Check sub-bass clashes with headphones during composition, not during mixdown

When working with significant low-frequency content (sub-bass, thumping kicks), small or mediocre speakers cannot reproduce sub-bass accurately. Waiting until mixdown to check for sub-bass frequency clashes creates rework — it is far more efficient to verify sub-bass relationships during the composition stage when individual elements can still be adjusted independently. Consumer headphones (except the cheapest) typically reproduce sub-bass frequencies well enough for this check. This principle applies to all bass-heavy genres but is particularly important in grime where sub-bass interaction with kick drums is a defining element.

Examples

Tip 14: ‘If your speakers aren’t up to the job, you may find it helps to use headphones occasionally — all but the cheapest phones should go low enough to let you know whether your sub-bass frequencies are clashing. It’s best to check this during the composition stage, as attempting to fix it during mixdown can be a headache.‘

Assessment

Produce a grime beat with kick and sub-bass. Listen on monitors, then switch to headphones. Identify any frequency clashes. Adjust the sub-bass pitch or kick tuning to resolve conflicts, then verify the fix translates back to monitors.