Open the track containing the bass noise you wish to neutralize. Double-click the desktop icon for the recording program, such as Cubase, Logic or Pro Tools. Once fully loaded, click “File,” select “Open Recent” and click the title of the track you wish to edit.
Click the “S” icon on the bass channel strip. This “solos” the bass track and mutes everything else.
Click “Play” on the navigation section of the recording interface. Let the track play and listen closely for instances of bass noise, such as fret buzz or hum from the pickups. The latter is typically more pronounced when the bass player isn’t playing the instrument; actually playing notes masks the residual hum from the pickups.
Note the time and nature of the noise, such as “0.22, fret buzz,” or “1.26, low hum.”
Scroll the track to five seconds before the first point where the hum is heard. Use the navigation slider at the bottom of the screen.
Double-click the bass track. This opens the sample editor, which displays a sound-wave graphic. This graphic illustrates the audio as a series of peaks and dips. The peaks represent loud sounds, such as bass notes; lines between the peaks represent quiet sounds, such as hum.
Click “View” and select “Zoom In” to enlarge the sound wave. Identify the hum on the sound-wave graphic. Look for consistent low-level sounds between the peaks.
Click “Tools” and select “Scissors.” Click the scissors tool on each side of the line that represents hum. This separates the hum from the rest of the audio. Click on the separated audio and press “Delete” on your keyboard to remove it completely. Scroll along and repeat the process for each instance of hum.
Double-tap the “Enter” key to return the track to the beginning.
Open the equalizer interface. The method of opening the equalizer varies slightly according to which program you use, but equalizer tools are typically located under “Effects” or “Plug-ins.” The equalizer allows you to boost and cut selected frequencies.
Scroll the track to five seconds before the first instance of fret buzz.
Hit “Play” and adjust the frequency sliders on the equalizer interface until the buzz disappears. Start with the high frequencies. Fret buzz is much higher than the frequency of the notes themselves. Fortunately, fret buzz occupies a small part of the frequency range. Once you cut that range, you neutralize the buzz.