I have a collection of reference basses that I sometimes use to compare up against my own.
And today I noticed something weird about this one.

When you play the bass, first you will hear the entire bass line. But I noticed after further inspection, that each note of the bass sounds different.
I'm not talking about filter velocity (although I'm sure that accounts for some of the variations) and I'm not talking about the sound thats up 1 octave when you hear it.

It almost sounds to me, like each note is being processed by its own synth, with different amounts of distortion happening which accounts for the change in tone. But you'll hear the bass change to 16th notes, where you'll hear the first note of the bass play for half a bar, then second note for half a bar, third note half etc etc. I did this just so you can hear the variations clearer.

What am I hearing? Or am I losing my mind and is this all done in the same synth? First note on repeat sounds like a closed filter, second note on repeat sounds almost like it has distortion, third note sounds hipassed and low, fourth note sounds similar to second note, but a totally different tone (maybe different distortion settings? or different settings on a different synth in general?).

Can someone explain this to me a bit better? Do you the bass is coming from several different synths, which are not layered, but each synth plays a different note in the sequence? I never thought about doing this before in my life, but I like the variation and perceived energy it adds to the bass.

Bass Example by user2983496

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

Could be a combination of oscillators controlling drive and resonance, keyboard controlled filtering, and saw-tooth oscillators being revealed when the filter cut-off is peaking.

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quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox Do you the bass is coming from several different synths, which are not layered, but each synth plays a different note in the sequence?

No it will be just a single synth, Adam van baker has patches to do that for Z3ta, Sylenth too.

Check his DEMO <<

Last edited by Andy28 on Mar-11-2011 at 06:12

quote:

Originally posted by varun Check the Sylenth factory bank, Impressum preset sounds close I think

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You can use more than one synth or those special patches. I'd say the more than one synth / different note on a differnt lane, perhaps with varying processing too, would be the way to go for an original sound no one would be able to copy.

I can't stand generic rolling basses out of things like Sylenth where all notes are the same sound.

Also Robbie are you aware of the trick whereby you have sorta background rolling mid bass elements that are sent through a phazer? Simon Patterson I think gets a lot of his sound by using this trick.

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Velocity can be used to control several parameters at once don't forget.

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velocity.

seriously robby, when are you gonna give up?

edit: im not saying it to be an ass, but im just wondering. do you find any joy in this at all? if not i suggest you move on to something else because i dont think you have the creativity required to make anything. if you enjoy it though then just keep it up, things suddenly work out.

Last edited by 112268 on Mar-11-2011 at 13:01

2 oscs free running played together will phase and cause the each note played to sound different.....could be that?

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112268 (are you palm?). Anyway you give too much emotional investment in things I post here.

Of course I enjoy this I work on basslines at minimum 2-3 hours everyday like a religion. Theres really nothing I look forward to more in my day.
I definitely get frustrated but I'd prefer myself to be frustrated everyday and actually improving to some degree then content and making the same generic rolling basslines one after another like Butler at least notices around here.

I think this is the second time Butler mentioned his issues with rolling basslines and I've agreed with him everytime. I've heard some excellent trance tracks, with the same generic bullshit basslines I hear everywhere and I can't listen to them no matter how creative the melodies/percussion might be. Its almost like people don't even know how to make bass. Open a saw wave, throw some noise in there, detune a bit, throw a lp env over it, and we're good to go. Orrrr just find a saw bass preset, move the knobs a little bit so it sounds different, throw it through a phaser and walah we have a tyas bass.

I don't even like most of tyas's basses as phasing basslines like that are a copout and it shows a total lack of creativity. Sometimes it will sound right like in Alt F4 - Alt F4, but most of the time it sounds boring and cheesy. I agree with Butler 110% (just not about using phasers). I hate almost every bassline I listen to in trance. Even the sample I submitted I hate. I use it for reference not for the sound but for the properties and depth of the sound.

I've stopped nearly 90% now making any kind of typical saw bassline. I do everything FM styled using sines, and I twist knobs endlessly looking for a completely new and different sound. I never find it, but usually I will find something at least not so generic as the rest. I'll likely be going through this trial and error bass phase for many more years to come. I just can't go spend countless hours on writing and arrangment, form and being creative, just so I can slap a nexus preset sounding bass in my track. I have no motivation to complete a song and have someone say "wow, that bass is good, its phased just like tyas!" I'm trying to learn something real different, that just sounds different, but better, and still works. So I obsess about it over and over all day long. But I certainly enjoy it. If I didn't I wouldn't be on this forum in the first place. Although I'm likely more of a bassaddict than a tranceaddict.

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

It also sounds like a single synth to me. There is a heap of pattern based stuff you can do to basslines to get 16th patterns like this - as other people have said, velocity automation on certain patches. Step sequenced filters. Synced delays can interact with the original signal to make some notes stronger, some weaker.

Concentrate first on making fantastic songs - songs which are great when someone just sings or hums them. If you're wondering where to concentrate your efforts, I'd recommend you focus on writing great songs rather than whether you should be using four different synths for a bass pattern which won't even be the main focus when you have a beautiful melody playing over the top of it.

I'm not saying production isn't extremely important - not for a second. But please make sure the production is serving a purpose - make sure there is beautiful music first, which will benefit from the amazing production.

quote:

Originally posted by 112268 seriously robby, when are you gonna give up?

Don't start drama. I'm not prepared to watch the lot of you acting like 4-year-olds again.

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