A bass that disappears on small speakers is a translation problem, not a volume problem. This chain addresses translation directly at the Bass Complete stage: tube EQ weight, then modulation and analog filter color to give the combined bass layer its final character before it meets the drums.
TL;DR — 40-second answer
The Logic Pro bass bus runs at +0.9 dB with Gain, then Pultec EQP-1A for tone, then Moogerfooger MF-103S Phaser for mid movement, then the UADx Moog Multimode Filter for final glue on the combined bass layer.
Logic Gain sets the bus level entering the tonal stages.
UAD Pultec EQP-1A shapes low-end weight and broad tonal balance.
Moogerfooger MF-103S Phaser adds movement in the midrange band.
UADx Moog Multimode Filter delivers the final glue and character on the combined bass layer.
Signal Flow
Chain Order
Bass Complete is where the bass synth and bass guitar premasters have already met. This chain is the final glue on that combined layer — tube EQ, phaser, and analog filter shape the low end without heavy-handed dynamics on the bus.
Plugin Stack
Every Plugin, Every Setting
Sets the combined bass level before any tonal or modulation stage.
Settings
Trim to +0.9 dB so the rest of the chain is fed consistently.
Sets the tonal base with tube-driven low-end weight.
Settings
Classic Pultec low boost paired with the matching attenuation for weight without mud.
Stock Alternative — Logic Vintage Tube EQ
Use the Pultec-style curve conservatively.
Adds analog phase motion so a static bass part still feels alive.
Settings
Slow rate, restrained mix — subtle animation rather than obvious phaser sweep.
Stock Alternative — Logic Phaser
Slow LFO, low mix, sweep kept above the fundamental.
Final analog filter color across the combined bass layer.
Settings
Use the multimode filter for gentle analog saturation and shaping, not obvious resonant sweeps.
Stock Alternative — Logic AutoFilter
Static low-pass with a touch of resonance to emulate the color.
System Logic
Why This Chain Works
Tube EQ before modulation means the analog motion moves a bass that already has weight.
Filter color last keeps the Bass Complete bus feeling like one analog layer instead of a stack of edits.
Avoid These
Common Mistakes
Turning the phaser mix up until the bass sounds like an effect instead of a bass.
Over-boosting sub with the Pultec low shelf without checking translation on small speakers.