Synth Bass - Combining Sounds

[Erotic Cabaret]

Do you guys generally use just one sound for a synth bass part, or do you combine multiple sounds?

Back in the mid 80s, it seemed pretty common to combine a DX7 bass sound with a Minimoog bass sound. Conversely, it seems like the synth bass parts in early 80s records are all one sound (eg, Dare)...I could be wrong, though.

[cartesia]

I dont live, cos all I have is my tetra for all synths.. but when recording I usually at least separate subbass (well.. far enough above sub level to give it just a hint of character)/rest of bass/low-mid, then sometimes go up to 3 layers if im being pedantic

[portland]

I've been thinking of trying that out. Italo disco producers got a lot of mileage out of layering a percussive digital bass octave with a simple analog bass. You could definitely do this now without it being necessarily just a rehash of the 80s.

[tekkentool]

The Stephen Forsyth incredible rip off bass technique:

1. make the top layer.

2. Bus this original sound into 3 different tracks and EQ these so they comprise the high, middle and low. Do not do anything to the bass channel (sub 200hz ) Add a taste of distortion and bitcrushing to the mid channel. Add a stereo enhancer to the Channel you have bussed to do the highs. and a touch more distortion. (crayon filter is great for this)

3. Copy the sequenced note for this channel and make a sub bass sound. Cut below 20 and above 130 HZ. Compress.

4. add other layers for specific things (like a more percussive attack etc.)

[sequentialsoftshock]

Back in the mid 80s, it seemed pretty common to combine a DX7 bass sound with a Minimoog bass sound. Conversely, it seems like the synth bass parts in early 80s records are all one sound (eg, Dare)...I could be wrong, though.

Hmm... It sounds like the advent of MIDI helped make it simple enough to layer basses without multiple takes.

[tekkentool]

I like the real bass/synth bass dynamic. E.g David bowie's let's dance.

[Erotic Cabaret]

The Stephen Forsyth incredible rip off bass technique:)

I've read about this before. Have you tried it?

Just in general, how often do you guys double your bass sounds?

[tekkentool]

The Stephen Forsyth incredible rip off bass technique:)

I've read about this before. Have you tried it?

Just in general, how often do you guys double your bass sounds?

Yes plenty of times, to answer your question.

Pretty much all the time.

[aeon]

I tend not to layer bass sounds. I like the purity of a VCO mono, the sound of an articulated physical model, the expressivity and sound control of a virtual modular patch, as well as the cut and percussive snap of an FM doing electronic sounds (as opposed to that 80s pop/pluck/slap-string stuff).


cheers,
Ian

[Erotic Cabaret]

Fair enough, Aeon. I guess I would say I'm the same, I just wondered how many people were layering.

[tim_m]

I like the real bass/synth bass dynamic. E.g David bowie's let's dance.

Is that a synth bass? I was thinking that it was a electric bass through a EH Bass Microsynth. I can get pretty close to that sound with the Microsynth.

[tekkentool]

I like the real bass/synth bass dynamic. E.g David bowie's let's dance.

Is that a synth bass? I was thinking that it was a electric bass through a EH Bass Microsynth. I can get pretty close to that sound with the Microsynth.

I always thought it was an electric bass layered closely with a Synth bass from another synth.

[tim_m]

I like the real bass/synth bass dynamic. E.g David bowie's let's dance.

Is that a synth bass? I was thinking that it was a electric bass through a EH Bass Microsynth. I can get pretty close to that sound with the Microsynth.

I always thought it was an electric bass layered closely with a Synth bass from another synth.

Upon some Googling, you are correct. The bassist, Carmine Rojas, mentions it in this Spanish language article.