Heavy sub distortion and clean drums

Do you know the best analog way to apply a lot of track distortion from subbbass without touching the drums (kick, snare, clap)? I want distort everything in HQ but still hear the drums on these tracks. So what specific DJ setup can do that?

High quality distortion seems a contradiction in terms. :laughing:

I would say the obvious way (with software) is to use stem separation, and apply the FX to the bass stem. On hardware, possibly with a suitable sound system and an active crossover, a hardware distortion effect could be inserted between the sub output of the crossover and the sub speaker(s).

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Hi Hypnoza :purple_heart:

It is not a specific DJ setup … but here is an oldschool distortion that you can try: insert an analog studio mixer in the signal chain between the output that goes to the subwoofer and the subwoofer. Crank up the channel gain into distortion, bring down the channel fader to balance the volume. The analog gain distortion will create new harmonics, … but be warned, distortion degrades sound, this is not high-quality stuff :smile: … Applied to kicks, this is an oldschool way to make distorted Gabber kicks and distorted basslines … though this was usually sent into the main mix, not just to the subwoofer …

If you’re after high-quality distortion, you may need to play with parallel processing, where you blend in the distorted signal separately.

Greetings from the Hardcore Museum! :smile:

Okey but I don’t want plug subwoofer for sub distortion, just playing on my stereo speakers to bring more mids and high end for that dry heavy sounds. I don’t think dry distortion is low quality sounding, it’s dirty and cool for my ears :smiley:

Well for that technique I can definitely plug in allen health xone22 mixer because he has very loud gains on that channels. But I need probably tweak mids and high EQ to hear snare and clap

Depending of track subbass pitch automations and higher amplitude between 20-60hz it sounds more cleaner if distortion of sub is more high pitched, the low pitched distorted sub is not clean for me but it also depends of speakers volume output and watts

Seems like you need to seriously upgrade your home sound system in order to facilitate this. Are you using a subwoofer for a start? “Stereo Speakers” aren’t going to be much good at projecting sub bass in the first place.

You will also need some kind of effector/compressor built into the signal chain in order to manipulate the sound how you want it.

Bing copilot came up with this:

Applying analogue distortion to sub bass can add a rich, warm character that digital distortion often can’t replicate. Here are some effective techniques:

  1. Use an Analogue Distortion Pedal: Guitar pedals like the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff or the Pro Co RAT can add a gritty, warm distortion to your sub bass. Simply run your bass signal through the pedal and adjust the settings to taste.
  2. Tube Preamp: Running your sub bass through a tube preamp can add subtle harmonic distortion. The warmth and saturation from the tubes can enhance the low-end without making it too harsh.
  3. Tape Saturation: Using a tape machine or a tape saturation plugin that emulates analogue tape can add a pleasing distortion. This method is great for adding a vintage feel to your sub bass.
  4. Parallel Processing: Send your sub bass to an auxiliary track with an analogue distortion unit. Blend the distorted signal with the clean signal to maintain the low-end power while adding harmonic richness.
  5. Analogue Synthesizers: If you have access to an analogue synthesizer, you can create sub bass sounds directly with built-in distortion or overdrive features. Synths like the Moog Sub Phatty or the Korg MS-20 are excellent choices
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Yo! Rat in the house :mouse: …

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My approach would be a bit simple, but gives the results too.

  1. Split the signal (like sends on top of Xone 92/96) and send dry signal to external FX loop, and leave clean signal in the mix.
  2. Set up high pas filter before distortion.
  3. Distortion should go back to the mixer.
  4. Set a low pass filter on the clean signal before mixing in the distorted high pass frequencies.
  5. You end up with untouched low pass, and distorted high pass.
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I have 2 car subwoofers by BM audio company. (Yes in my house) The full power consumption is 1000W but RMS is around 200W something like that (I read the speakers manual) and it has 4Ohm with very nice “fat” voice coil inside. I put both into cheap acoustic box (I know it’s a bad idea especially for box lol) unfortunately that acoustic box don’t have small hole for air. I get the right amp from Behringer company that works pretty well for my subwoofers. And that was a big suprise after first setup because these subs playing like a full band speakers and that was so suprising for me, how it’s even possible to turn a subwoofer into speaker? It looks like the Home stereo Amp connected with car subs are different and it works still fine for me.

I’m not sure how car subwoofers are connected in your setup, but typically, a studio subwoofer takes the full signal from the main mix, splits the frequencies, and keeps the lower ones, sending the higher part to connected stereo speakers. This separation happens at what is called the crossover frequency.

Depending on the setup, we might need to adjust the crossover frequency to decide which part of the signal goes to the subwoofer and which to the other speakers. If you are sending the full-range signal to the car subwoofers without a crossover, they’ll likely sound like ordinary speakers, playing everything up to the highest frequencies they can handle.

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Surely that’s the opposite of what he wants?

No, I think it’s spot on. It is about the upper frequencies of the bass …

Where I can buy this device to adjust the crossover frequency range? I want cut the highs then increase mids a little bit

Yes I love that, more than deep bass

Before you go out and spend money, make sure that you know what you actually need. :blush:

If you want to shape the frequencies, like increasing something a little, you may want an EQ. You can use the Xone 22 to try out the effects of its filter and the channel EQ on the sound of your subwoofers … maybe that is already what you want?

If there is a shop for hifi speaker systems near, you could ask them. Or you can ask in a forum dedicated to speaker systems and how to build them. Setting up speaker combinations with matching amplifiers and crossovers is not really my area of expertise, so I cannot help you here beyond the basics. :pensive: But yes, crossover devices exist, as do EQs and distortion units … each is a rabbit hole on its own … and if your subs consist of just the woofers and the matching amplifiers, you may indeed need an additional crossover …

Maybe this help you:

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I would first play around in a DAW with virtual setting of this idea. Check what configuration, filters, EQ’s will do the job you need. If you need any specific information about sound design and signal processing, you can also contact me directly.

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Seems very interesting. The digital active crossovers include dsp effects such as reverb and even distortion. What do you think about future of crossover systems? Maybe they use AI Hardware to split vocals from the lossless wav tracks on loudspeakers to hear vocals and sounds separately on multiple speakers. Imagine 2 subwoofers for Kick crossover and Subbass only crossover, as far I know kicks are higher than sub