Bass Enhancement Plugins for Sub-bass Synthesis

Adding bass to your samples can make a huge difference in the impact and weight of your tracks. While there is a built-in option in Logic to add bass, third-party tools such as Submarine and Rbass by Waves Audio can do a much better job. In this blog post, we will explore how to use these tools to enhance your samples and create a powerful bass sound.

Submarine is a plugin that takes an input and generates lower frequencies based on that frequency input, effectively generating lower harmonics that were not already present in the sample. By using Submarine, you can add one or two octaves below the current frequency of your sample. You can also set the filter range to determine what frequencies it is listening to. In the video, the producer uses Submarine to generate the lower notes of a bassline, leaving only the bottom notes using an EQ to enhance the bass. By doing this, the bassline becomes weightier and has more impact.

Rbass is another plugin by Waves Audio that enhances bass frequencies. It allows you to add low-end harmonics to your sample, giving it more power and weight. In the video, the producer used Rbass to generate a single harmonic at a set frequency tuned to the key of the track. By doing this, the kicks in the track have a big low-end presence and weight that cuts through on any sound system.

To get the best results, it's essential to sidechain the sublines and kicks so that they don't fight each other. The sublines are created using Submarine, while the kicks use Rbass. The harmonics generated by the Rbass and Submarine plugins are tuned to the key of the track, making sure that they sit well together and don't clash with each other.

In conclusion, adding bass to your samples can have a significant impact on the overall weight and power of your tracks. Third-party plugins like Submarine and Rbass by Waves Audio offer a much better job than built-in options in Logic. By using these plugins, you can generate lower harmonics and enhance low-end frequencies to give your tracks more weight and impact. With the right use of sidechaining and tuning, you can create a powerful bass sound that cuts through on any sound system.

So what does Waves Submarine do?

The Waves Audio Submarine plugin is a harmonic generator that enhances low-frequency content in audio signals. It uses a technique called harmonic synthesis, which is a process of adding harmonics to an audio signal to create a richer and more complex sound.

Technically, Submarine analyzes the input signal and generates additional frequencies based on the fundamental frequency of the input signal. These generated frequencies are called harmonics and are usually multiples of the fundamental frequency. For example, if the input signal has a fundamental frequency of 100 Hz, the generated harmonics could be 200 Hz, 300 Hz, 400 Hz, and so on.

Submarine allows you to control the amount and range of the generated harmonics. It has a filter range that determines the frequency range over which the plugin generates harmonics. It also has a drive control that adjusts the level of the generated harmonics, and a mix control that determines the balance between the original and generated frequencies.

Submarine can generate harmonics up to two octaves below the fundamental frequency of the input signal, which can result in a much deeper and weightier sound. It is commonly used on basslines, kicks, and other low-frequency instruments to add more sub-bass and enhance their impact.

Overall, Waves Audio Submarine is a powerful and intuitive plugin that offers a simple but effective way to enhance the low-frequency content of audio signals, making them sound richer, fuller, and more impactful.

So why Rbass?

The Waves Audio Rbass plugin is a bass enhancement plugin that enhances low-frequency content in audio signals, similar to Submarine. However, unlike Submarine, which generates harmonics, Rbass generates additional frequencies based on the input signal's harmonic content.

Technically, Rbass uses a process called psychoacoustic bass enhancement to create the illusion of more bass content in the audio signal. It analyzes the input signal's harmonic content and adds additional frequencies that complement and enhance the harmonic content.

Rbass allows you to control the amount and range of the generated frequencies. It has a frequency range control that determines the range over which the plugin generates additional frequencies, and a bass intensity control that adjusts the level of the generated frequencies. It also has a mix control that determines the balance between the original and generated frequencies.

Rbass can add frequencies as low as 20 Hz and up to 160 Hz, making it ideal for enhancing the low-end of instruments like bass guitars, kicks, and other low-frequency instruments.

Overall, Waves Audio Rbass is a powerful and intuitive plugin that offers a simple but effective way to enhance the low-frequency content of audio signals, making them sound fuller, more impactful, and more prominent in the mix.