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For both the bottom instruments like kick and bass and also synths strings etc. Just trying to get a feel for what most seem to agree on to help get a little more volume out of my tracks (and yes, I realize I can do whatever sounds right :). I’d just like to experiment with some methods that work for other composers that maybe I can incorporate whole or in part into what I do for better results.
Not exactly rolling off but for pop/electronica/hip hop or anything with a big kick and snare, side chain compression does wonders. It can be very subtle and set at quick release so any competing instruments are simply ducked behind whatever you have a headroom issue with ie kick and bass.
@Pat, more headroom or volume ultimately can be achieved in two ways, reducing unwanted frequencies and reducing dynamics. If you are talking about a two track mix, cutting anything below 30-40hz with a steep hi pass filter. Sub bass like that is inaudible except with subs and club systems. You can hi pass individual tracks like this with a higher cutoff too for an overall cumlitave increase.
Dynamics, wether compression or limiting on individual or master buss to taste.
I think the important thing to emphasise here is that you should use the best tools you can, steep filters will cause a ringing effect at around the cutoff point, and all compressors and limiters are not equal in terms of unwanted artefacts. I personally would recommend all the Fabfilter plugins as incredibly transparent in doing this kind of thing. They do 30 day demos so no harm in testing them. The limiter especially is exceptional.@Pat. Check out Dan Worrell’s tutorials on the Fabfilter youtube channel, apart from explaining the plugins he gives great general advice. A little bit at a time, it does get overwhelming to try and understand everything at once. I started working in professional studios 35 years ago, so I learnt little bits along the way and as digital audio came along I learnt progressively as it got more complex, and I still am learning !!!!!
Definitely check his mid/side stuff with the ProQ, basically you can sum the bass freq (100hz and below) to mono and cut it out of the sides altogether.He explains it much better, the end result being bass and kick are centered and all the redundant lo muck is cleaned up from the sides. Also boosting the sides at upper freq increases the stereo image.