Changing different parameters or aspects of your audio, also known as mixing automation, is one of the keys to keeping it sounding alive and evolving. Even after you take the time to compress your audio to reduce its dynamic range, applying volume automation on a number of tracks helps to keep your listener engaged. This is especially useful on the bass, and while you can do this manually, you can also use a tool known as a bass rider to help save yourself a lot of time and tedious work. Let’s talk the bass rider, what it is, and why you should use one.
What Is a Bass Rider
A bass rider is a tool for automatically automating the level of your bass.
As you can see from the image above picturing the Waves Bass Rider, it features a number of parameters which control how it moves the volume of your bass up and down depending on the level of the bass itself to aim for a specific level goal.
Unlike a compressor which brings down the peaks of the audio you apply it to (see my tutorial on how to compress bass) in order to attain a more average and consistent level, a bass rider will boost and attenuate what is essentially the fader/output level of your bass in real time as necessary depending on the settings you dial in.
Why Use a Bass Rider
You might be wondering that if you’re using a compressor on your bass (which you should), then why would you want to use an additional plugin to effectively add more dynamics back into your bass.
As I mentioned in opening, a bass rider keeps the output level of your bass moving and responding to the current level relative to a target goal.
This is analogous to keeping your finger on the fader of the bass and moving it up and down as the mix calls for it.
When you have quieter notes on the performance relative to your target level, the rider brings those notes up so they’re not lost in the mix.
Conversely, when you have louder notes relative to the target level even after compression, the rider brings those notes down slightly so they’re not overstepping in the mix.
Rather than completely squishing the dynamics out of your bass completely via compression, a bass rider keeps that live feel of the bass as that level changes while still attaining a better average level relative to the mix.
How to Use a Bass Rider
Let’s finish by talking a bit about how to use a bass rider.
First, while you can additionally use a bass rider near the front of your mix bass chain in order to feed a slightly more reliable level into your compressor, I typically like a bass rider at the end of the processing chain.
Here is a closer look at my bass rider of choice, the aforementioned “Bass Rider” from Waves:
The main parameters to pay attention to on the bass rider are the “Target” and “Range” sliders.
Target
The target level is just that: this is the average level you want to aim for with the bass.
This parameter will determine whether the bass rider pulls the level up or down. When the bass (at that point in the processing chain) is quieter than the target, it will bring the level up, and vice versa.
Range
The range sliders are essentially the minimum and maximum levels you’re willing to let the rider move the volume in either direction.
For instance, if there’s a one off surge in volume at one point in the performance which especially exceeds the target level, the rider will only pull the volume down as much as you have the minimum slider set to.
While the behavior is also determined by other parameters like the “Sensitivity” and the “Response” controls, it’s a good idea to keep these range sliders relatively tight so you don’t have TOO much in the way of adjustments.
It’s a subtle thing but after you’ve got your bass rider setup to your liking, this is a great set it and forget it way to bring that extra touch of life to your bass which will keep your listener subconsciously locked in that much more to your mix.
The other type of audio which a rider works really well on in particular for many of the same reasons is vocals, so check out my vocal rider tutorial for more information to likewise add some life to your vocals.
