I am a beginner at music production with a solid background knowledge on dance music and djing. I've been reading about daws, music production, bit of theory, etc for a while now and just this past summer I started to fiddle around with Logic Pro X.

I can layer kicks fine, make my own percussion loops, layer them, eq, effects, etc. I can make atmos pads, risers, acid loops (although they need work) white noise transitional/filler effects. However I am really struggling with making certain bass sounds and synth sounds.

I am looking to produce trance, prog, and techno music, but mainly trance. I have gotten Spire recently and have been fiddling around with it. I have a general idea of what to do and how to make certain sounds or as close as possible to them, but I am having trouble trying to make a rolling bassline. It's not that I don't know how to do it, but it's more so I can't get it to sound as close as possible. I am trying to make a bassline similar to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNnuglMf7HA

Starts right at the start.

This rolling bassline does not seem as "growling" or psychedelic, or rubbery or bouncy like some other rolling basslines. It sounds much more clearer, more "metallic" and glossy" with a nice amp like rumble to it. I've tried tweaking presets in spire, i've tried making my own with 2 detuned saws with the filter cut and all that good stuff but I can't really come close. I've tried this flang pluck that seemed close but not really. Can anyone point me in the right direction to make this bassline? I understand that the bassline sound is the sum of all its parts, I just want to make a similar sounding patch using Spire and I will tweak it myself.

I'd also like to know how to make these synth like build ups:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmXT0L4x2-8

Starts at 0:40 till about 1:50 and becomes more predominant especially at 1:23 when it is fully out. It's the higher pitched alarm like sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee4yNAbut30

Starts at 1:09 till about 1:23 This one is a shorter loop and a bit more subtle. Sounds bit like acid but much more subtle and light and not as distorted. I'd also like to know how many notes is used to make this build up pattern or is it a delay/reverb effect? Thanks.

 

C'mon man, no body's steping in?

If not, then AB69, i'll get back to you once i finish my actual work, i have tons of things to do these days.

 

1) Yeah, sounds like a supersaw (with layered sine for more sub/beef). Try spreading a few saws out on different octaves and then detune/unison/supersaw them (and spread/pan them). Try adding a highpass filter to remove the lows (as it starts "thin" and comes in stronger/full spectrum when it's almost solo @1min).

2) Not sure what sound you mean. There are quite a few layered sounds.

3) If you want less "acid", try turning down the resonance.

 

I know you said spire, but you won't find a better video than this imo for basslines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUXpEM74f00



Sylenth and Zebra ftw!

If you are going to try and use spire, use detuned saws and square (1oct lower) with a little distortion.. keep the sustain and release short. This will give you the main sound but in your example listen to the mix as a whole. The kick is banging and takes up loads of the bottom, it drives the track along with the off beat sub that kicks in after the mini break. Also the acid on top brings everything together. Try and not focus on getting the driving mid bass sounding good on its own because chances are it won't be, it will only sound good with all the other layers combined. Remember to keep around 200 and below mono, even the mid layer of the bass is pretty centre but thats not something you generally have to stick to.


Hope it helps.

 

do not stick on the Synth itself and the onboard effects. add some rather unconventional effects to it. The Sugar Bytes Turnado, the Reaktor 5 ensemble Molekular or Native Instruments Driver can work wonders. just a few examples.