FabFilter User Forum
Cutoff Frequencies
I know that the lows are supposed to be cut on every track at around 20hz and below. So should I be setting the low pass to something like 48db/oct at 40hz so 20hz will be reduced by 48db? Or shoudl I go higher/lower, thank you.
Andrei Georgescu — Apr 27, 2013
Well, first of all, there are some things that should not be cut below 20hz depending on what music you make. If its in the dance area, you should not cut the kick, for example. It is important that you cut the bass in this style thought depending on how long your kick is.
Bass as a rule should be cut at about 40hz, but it is sooooo dependant on the type of bass that you have. Some bass need to be cut at 40 with a sharp slope and again at 60 with a more gentle slope
Sometimes you want to use the high end of a bass and a sub bass. So you cut the low end of the high bass and only a little of the sub. The important thing is that a track needs breathing space and more so in the low end of the spectrum.
Think of it this way, once you cut ALL instruments except for bass and kick, those two will be fighting for space in the low spectrum. Only one can win in the ears of the listeners. Big bass = short kick. Long kick = stabby bass.
Have a listen to things like dubstep vs electro and you will see what I mean.
In short, depends what music you are making and where people are going to listen to it. House, cut and sidechain bass so kick can shine. Pop, cut everything because people will only listen through the radio and those frequenzies will only take up space for the limiter/compression. Dubstep, short kick and big bass.
Why in the world would you want the kick to maintain sub 20hz frequencies? that's inaudible and can destroy speakers...
And dubstep is not only a poor excuse of music which I would never compare my productions to, but it also is incredibly mid heavy and bass weak (brostep really) because it is meant to be heard on crap like beats and laptops.