Hi, I recently discovered this awesome band and its amazing sound. I would like to recreate a similar synth bass sound but I feel I need some good points to start. Can someone help me?
https://youtu.be/zkWezPlNOBI?t=18
Synthpop/funk bass sound design
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- KVRian
- 629 posts since 15 Jun, 2017
Well, the basics are....uh basic. 2 Oscillators, both Saw. Bit of detune. So it sort of drifts around a bit (slowly, that means very little detune).
Listen to the most clear and sustained note at around 1:00.
Use a 24 dB/oct Lowpass filter, Cutoff controlled by an ADSR (quite a lot of modulation). Some resonance.
Short(est) Attack, Short Decay (the attack), Sustain at the level where the cuttoff gives the desired "sound/rumble" is. The amount of cutoff modulation should give you the correct amount of higher frequencies in the attack.
The AMP ADSR is sort of the same, just that the sustain must leave you with enough volume (80% - 100%) for a sustained note.
The lowest point of the cutoff frequency (during the sustain) is just around the around the first few partials (almost "closed").
You'll need that sustain where the filter is opened (by hand or controller e.g. at 1:07 and 1:43).
Main issues for an "exact" reproduction....
Not all SAW oscillators sound the same. Some contain less "bass" (first partial) that you might need subocillator. Some may need some square "mixed in". Where a square may actually not be really square. Depends on the actual oscillator shape/spectrum of your synth(s).
And not all 24 dB/oct filters sound the same. Not all resonance levels sound/behave the same.....So giving exact values is not really an option without knowing what kind of tools (synths) you have available. Also curves and speeds of envelopes vary. As do modultaion amounts. Also, theer may be post EQ......
So that's trying to find the right combinations/settings.
But you can get pretty close at a basic level with many (2 oscillator, 24 dB Lowpass filter) subtractive synths. Hardware or software (there's a ton of free subtractive synths that you could try).
Not sure off course, but this one might be an ARP Odyssey (though when the filter opens....I might be wrong). It's one of the most used eigthies analog funk bass synths. Two other ones are the SCI Prophet 5 an the Moog Model D.
A free emulation of each (just 3 examples from the same developer)
Roberson Audio - Oddy-free
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... ree&id=779
Roberson Audio - Prophanity
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... ity&id=778
Roberson Audio - RA Mowg
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... wg&id=1149
But you could just try Ichiro Toda's much praised Synth1
Then use the regular 24 dB LPF, not the non linear ladder added in the latest version(s) (because you need a "clean" sound)
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1-by-ichiro-toda
Listen to the most clear and sustained note at around 1:00.
Use a 24 dB/oct Lowpass filter, Cutoff controlled by an ADSR (quite a lot of modulation). Some resonance.
Short(est) Attack, Short Decay (the attack), Sustain at the level where the cuttoff gives the desired "sound/rumble" is. The amount of cutoff modulation should give you the correct amount of higher frequencies in the attack.
The AMP ADSR is sort of the same, just that the sustain must leave you with enough volume (80% - 100%) for a sustained note.
The lowest point of the cutoff frequency (during the sustain) is just around the around the first few partials (almost "closed").
You'll need that sustain where the filter is opened (by hand or controller e.g. at 1:07 and 1:43).
Main issues for an "exact" reproduction....
Not all SAW oscillators sound the same. Some contain less "bass" (first partial) that you might need subocillator. Some may need some square "mixed in". Where a square may actually not be really square. Depends on the actual oscillator shape/spectrum of your synth(s).
And not all 24 dB/oct filters sound the same. Not all resonance levels sound/behave the same.....So giving exact values is not really an option without knowing what kind of tools (synths) you have available. Also curves and speeds of envelopes vary. As do modultaion amounts. Also, theer may be post EQ......
So that's trying to find the right combinations/settings.
But you can get pretty close at a basic level with many (2 oscillator, 24 dB Lowpass filter) subtractive synths. Hardware or software (there's a ton of free subtractive synths that you could try).
Not sure off course, but this one might be an ARP Odyssey (though when the filter opens....I might be wrong). It's one of the most used eigthies analog funk bass synths. Two other ones are the SCI Prophet 5 an the Moog Model D.
A free emulation of each (just 3 examples from the same developer)
Roberson Audio - Oddy-free
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... ree&id=779
Roberson Audio - Prophanity
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... ity&id=778
Roberson Audio - RA Mowg
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... wg&id=1149
But you could just try Ichiro Toda's much praised Synth1
Then use the regular 24 dB LPF, not the non linear ladder added in the latest version(s) (because you need a "clean" sound)
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1-by-ichiro-toda
