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-- Synths good for low saw basses?

Synths good for low saw basses?

Yeah, yeah, another "how do I make this sound" thread, bear with me

These basses are obviously just low saws, but none of my synths seem capable of making sounds like these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq68cvkJlVc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74aP_D-nqwU (:57) -- This is similar to the sound I'm looking for, just in that I'd want to use one as a midbass. I really like the dirty, low distorted sound it gives to tracks.

I know it's just a very low saw with maybe some distortion and sidechained to the kick, but none of the VSTi's I've tried to use can hold up at notes that low and still retain any kind of drive or even tone. They just wind up sounding like gurgling or clipping. I've put sub basses underneath them to fill out the sound but these basses sound more like one tone, using two bass patches like that just makes it sound like what it is, a saw and a sub bass, instead of a very low saw. Though that might just be my inexperience.

I'm not great at making patches by any means, and even as simple as basses are, I can't get this kind of sound down. Does anyone have any ideas? Are there synths that are meant to make sounds like these? I have Sylenth, Trilogy and Predator.. Trilogy's saw patches don't seem to go that low and I haven't had luck with the other two

trillian

rob papen's sub boom bass

I suspect a lot of that sound is due to careful EQing and layering.

Try TAL Elek7ro (free) which is SAW by nature

I think it's a sub bass an octave or two below the higher SAWy raspy bass sound. The very bottom end of the sub may be rolled off a bit and then slightly boosted anywhere between 50-500hz (small boost, narrow Q) and you'll have to find the sweet spot by sweeping. Sadly the same bass sound will most likely be boxy in the same frequency range so a small cut is in order too, sweep again to find it. This is what gets the low end bass cutting through the mix in my own experience.

my virus ti makes excellent saw deep bass

lots of compression and distortion

if i could pick, i would use the andromeda for analogue saw Bass

Re: Synths good for low saw basses?

quote:

Originally posted by Kysora Yeah, yeah, another "how do I make this sound" thread, bear with me These basses are obviously just low saws, but none of my synths seem capable of making sounds like these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq68cvkJlVc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74aP_D-nqwU (:57) -- This is similar to the sound I'm looking for, just in that I'd want to use one as a midbass. I really like the dirty, low distorted sound it gives to tracks. I know it's just a very low saw with maybe some distortion and sidechained to the kick, but none of the VSTi's I've tried to use can hold up at notes that low and still retain any kind of drive or even tone. They just wind up sounding like gurgling or clipping. I've put sub basses underneath them to fill out the sound but these basses sound more like one tone, using two bass patches like that just makes it sound like what it is, a saw and a sub bass, instead of a very low saw. Though that might just be my inexperience. I'm not great at making patches by any means, and even as simple as basses are, I can't get this kind of sound down. Does anyone have any ideas? Are there synths that are meant to make sounds like these? I have Sylenth, Trilogy and Predator.. Trilogy's saw patches don't seem to go that low and I haven't had luck with the other two

I REALLY REALLY hate to say this.
But I agree there are a lot of basses you hear everyday that just DO NOT sound like they were made on software, or like they could be replicated in software.
I've heard some mean gritty sylenth basses, some mean gritty z3ta basses, and trust me some of them sound mean and gritty, but they STILL do not live up to the level of hardware.

Thats why for bass I am a serious sample whore. I sampled the entire trilogy into soundfonts (just because I prefer working with SF2 rather then triology) and I also use a lot of samples from Nexus for bass.

There are dirty moog saws, andromeda pulse basses, the famous sentry arp bass (comeon there is NO fucking way of getting close to the sentry bass on software) and a lot of the hard sync basses as well sound completely different replicated on software.

I DO use software but I find for my subs mostly or softer bass sounds. If I need something gritty with character, I usually always turn to Nexus or triology. Some of the triology basses with a bit of distortion can really break through a mix. I will def be picking up trillian as well one of these days and between trillian, nexus, and trilogy I'll never have to turn to software again for bass. (I'm not talking about the presets in Nexus either FYI, I'm talking about a lot of the sampled analog sounds, I know Nexus is part softsynth)
And honestly, my basses always sound more creative using the right samples tweaked the right way vs using software.
I'm not trying to start a war, this is just the way I've learned to work specifically, and I find myself a lot more deprived of the sound I'm looking for using soft synths for bass.
I think almost any other element in a track you can get away with softsynths, leads, pads, fxs etc, but bass really is the heart of a track. I always need a rough dirty sort of driving bass and even though I know some guys are doing amazing basslines on software, its always been much easier for me to have a massive collection of samples to turn too.
And some of the long vengeance bass samples are very good to use too imo.

Sylenth1, Minimonsta, ES1, ES2, impOSCar, Massive. I've created great basses out of all these synths. Its just a matter of knowing how and what to do, and when to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Its just a matter of knowing how and what to do, and when to do it.

Yeah, I realize that, I'm just wondering if I'm equipped to even make such a bass (Robbie's answer was kind of what I was looking for, thanks for that) and if there's the matter of what to do, I was looking for tips of how.

