Which synth to use for basslines?

mallony · Post by **mallony** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 10:45 pm

I try to buy a bass synthe to produce dub music and I already have lost money by buying bad material. Can you help me , wich one should I try ? Thanks and long life to dub experiment ! <A HREF="http://www.phantomproduction.com" TARGET="_top">http://www.phantomproduction.com</A>

Post by **interruptor** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 10:55 pm

It depends on what type of bass sound you want. If you are really after synth bass then consider something like the Doepfer MS-404 (unfortunately sold out, you would have to get it second hand). For a more natural bass sound play real bass or use a sampler (that's what I do). Which synths did you try out and what was wrong about them?

Post by **interruptor** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 11:02 pm

Site user Nematod once recommended the vintage synths "roland juno" , "jupiter 6" and "yamaha dx100" (used by orbital and Sly & Robbie) as good choices..

Looter · Post by **Looter** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 11:05 pm

The Roland sh-101 has the fattest, most boomin' low end of any synth in its class. I'd own one, but I can't play keys. I think I'll buy a melodica first and try to teach myself some basics on that. <IMG SRC="http://www.interruptor.ch/cgi-bin/discu ... /happy.gif" ALT=":)"> Kevin

KoCha · Post by **KoCha** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 6:34 am

Hi, I think sampler is the most for the bass, beceause you get a real vibes. They have a lot of bass sample on internet... it's too an advantage. I have heard a lot of good things about the "Jupiter 6" write above... espacially for dub. Good Luck KoCha <A HREF="http://www.kocha.fr.st" TARGET="_top">www.kocha.fr.st</A>

Mike Zee · Post by **Mike Zee** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 8:06 am

SH-101 is pretty good. I've used it as "sample-play-back". as a thought, if you can/wish get yourself Roland JV or XP series synthesizer you can have allots of sounds, including some pretty good synth-bass. But, well, to say truth, this is not really an easy way, because you still will have to do something in addition to get it "RIGHT", using your mixing techniques, additionally treat sounds externally, adjust eq, maybe use external compression etc... all depends on how you make/produce your tracks. here's the link to check as example of ExpSoundBoard for JV/XP series: <A HREF="http://www.rolandus.com/products/detail ... 9">Vintage Synth Exp Board</A> There's a link to PDF file of Patch list, you can see the whole line of vintage synth samples/patches there, including some bass sounds. this stuff sounds pretty good, but no- not perfect, well, NOTHING is perfects <IMG SRC="http://www.interruptor.ch/cgi-bin/discu ... /happy.gif" ALT=":)">.... or what is? Using sampler and sample your own sounds, like synth bass or real bass is sure one other way to go. BUT!!! it's not that easy as may sound. It's pretty much as complicated as any recording. To get sounds you'll be happy with is a tough task, and then when you create your own samples it's only the beginning of production. It may be even easier to play/record real bass, if you can play bass of course. The good part of digital sample play-back midi-synthesizer or sampler is that you can midi-sequence it and workout allots of details this way to get your groove "right"... respects, later /Mike Zee

KoCha · Post by **KoCha** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 8:26 am

If you sample sample or synth you ALWAYS need to process your song after (especially eq on high freq for cut noise).... Mike Zee has succefull put a long url !!!! It's Incredible on this board!!! How have you do that ??

Mike Zee · Post by **Mike Zee** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 8:45 am

heh heh, KoCha, I hav no idea how ;)... if I use htm tag code link, then some type of urls get cut off..., looks like if there's "=" character in it ...it gets cut off...., so then I just copy/paste url, and it looks like somehow it adds extra 'space' after you paste, so you may try to check/preview first before posting and edit the line, by 'backspace' right after the URL line.... heh, well, I am not sure... maby Daniel - DaMan here knows for sure how to do it <IMG SRC="http://www.interruptor.ch/cgi-bin/discu ... /happy.gif" ALT=":)"> later, /Mike Zee

DJ Otaku · Post by **DJ Otaku** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:29 am

