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Step 1
Select a source. There are many ways to get a sub bass sound. You can start with a bass drum, single note from a bass sound, or even a string sound played very low. There are preset bass drop sounds that come stock with many workstations and sample sets. However, getting the correct sound and tone to fit your production is critical.
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Step 2
Select a pitch. Most bass drops are tuned to approximately 40 – 50hz. A simple way to isolate the bass tone is to use an EQ. Just cutoff all of the frequencies above 60hz for example, then normalize that new sound. You should have a nice rumbling bass sound now. It is a good idea to tune the bass drop to a key that your track already uses. To tune the bass drop all you need to do is adjust the pitch setting until you hear the right tone.
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Step 3
Apply filtering. If you started with a bass drum and all you hear now is a deep thud, to extend the sound add some decay to it. If you hear a click sound at the very beginning of the drop that you want to get rid of, just apply some attack to the sound. This will quiet the very beginning of the sound. Another way to make the bass rumble is to tweak the cutoff and resonance settings. If you can do this in real time it is better since you can stop at the exact point you get the most bass. You can also automate the filtering to create a sub bass tone that drops in frequency over time, like those popular in Miami bass music.
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Step 4
Fit your new sound into the mix. One of the most critical parts of placing bass drops in your mix is the volume of the drop. If the volume is too loud all of the other instruments in your mix will quiet way down when the bass drop occurs. To correct this make sure your bass drop is at a low volume level. The only real way you should be able to audibly hear the bass drop is if you are using professional headphones, professional studio monitors, or a subwoofer.
