Synth for synthbass.

[BiigM]

Hi.

I'm new here. I'm a bassplayer and need the help of you synth guys

I'm looking for a synth that is only gonna be used for synthbass duties. I will be using it live so it needs to be relative easy to setup and use.

The style of music and sounds are stuff like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Cameo etc. No trance and techno stuff at all.

I guess a Little Phatty would be the right choice, since most of this style is probably done on Moogs right? But I'm not shure that I wanna spend that much since I'm only just getting into this keybass stuff But it probably needs to sound pretty analog.

Anyway the stuff i looked at in order of price is:

Alesis Micron. ( I know editing might be a bitch but I guess i wouldn't do much on gigs anyway. Is the placement of the bender a problem?)

Mopho Keyboard. (not out yet but almost. Does it have octaves enough. It's from F to C to octaves + a 5th above)

Creamware Minimax ASB + midikeys (maybe not as practical)

Little Phatty (obvious, but getting out of my pricerange a bit)

Studio Elecetronics se-1x (Definately out of my range, but a guy can dream can't he )

So the first 3 is probably my own best bets 'cause of price, but you guys probably knows much better.

Thx

BiiigM

 

[dintymoore]

I am a synth bass fanatic!

I originally used a Sequential Circuits Six Trak in the 80's which was fantastic. I have a pair of Oberheim Matrix 1000's that are also really excellent for synth bass.

This last few years, as it's crucial for me to be able to have the exact same sound on stage and I can't bring the gear I noted above, I use a Roland SC-8850, which was the last SoundCanvas they made.

Here's an example of what I get with it, I call it SlapMoog bass:

http://musicmusicmusic.cn/ssdtest.html

The method I've developed is to lay down the bass track in slow-motion (at a slow tempo) so you can get the staccato notes correct (some notes need to be incredibly short) and then go over the track laying down CC 071 and CC 074, that's how you get it to sound not-flat (not pitch flat but boring-flat). Those control changes make it come to life.

I use the Synth Bass #2 patch, and I have programmed it to play over 5 tracks, because I had to go into the Roland and pitch correct every note for about 5 8va's because I've found that all the synths I try are out of tune in the bass and need to be tweaked, every note needs to fine tuned. I did it in 5 min several years ago, went into every note and fine tuned each one. I swear, left stock, the bass is out of tune.

I could get similar results with most any SoundCanvas, the trick is using the two CC's.

The last groove here (the 04/27/09 one) is how my synth bass sounds more normally:
http://musicmusicmusic.cn/grooveoftheweeka.html

 

[BiigM]

Thx.

Sounds a bit complicated for a synth newbie like me

Anyone have any experience with the synths I mentioned?

I think I'm leanign towards the phatty or the mopho keys.

 

[MarVelo]

Alesis NanoBass - http://www.alesis.com/nanobass?tt=5

You'd need to use it with a midi controller but that shouldn't complicate your setup. Besides, everyone knows a modular system is a plus. You can use the controller in the studio for midi tracks!