looking for my BASS in this world( the problem with keyboard basses)

  • Thread starter Thread starter CyanJaguar
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CyanJaguar

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hi y'all,

Sonusman was just saying that we should most definitely stay away from keyboard basses. ie samples or synths. they sound like crap.

I had been suspecting my bass sound all along, but what do you guys think?

who here has good recordable bass sounds from your kb or sound modules, and what kind of tweaking is involved.


thanks
 
sorry guys, but it's a good thing I also posted this on guitar and basses. People hardly ever get replies on Keyboards and sound modules. I wonder why
 
I had to play left-hand bass in our band when the bass player quit, my keys have some good bass sounds, but not quite sure what you are looking for.
Tim
 
Cyan Jaguar,

How are things going? How is the JV 1010 working out? I love the sub bass on the 1010 (#144 on the Basses section). Regarding the issue about staying away from keyboard basses... it depends on the style of music. There are some styles like some Hip Hop, some R&B, some Pop, Techno, Electronica, Drum and Bass and other electronic styles that lend themselves to keyboard, sampled or electronic bass sounds.

Sonusman is a knowledgeable engineer and musician, but if I'm not mistaken, he does mostly rock and other "band" type music that uses the usual instrumentation of Acoustic Drums, Electric bass, Guitars, Vocals and the occasional synth. So, I can easily see that he has a bias to electric bass, since that's what he does. Likewise as a keyboard player, I have a bias to using key bass for certain styles of music. Although, I have been using real bass players on about 60% of my latest project.

Rev E
 
thanks REV E,

I'll tell you what, I am loving that little black box.
the pianos are real cool, the voices and strings are way nice, as are the drums and basically everything on it.

At first, it did not blow me away .......cos I was using the nasty gm sounds, but as I get into it's real patches, I am finding out how good it is exactly.

THe problem I have with my basses on the keyboard as well as the sound module is that it is undefined. They sound really tight when played in solo, but when I mix it with some drums, it seems to become a presence instead of an instrument.

I don't know if you understand what I mean . I am sure the problem might be eq, cos it like merges with the drums, but I have not even started getting into sound diver, and it looks like it will be an overwhelming task to do sound diver.

I will look into that bass you said. I downloaded a patch off the internet called riot bass that really kicks.

Anyhow have fun and have a great day.
 
I love patch #32 on my Sound Canvas. Has fooled quite a few reviewers into thinking I played a stand-up bass.
 
Peace All
I have to agree with Cyan Jaguar. I'm looking for a deep hard bass(for hip hop....oh perish the thought):-)...and my modules just aren't giving me what I'm looking for. I have a JV 1080 as well as a tr rack. Any tweaking suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I also have an asr 10, so sampling the module sounds and applying effects (like compression) is an option for me. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanx!!!!!!!
 
LSA100X,

I have been able to get the "off-the-radio" style kicks and bass tones by applying compression and EQ to my kicks and bass sounds. Start with 2:1 or 4:1 ratio with a moderate attack (30-60 ms), a moderate release (100 - 200 ms) and a and go from there. The amount of compression needed will depend on the sound and how you played it.

I have also found that EQ after compression has worked best for me on kicks. From your ASR or DAW, apply a shelving filter from 250 Hz and lower to your kick. Then go from there and adjust. I've tried all sorts of parametric bumps, but I've found that todays phatt hip hop kicks need a general low-end shelving boost post compression to make them get real fat. I really don't like to give specific numbers and ratios, because all of this is dependent on what sound you used and how you played it but at least you can get a place to start. You may actually try two compression stages. But be careful that your compression doesn't eat up all of the headroom in your mix. It's very easy to get carried away. You don't have to boost very much to get a noticeable effect.

As for bass, that's an even tougher question for me. There are just too many variables. One thing that you need to do is compress it, sometimes pretty hard. Also, EQ the bass with the kick in mind. (i.e. don't have them boosted in the same frequencies. Use subtractive EQ to cut areas of one of them to make room for the other.

Rev E
 
Thanx Rev
That's exactly what I was talking about....a good place to start. I gotta run, but soon as I get back home I'll try your tips. Thanx a million.......any more tips would be more than appreciated.

LSA100X
 
Its not the fact that synth basses are crap, its a mater of fact the way you process them. Heck, I use anything from a $250.00 1987 Yamaha PSR-680 synth to a JV-1080 with Dance, Techno, Hip-Hip, Drum & Bass, and Session expansion boards to an Akai S-2800 Sampler with sample disks. I have very seldom used a "real" bass in my recordings. But the difference is I Compress, EQ, and effect all of my bass recordings. And people comment all the time, "sweet bass" in my recordings. Try that, works for my recording studio, and word of mouth is how I stay in business.

Later,
Mike
 
Personally I love keyboard bass, especially the "octave sync" in early 80s electronic music. You know, where it goes "Buppa buppa buppa buppa" in a straight beat. Fattest keyboard bass ever is the Sequential Circuits "Pro-one". I got a reasonable replica in my Nord Modular...

It's all a matter of taste, obviously. "Where have aaall the sync-basses gone, long time paaaassing!" :)
 
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