Hi,

I have a track where I use Real Track - 776 Bass, Acoustic, PopWaltz 085 in the key of E Major.

My problem is, that it cuts through the mix like a bull dozer - I have setup a channel strip with:

Multi Compressor (to deal with 0-230 hz and 230-1230 hz -using a 2.5 compress ratio)
Sculptor (iZotope plugin)
EQ (a cut in 300-500hz and a raise at 2700 hz Q 0.9
Vintage Compressor (to deal with clicks and spikes)
Exciter (making the track as warm as possible)

Since the track is extremely dynamic I had to add a Limiter with a hard ceiling at -17.5 Db

I have tried plenty of settings and automation of the volume fader on the track - but either the track is extremely dominant (when I work gentle with the fader) or sounding thin and dead(when I work consequent and aggressively with the fader).

The total setup is:
Vocal
Drums
Acoustic Bass
Piano (gently EQ removal of low end - cut 0 db at 900 Hz)
Acoustic Guitar (Whole song - High Shelf EQ 350 hz to cut out of the Bass)
Fiddle (Pre-Verse and Solos)
Cello (Background from bar 61 to bar 135 (156 bar song in total))
Pedal Steel (only used for ambience at final Chorus and Final Verse)
Elec Distorted Guitar (only solo)
Jew Harp (only played in Pre-Verse parts)
Synth (adding ambience with Celtic Flute and Strings)
Tubular Bell (short ear candy)

Anyone of you dealt with a similar puzzle, where you can't get a Acoustic Bass to sit right in the mix?

My go to setup is Waves Bass Rider (Gentle Ride preset) followed by one of Neutron 3’s dozen or so acoustic bass presets which I often tweak a bit after selection. I also use Neutron’s masking feature to allow the bass and kick drum to not step on one another in certain f ranges. .

Obviously if you don’t use these fx my post is irrelevant but I did want to mention them.


Bud

Hi Janice & Bud

thank you for taking the time to reply.

I just purchased Waves Bass Rider (And Vocal Rider + ADT) plugin - and tested in front of my whole chain. I already have iZotope Music Production Suite and love it to death ;-)

Also I setup a Sidechain Compressor leaving the Kick Drum as "boss"

It has actually helped during mixing - so now I'm putting it through Ozone 8 with trembling hands