Low End of an Era?

It’s time to champion bass. Sub. Low end. Whatever you call it, it’s a fundamental part of the work we do as sound designers. Perhaps the foundation of everything. Is it still relevant and noticeable in the world of content we currently live in?

In music, the low frequency information, be it produced by playing a double bass, bass guitar or synth, provides groove, energy and impact. Without it, in most contexts, we would be left wanting. So is it the same for sound designers?

Advertising has increasingly skewed further and further towards being consumed on smaller and smaller devices. There are swathes of people who appreciate sound and will make a point of consuming content with good headphones and speakers, but lots of advertising work is now made in anticipation of being watched without the sound even on at all, let alone through some speakers that will do it justice. So is less attention being paid to the full range that our human ears can hear - or should I say feel?

The energy created by low frequencies, when done well, can literally move you. In the cinema or on a large sound system it’s not just our inner ear being affected when that bass hits, it’s vibrating our entire body. This is transformational to our listening experience and can make what we’re hearing affect our emotional state and be truly memorable. When the opportunity is there to feel that low end, it’s highly likely to leave a more lasting impression and impact on the audience than when it’s absent. This is because our physical reaction to bass is innate in us. It’s been there since the womb. Don’t just take my word for it, even NASA scientists are on this tip.

So my plea today is let’s make the most of it in our work. Demand bass! Banging the (bass) drum for the best listening experience - championing the entire frequency range in our day to day work. In order to cut through the noise, sometimes we need to literally shake things up.