Thanks for the advice so far. I got Elek7ro and it seems like the default saw can retain its character a bit lower than the other synths I've tried, I'll see what I can do with it.

making your bass from initial patch is a good way to go

I don't know how much this will help due to I use logic and have a weird creative mind. Plus im on my iPhone so im kinda shooting at this blindly. To get a dirty good saw sound I do this. First I use either es2 ( logic built in synth) or Arturia mini moog. Which ever I choose I usally use two to four voices. Don't ask me why im not a synth expert, I just do what sounds good. I then make the first of two layers of the same bass. The first is put through a guitar amp (most of the time) guitar rig from NI. Then I pass it through logics distortion unit. Eq to brighten the sizzle and crunch of the bass. Then I make A seconed layer using the same synth settings, pass it through logics bass amp plugin to make it sound warmer in the lower end sometimes guitar rigs tube compressor to warm it up. With that all said and done I then layer them using eq and cutting the lows on the upper bass sound around 80 to 150 hz. Then on the other bass I cut the highs around 80 to 150hz. Route both basses to a aux channel applying either logics compressor or sometimes an tube compressor from
either waves, guitar rig, or my uad2 card depending on what sound I want. Then apply a standard compressor (if and only if needed) to bring levels to where they need to be in the mix. Finally at some eq to clear out any unwanted frequencies and sit better in the mix. Then route this aux to an aux combining my kick drum and basses.

Hope this helps,
Wes Johnson

Re: Re: Synths good for low saw basses?

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox I REALLY REALLY hate to say this. But I agree there are a lot of basses you hear everyday that just DO NOT sound like they were made on software, T

How could you possibly be in a position of knowing when you have yet to own any hardware save your virus which you don't seem to particularly like either. The reason you have this view is that you are inept at sound design and instead of accepting that you might not know alot, you blame it on the tools you don't know how to use.

This is pretty ironic as he's mentioned how creativity is the only limiting factor in music. But now we know that this is true to everything except low saw basses.

Re: Re: Synths good for low saw basses?

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox I REALLY REALLY hate to say this. But I agree there are a lot of basses you hear everyday that just DO NOT sound like they were made on software, or like they could be replicated in software. I've heard some mean gritty sylenth basses, some mean gritty z3ta basses, and trust me some of them sound mean and gritty, but they STILL do not live up to the level of hardware. Thats why for bass I am a serious sample whore. I sampled the entire trilogy into soundfonts (just because I prefer working with SF2 rather then triology) and I also use a lot of samples from Nexus for bass. There are dirty moog saws, andromeda pulse basses, the famous sentry arp bass (comeon there is NO fucking way of getting close to the sentry bass on software) and a lot of the hard sync basses as well sound completely different replicated on software.

mate no, maybe with an analog synth with an analog compressor could change something, but an hardware VA and a digital compressor is the same...

Re: Re: Synths good for low saw basses?

how the fuck do you even know this? you say it like its fact but there are lots of people out there making music with only software.. sorry but you're actually wrong and i'm not just pissing on you for the sake of it

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox But I agree there are a lot of basses you hear everyday that just DO NOT sound like they were made on software, or like they could be replicated in software.

hilarity ensuing

i thought Hardware v Software was next week

quote:

Originally posted by evo8 i thought Hardware v Software was next week

No didnt you get the memo? its been moved to today

Re: Synths good for low saw basses?

quote:

Originally posted by Kysora Yeah, yeah, another "how do I make this sound" thread, bear with me These basses are obviously just low saws, but none of my synths seem capable of making sounds like these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq68cvkJlVc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74aP_D-nqwU (:57) -- This is similar to the sound I'm looking for, just in that I'd want to use one as a midbass. I really like the dirty, low distorted sound it gives to tracks. I know it's just a very low saw with maybe some distortion and sidechained to the kick, but none of the VSTi's I've tried to use can hold up at notes that low and still retain any kind of drive or even tone. They just wind up sounding like gurgling or clipping. I've put sub basses underneath them to fill out the sound but these basses sound more like one tone, using two bass patches like that just makes it sound like what it is, a saw and a sub bass, instead of a very low saw. Though that might just be my inexperience. I'm not great at making patches by any means, and even as simple as basses are, I can't get this kind of sound down. Does anyone have any ideas? Are there synths that are meant to make sounds like these? I have Sylenth, Trilogy and Predator.. Trilogy's saw patches don't seem to go that low and I haven't had luck with the other two

Think distortion plays a big part, sometimes saw basses sound awful bit of distortion they sound a lot better.

Re: Re: Re: Synths good for low saw basses?

quote:

Originally posted by RichieV How could you possibly be in a position of knowing when you have yet to own any hardware save your virus which you don't seem to particularly like either. The reason you have this view is that you are inept at sound design and instead of accepting that you might not know alot, you blame it on the tools you don't know how to use.

+1

I like the idea of Trilian tho, seems like the best of both worlds, all those analog emulations without the hassle of actually having the unit etc... i think ill pick it up when i rebuild my pc with Windows 7 64-bit and some extra ram

The only thing that i keep in my arsenal for making my Basses is.

PSP Vintage Warmer


To me it can bring a Bass that sounds weak come alive. I just love the thing.

If your Bass is not cutting it then layer it. The sounds that you have posted could have a Low sin wave in them as well to keep the bottom end.

Also when making nice sounding Basslines you have to have the right Kick to compliment each other.

Also knowing what Frequencies to Eq in each sound to get the maximum results.

Oh yeah, if you own Cubase Quadrafuzz is ftw for basses.

quote:

Originally posted by evo8 I like the idea of Trilian tho, seems like the best of both worlds, all those analog emulations without the hassle of actually having the unit etc... i think ill pick it up when i rebuild my pc with Windows 7 64-bit and some extra ram

Trilian is dead set the best VST I've ever bought and will probably only be surpassed by Omnisphere (which is the next purchase)!

I would really try Predator for that Oceanlab sound.

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