Definition: [i]This short article is part of our series to help teach basic audio engineering terminology. For more short articles such as this, please check out our full Home Recording Glossary.
Subharmonic synthesis is a technique used to achieve a much deeper, richer bass response. Bass in many natural recordings can be lacking, even with proper recording and mixing techniques. David Blackmer's company DBX patented the Subharmonic Synthesis with their "Boom Box" product; back in the day, inserted on a master bus, the Boom Box was the secret weapon of Grateful Dead engineer Dan Healy in their live sound rigs. Today, the DBX 120 remains the most sought-after synthesis product, followed by a wide range of others.
Subharmomnic synthesis works by copying the waveform of the original bass material and amplifying it. There's a lot of different ways this can be achieved, but the most popular -- aside from the rack units we've been talking about -- are plug-ins, such as those included with Apple's Logic and those produced by Waves.
Just learning how to mix live sound? Check out our live sound guide.
So, what's it used for, other than producing club beats? Try inserting subharmonic synthesis on a kick drum, bass guitar, or horn section to add additional weight and texture. Be careful when trying to use it on a full mix -- you'll inadvertently pull other instruments into the low frequency mix, which could sound awkward.
Subharmonic synthesis is also great in live sound applications. Gaining more efficiency from low frequency speakers is one of the best uses; making your mixes sound huge, powerful, and punchy is why most engineers keep a DBX 120 in their racks.
Subharmonic synthesis is a technique used to achieve a much deeper, richer bass response. Bass in many natural recordings can be lacking, even with proper recording and mixing techniques. David Blackmer's company DBX patented the Subharmonic Synthesis with their "Boom Box" product; back in the day, inserted on a master bus, the Boom Box was the secret weapon of Grateful Dead engineer Dan Healy in their live sound rigs. Today, the DBX 120 remains the most sought-after synthesis product, followed by a wide range of others.
Subharmomnic synthesis works by copying the waveform of the original bass material and amplifying it. There's a lot of different ways this can be achieved, but the most popular -- aside from the rack units we've been talking about -- are plug-ins, such as those included with Apple's Logic and those produced by Waves.
Just learning how to mix live sound? Check out our live sound guide.
So, what's it used for, other than producing club beats? Try inserting subharmonic synthesis on a kick drum, bass guitar, or horn section to add additional weight and texture. Be careful when trying to use it on a full mix -- you'll inadvertently pull other instruments into the low frequency mix, which could sound awkward.
Subharmonic synthesis is also great in live sound applications. Gaining more efficiency from low frequency speakers is one of the best uses; making your mixes sound huge, powerful, and punchy is why most engineers keep a DBX 120 in their racks.
Also Known As: Bass boost, Low EQ (although incorrect)
Alternate Spellings: Sub Synth, Subharmonic Synth
Examples:
Subharmonic synthesis is used to make club beats feel more powerful than they are naturally.
