Bass warmth, levelling and EQ

12:35 “I think the bass could probably be fattened and warmed up a little. I’ve brought it in through the desk’s microphone preamp, and this desk has preamps that you can drive harmonically. So I’ve warmed [the bass] with that analogue ‘warmth’ that everyone’s striving for: I’ve patched it into the mic pre, and padded it down so it’s not absolutely roaring.”

A touch of levelling is next. “A little bit of SSL dynamics is fattening slightly, and evening [the bass] out. It’s good to even out performances – I often do some of it in the computer as well, maybe with clip gain or automation, to make sure you’re not losing notes or kick drums; to keep things constant.”

Once dynamics are dialled in, Gordon focuses on sweetening the bass with desk EQ. He heavily boosts a point in the lower midrange – “can you hear that boxiness?” – and then pulls it away. “I’ve boosted the bottom, to fatten it out a little – bass should be fat! – then I’ve taken that boxiness out around 350-400Hz. I’ve also added a boost at 800Hz – it’s got this nice ‘bite’, and that helps it sit, and cut [through the mix].”