How to make this bass

Discussion in 'how to make "that" sound' started by faraway, May 8, 2016.

  1. faraway

    faraway Newbie

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    Hi everyone!

    I'm stuck searching techniques to make a similar bass sounds (0:52)... Any tips? I think it's FM synthesis

     
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  3. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

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    Start with triangle wave oscillator and pitch it down an octave (-1 oct).

    Add another triangle oscillator and pitch it up 7 semitones (+7 semis). That will make a fixed interval of an octave and a 7th, that you play with one key.
    Edit: My mistake. It's not +1 octave, just default pitch. The second oscillator is only +7 semi-tones up.

    Add a a lowpass filter, and assign an envelope with fastest attack and about 300ms decay (turn sustain/release down). Play around with range, cutoff and envelope decay until you are happy with your "plucky" sound.

    If you want some stereo spread, stack each oscillator (2 or more times) and add some unison and spread.
    EQ and compress to taste.
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2016
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  4. Sylenth.Will.Fall

    Sylenth.Will.Fall Audiosexual

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    If I asked you to recommend a modern style VST synth, seeing as you could probably get any sound out of any synth, which would be your choice, In terms of ease of use and sound quality Baxter?

    I'm sick of opening up a synth and searching through the presets, and then fiddling with it until it sounds right. I'd love to be able to create some based on exactly what I wanted at that time. (I want to pick one and understand it fully)

    << Values your opinion immensely.

    Thanks
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2016
  5. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

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    IMO most synths these days usually have plenty of features, quality, CPU efficiency and user-friendliness. There really is no "bad synth" (as in Casio SA-1), because it's the end result that counts. It's usually how you process, automate, re-sample and layer it, that makes you go "wow".
    I would suggest just picking a synth that you initially like and then stick with it - pick it apart, learn every single parameter and what it does, try breaking it, and make all sorts of sounds with it (bass, leads, pads, fx, kick, snare, cymbals, etc). The knowledge gained can most often be transferred to other synths after that.

    There are the usual (subtractive) Sylenth1, Spire, (and wavetable) Massive, Serum, FM8, etc. Then there are hybrid, waveshaper, vector, additive, granular, phase distortion, etc. There are TONS of other equally good synths, but these are the most common ones. If I would pick one it would be Serum or Sylenth1. They have enough power (still) to last for another 10 years.

    Speaking of which, it took me about 10 years or so to learn synthesis to a level where I felt confident. Always stay curious and be prepared to make mistakes (and happy accidents)!
    Thank you! <3
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2016
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  6. Sylenth.Will.Fall

    Sylenth.Will.Fall Audiosexual

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    Here is my plan of thought.
    With all of the goodies that have been available from our friends, I have installed most of them and kept them on the computer but NEVER understood a single one beyond a bit of twiddling with presets. Using what you have said, I plan on uninstalling all of them (Not the drum machines) bar ONE. I am going to stay with that until I decide that is the one I'm going to proceed with or get rid of it and do the same with a different one.
    Once I find the one that feels comfortable in terms of gui ( the thought of spending 10 years or so with a synth I guess it has to be easy on the eye) I'm going to purchase it legit, because I believe that is the motivation I need to do it properly, and I'm going to learn it inside out.

    Thank you very much once again Baxter. Wise words indeed.
     
  7. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

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    Maybe 10 years with only one is a bit drastic, but now when I think about it I've had Vember Surge (along with other synths) for about 8+ years. It's a hybrid synth (subtractive, wavetable and FM all in one) and has been my working horse. I'm not saying you should get Surge, but pick one and stick to it (for about 6 months or so). You will learn a great deal, instead of jumping around different synths and different presets.

    It's usually not the tool, but how you use the tool.

    Good luck!
     
  8. Matt777

    Matt777 Rock Star

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    Maybe something like this.. It's a kind of ol' "organ" house bass. Made it with Massive (don't think you need FM) and just like Baxter said. I only mix a square wave in to make it a bit more agressive and a line an octave lower can help. The important thing is to add that fifth (7 semitones). It can be wayy off but my ears are tired.. made it quickly and I'm a complete beginner. But, as already mentioned, the 100000 presets will never satisfy you - don't even know the real reason why... :)
     
  9. Sylenth.Will.Fall

    Sylenth.Will.Fall Audiosexual

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    Thanks Baxter. I've decided to use u-he Tyrell n6. I know it's a basic one, but I remember the first time I tried using that I instantly got some nice results from it. I think that might be the one to learn on.
     
  10. Talmi

    Talmi Audiosexual

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    It's not a bad idea to test basic ideas and skills on a VA which offers a bit more than tyrell. Zebra (with one or two osc, a filter, two evlp, two lfos, basic setup, which you could make your base presets) or Sylenth are good choices for a starting point because you can both do complicated patches but you can also do simple things with a clear interface. The basic : sound shaping with basic waves, filtering, modulation, envelopes are not hard nor long to get and you will be making nice simple presets in no time
    More advanced stuffs like pads or interesting leads and plucks require indeed more experience but for the basics, you just have to get use to what the basic sound generators/synthesis do, the modulators, than you build on that and practice a lot.
    Going from one synth to another, wavetable, vintage emulation, additive, fm, pd, pm, etc, it's a piece of cake once you get familiar with the basic concepts.
    The Rob Papen method on learning substractive synthesis (4 dvds and an ebook "Rob Papen Secrets of Substractive Synthesis : the 4 elements synth", still on the sister site) is actually very good and very thorough as a starting point.
     
  11. Sylenth.Will.Fall

    Sylenth.Will.Fall Audiosexual

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    Thanks Talmi. I do appreciate the time and effort you've put in to help. However, I think that is how I started on the slippery slope in the first place.I kept on going from one synth to the next until I got to the stage where before long I needed a bigger hard drive to cater for them all.

    If I'm being honest. LFO, filters, oscillators and envelopes are all just words to me at the moment. Sure I know from fiddling with presets what some things do but I don't know how to pick for example three different layered sounds that sounds great together. I'm going to stick to Tyrell until I know it's capabilities/ limitations.
    Oh and before I forget, apologies to Faraway. I seem to have hijacked this thread, I'm sorry.
     
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