Mr. Mallony, I checked out your webpage. You said *I already lost money by buying bad material.* But you have lots of amazing synths! The Nordlead Rack and the Waldorf Q and Microwave are amazing synths. Although they are digital they have good filters, and should be able to come very close to an SH101 or Jupiter 6 sound. Esp. the SH101! Dont waste your money buying anything else!!!

lond · Post by **lond** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:56 pm

Why didn't anyone mention a mini-moog?!!??? I play synth bass in a live dub band. I use a mini-moog. Oh yes! I know of no other synth with better bass sound. It's warmer, more fat, more alive, more dirty, more smooth. A single oscillator triangle gives you the ultimate deep warm electronic dub bass sound. The filter envelope lets you create the dirtyest "wah" you've heard. Single oscillator, sawtooth, filter empasis at 4½, and cutoff between -2 and -3 gives you a big, fat, clearcut, roots like dub bass sound that'll fill up the whole room and make everybody feel nice. It has vibe! Nothing like it.

HM · Post by HM » Thu Jul 10, 2003 6:26 pm

On my seccond hand observation-list is Clavia Micro-modular, fantastic little tool effect-box, and filters also, lots of patches to download just like reaktor And for the bass-sounds I think the lack of power compared to bigger models is no a problem

wan · Post by **wan** » Sun Jul 20, 2003 6:28 pm

one of my friend has a Studio electronics and it makes very big bass very good for dub but it cost arround 1500 euros.i love the sounds of that synth Wan from france

Nematod · Post by **Nematod** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 2:49 pm

Of course , it goes without saying that real natural bass is best! I like to layer lots of different sounds to get plenty of low-end. soimething really cool ive been getting into is using sampled classical & jazz double bass sounds. sounds very snooth and organic.

HM · Post by HM » Tue Oct 21, 2003 6:26 pm

yes real bass and tasty filtering that is sure a good combo,.... HM

Jonny Flash · Post by **Jonny Flash** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 9:59 am

I recently created a nice Bassline with a Doepfer MS-404 (mentioned above), which i sent through an AKAI MFC-42 Filterbank. The 404 is available @ebay for under 200 Euro, while the MFC is sold for about 250 Euro in some shops. And if I had enough money, I would buy me a second MFC: this is such a nice Tool: It features an ANALOG Stereo 2- or 4-Pole AND an up to 8-Pole Mono Filter, plus an LFO, a Phaser, a Distortion Unit and a (simple) EQ. And it sound soooo good... I use that Baby for producing and for DJing as well, and it's so much fun! Go and get one!

Bird Brain · Post by **Bird Brain** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:49 am

You could try the Waldor Pulse, which is a real analog monosynth. With a little programming (forget the presets, they're awful) you can get really warm and deep basses (but also all kind of FXs, drones, leads...). With midi you can control a lot of parameters. And now you can find it at 250/300 euros (at least in France) which is a real bargain. With the Micro Q you can also get deep basses but they're not so warm and I always use the Pulse for my basses. Bird Brain

Global Purpose · Post by **Global Purpose** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:06 am

Hi Iya !!!!! i d like to mention one "cheap" rack Analog Synth called BASSSTATION by NOVATION i get the number 1 it sounds AMAZINGLY DEEEEEEP (142 EUROS on Ebay) i usually work with Bass players since i m 15 (today 32) and mostly only Dub (i play drums)so i was a lil allergic to synth but today i m convinced !!!!! this Novation suits very well for Dub and dont sound cheap ... i heard only few sounds of the Doepfer and Mam , but i really prefer the Novation !!!! So the only thing You can trust is Your Heart and Ears anyway !!!! listen to the instruments and take time to rock them with Your fingers , i could i describe the Lamb s Bread and let it smell to You through the net ??? hehehe GUIDANCE

nafet · Post by **nafet** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:27 am

kurzweil synths generate some deep warm bass sounds using the VAST engine, they're also wicked samplers, so you've got the best of both worlds.

HM · Post by HM » Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:13 pm

<a href="http://www.fabfilter.com/products/analog-friends.mp3"> softwarefilters can be amazing nowadays</a>

GuitarplayainMD · Post by **GuitarplayainMD** » Fri May 23, 2008 5:38 am

Any square bass with an octave divider works wonders.