Sound designer Velislav Velikov returns with a review of Denise Audio’s plugin that is designed to get the thick and consistent low end that defines modern mixes. Thanks to ADSR Sounds for providing a license.
In modern music it is almost mandatory to have a solid low end, pumped sub boom or anything your imagination can create as a low end sound. Bass XXL creates a solid low end and pleasant boom all across the low spectrum.
The kick and bass could sit in different places in the mix, and the frequency of the kick is not always lower than the bass, but what will define your final mix as dope and pro is where Bass XXL shines. It’s a simple and efficient tool for modern producers.
If you make dance, pop, hip hop or other popular styles, your track needs both solid kick and bass. But not too heavy or sub boomy, just enough to make the audience bounce. Bass XXL makes the low end really pleasant, no doubt. You can use Bass XXL as a monitor and mix shaper as well.
When you are mixing, you need to monitor low end instruments (kick, bass, sub boom, all lower frequency instruments), how each of them changes the final mix, how well presented it is and a bunch of other stuff, which can be made with Bass XXL in real time. It’s CPU friendly and flexible enough to reshape the entire low end in minutes. Just a few touches and Bass XXL could make your mix convincing and solid like a pro.
How does it work?
- First big rounded knob on the top left is Root, which gives the basic frequency we are going to put the accent on and pump according to what the mix needs. Under the big knob there is an option on how to use it – as fixed note, as frequency pump or MIDI. Recommended for modern electronic music is using two kick tracks with low and top frequencies, be careful, do not overload low end, just what the mix requires.
- Second knob in the middle is Harmonics, which gives the mojo of exploited harmonics and adds woo-woo to your low end.
- Third big knob on the right is Boost, which adds an extra boom and the option to solo the frequencies we pump only.
When you work with the three big knobs – be careful. If you turn Harmonics and Boost to max, there will be too much boom. An easy way to find the best settings is first to find and set the best frequencies from 30 to 300Hz (may use fixed note as well) and then slowly to increase harmonics and boom.
If you need your low end to be well pronounced and presented in small speakers, which fade everything under 150Hz, focus on 150-300Hz and boost these frequencies. If you need more expressive, massive kick or bass on huge speakers or a club, work with the 50-100Hz region and boost these frequencies.
Under these three big knobs are four small, but very useful knobs, which define attack, compression, mono-stereo sound and range. On the bottom it has in and out volume, which can be used as a preamp section. The best part is that all we do is visually represented with a graphic analyzer on the top.
A simple example of what Bass XXL does, listen what happens with the kick:
Conclusion
If I have to describe it with a few words – nice mojo and solid low end in no time, just turning a few knobs. It’s a super simple, but really powerful tool, which creates a deep and pleasant low end every time and this is what modern mixes appreciate.
Thanks, Velislav! Bass XXL is available to purchase for $79 USD at ADSR Sounds, Plugin Boutique, and at the Denise Audio store, and those who already have the plugin can download some free presets (.vstpreset format) created by Velislav.
Velislav Velikov is a passionate song writer / sound designer and creator of real time reshaping technology, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of known sound.
