a club if centered because of the way sound-systems are set up." 

4. "Your tracks will sound "louder" with mono bass only.”

In terms of 1 - I think often this one comes from vinyl cutting back in the days, where wide bass and out of phase signals in the lows created problems in the cutting process. Imo to follow this proposition just because of that fact is a little outdated, if you do not produce music for a vinyl release. If you still do, I think its all fine to follow ofc.

In terms of propositions 2 + 3 +4: They actually follow up proposition 1, but from different technical perspectives/issues. I’d like to share my view on these together, as they imo sort of belong to each other: 

Yes, it is correct, the human ear cannot really distinguish the direction of bass. This is especially true when playing in a live environment. Many clubs or event P.A.’s either play in mono, or they sum their low-end frequencies to mono. If your bass is not properly mixed in the mono, when the low frequencies are changed from two stereo images to one (mono), then it can cause phase cancellation and lose weight, power, or even the entire signal. That is definitely something you want to avoid when your tracks are played in a live environment.

In terms of how "too much uncontrolled side signal in the lows" will have a negative effect on the general loudness of your music production, following:

Due to perception of equal loudness, the lower frequencies will contain the majority of the headroom/energy of the mix, so having bass too “uneven” or “out of control” in phase down there can lead to a lopsided energy distribution. This can indeed lead to a not optimal mix of the track. In simple, low frequencies in “uncontrolled” stereo eat more headroom. For an extreme example; in case you set up side signals on your sub fundamental at 49 hz to be on the same level as the mid signal... If you have too much side on those lows, especially subs, it can lower RMS (or LUFs) on the masters, which many producers or engineers consider a bad thing.

Should all this really keep me away to always not have a side signal on my lows?

Well, to me, in general I want to assure my music works in mono but to also be interesting in the stereo across all frequency range. I want my tracks to work on all those different sort of sound system out there (or at least as on as many as possible), and I want my music to also sound interesting on full stereo sound-systems, especially as we live in the year 2022 and not 1990 anymore. 

I ofc want/try to ensure the mono/middle of my frequencies below 250 hz are stable, controlled and do work within the mix when played out loud at any club or at any festival. Having the bass always dead mono surely will work, is super effective and easier to control. I just personally find it to sound a little too “one-dimensional” in this area, when its just stable and effective in dead mono throughout, as when you for example have everything below 200 or 250 hz in mono throughout all the track. Especially for creative reasons it does sort of limit the scope of where you could go to sonically. I do think that these days you are more free to have your basses with a little or the right amount side image/signal, of course, when you're not going to release it on vinyl f.e., and provided you ensure your low end will work and have impact in mono (not being out of phase).

If you want to make your bass 125 hz frequencies in stereo for example, go for it. If it sounds fine and the low end is stable, has impact and works, screw it. Even on lower bass freqs (subs) there can be a slight side image used to give the track more dimension down there imo. But not too much really. If overdone it can indeed have a negative effect on the loudness of the track, as explained above.

So the key to me is to always ensure to have your low end "work in mono", but not essentially to always sound or be in dead mono. I try to ensure to not have the low end impact being compromised by unwanted, uncontrolled or too present side signals down there. I always check or often start to write my tracks in mono, and see if all frequencies work nicely across the whole range. When you have the mono stability, you imo are sort of free to play with sides in the lows, especially when moving on within the track over time, or to give it more dimension on certain hits or moments in the track. Looking at adding the "right amount" of sides down there can help for a more creative progression, dramatic or emotion, or simply for adding further dimension to your music.

If you want to always have your subs dead mono, that is absolutely okay. Just then maybe consider to sometimes add some stereo signal on elements in the higher (more perceptible) frequencies of the bass (upper basses). To give it a little more creative playground, dimension or character. Above 120 hz for example. This way you think the bass is stereo and have the spacial perception of the bass sitting “around the kick” as you say.

Feel free to let me know how you feel this new category and I hope it might help you when making up your on decision on this topic. :D

Here a preview on things for the coming weeks I am currently working out for my Patreon:

- new INSPIRATION SUPPORT video about "STEREO FIELD STRATEGY IN PRACTICE - SHOWN BY THE EXAMPLE OF A PART OF MY NOISIA - "THE HOLE PT.1" PHACE REMIX"

- I will be giving out an unofficial bootleg exclusively to you my Patron's

- new production live stream

- new phacetime podcast episode (still working at getting a new guest confirmed)

- a new sound pack focusing on SFX or SPHERES

+ I still try to work out some new presets for you 

+ more. 

So long <3

Flo