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[Tutorial] Kick and Bass in Psy Trance
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S7a5
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
62
Posted : Jun 10, 2005 05:48
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Since the thread “The Mother of all Bass lines” didn’t turn out very successful in terms of sharing knowledge, I decided to share my experiences instead to help all of you in your production.
Before I begin, I must say that equalization is a matter of taste and the point of this tutorial is to show you how to use the tools you have properly. I’m not saying that everything I’m going to show you is 100% accurate as there are always ways to improve things even on professional level of production, so don’t understand me wrong. Ok enough of bull, let’s get moving. 
For this tutorial I assume you’re using Cubase SX 2 or higher, you’re willing to produce psy-trance music, you have good monitoring environment, and you have the following tools installed on your system:
VB-1
Elemental Audio - Equim
Waves C1 Compressor
Waves L2 (not necessary, just so that you don’t overload your levels)
PSP Vintage Meter (not necessary unless you want to measure VU on individual track, you may use alternatives such as Waves PAZ Meters)
and last but not least, your basic understanding of some basic concepts.
Okay, here is the file.
http://s49.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3JDVRI0MC7N2D2B8A9EPRA2ZZK
You might want to host it somewhere else since it will be expired with some time on this host.
An example I’m providing with this text is just an example on how you must deal with this problem. In other words, make kick and bass friends. Do not assume that those settings will work in every case as it depends from the synth, pitch, and kick drum you’re using. In this case I’m using a very famous bass synth among psy-trance producers called VB-1, [sarcasm] sure you heard of it. [/sarcasm] Many people say that it’s a hopeless product and never works the way it should and when I hear it I always ask myself: “How is this possible that artists produced so many hits by using it?” Anyways that’s not the point, let’s go technical…
Once you open the file I have attached, you’ll notice that the bass is sampled as audio files. It is easy to recreate if you wish, by writing the notes 1/24 (it’s more then 1/32 by half). I left the actual midi file so you may use it as reference. I sampled only one note (A), cut the end so it fits good between 1.2 and 1.3 on the ruler, created some short attack by using fade in tool found in <Audio >Processes>Fade In> and put it as a stereo audio track. Then I import kick, cut it so it fits nice in the sequencer and launch my favorite EQ (sorry guys, but I didn’t use REQ-6). Usually I don’t EQ kick drum because I prefer using good samples instead, and concentrate on my bass. Once everything is in order, and I have put the levels on max on the mixer for kick and bass so they don’t clip on master, I put my volume very loud on my monitors (I assume you’re using studio monitors) and put a low pass filter on my EQ to max, so I don’t hear anything except very low frequencies. Then I raise it Hz by Hz till I hear some crappy harmonics that shitloads my spectrum and fix it by using as narrow bandwidth as possible, same applies to gain reduction. I continue this until the end of the spectrum filtering the spectrum of my bass in relation to kick and then I filter out some high frequencies. (I wouldn’t do it, but VB-1 really asks for it). You may also use a narrow bandwidth on parametric EQ and boost to find those odd harmonics. Once the bass is clear, or almost clear, I start working with compressors. I don’t compress it a lot in the beginning of my mixdown, but just to give it a little power. In other words, I use it not creatively since I don’t know how the track will sound at the end, but just to increase its RMS, and also to make bass and kick sit tight together. I measure overall power with PSP Vintage Meter and put it in the last insert. Once my lows are half-baked I can start doing my mix with almost stable fundament. Of course you’ll have to work some more once you’re done with your arrangement like tweak EQ on bass to fix it better; now in relation to your entire mix, give the sound some special character, or/and use some effects of your own taste. What you should do is to avoid using EQ as much as possible and better cut then boost. My advice is never boost extreme low frequencies unless you’re producing Hip Hop, Rap or something else that asks for it. It is also a good idea to listen to lows on low volume occasionally, only because lows sound different on different volume levels.
Well that’s it; I don’t have anything else to say except Make some noise!!!
Have fun tweaking
s7a5
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martyn
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
389
Posted : Jun 10, 2005 05:55
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bholenath
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
103
Posts :
1137
Posted : Jun 10, 2005 08:46
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thanks.. but i need a Kick tutorial if you can... Synthesizing kicks from soft synths..VSTis
 ....good fudge comes on slow!!! |
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S7a5
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
62
Posted : Jun 10, 2005 10:49
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well basically it works this way:
Take Albino synth or some other synth that has mod matrix. (I'll use Albino as an example)
1. Choose Sine wave on both sides for Osc 1 and put range 16 again on both sides
2. Choose VintSaw1 on both sides for Osc 2 and put range 8 again on both sides
3. Let all detune setting be on 0 for both oscalators, balances in the middle, and same volume levels (again for both).
4. Use only one filter (LPF 24db) and put all filter envelope controls to 0 (i.e. Attack:0 Dec:0 Sus:0 Re:0)
5. For AMP put Att:0, Dec:2, Sus:0, Rel:2 (you can put your values for Dec and Rel)
6. In mod matrix put AMP Envelope and Pitch Osc1, set the value to about 10; then put Fil1 Envelope and Pitch Osc2 set value about 24.
7. If you dont hear kick-like sound then play with Cutoff, Res, and Env
8. You can also add some noise to it by using Noise Osc if you feel like.
9. Compress it and you have a kick
Hope this helps |
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bholenath
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
103
Posts :
1137
Posted : Jun 11, 2005 01:08
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absolutely no sound came out 
....good fudge comes on slow!!! |
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illusions
Erebus
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
626
Posted : Jun 11, 2005 12:05
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nice tutorial - have not had the time to download the attached file, but I will do that soon.
One question - you mention fading in the bass sample to add an attack ? why would you do that - i usually make sure the attack is as low as possible on my sampled notes, to have the bass as tight and punchy as possible.
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index
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
36
Posts :
548
Posted : Jun 11, 2005 13:18
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Quote:
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?why would you do that -
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it slows down the bpm,it mabe removes clicks pops if u gonna go play in lower octaves,maby fits better with the kick..
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S7a5
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
62
Posted : Jun 11, 2005 13:54
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excatly to remove the click, I make a very small attack, I just choose 3 first steps and fade them in so it almost doesn't affect the dynamics but just put the wave in the right shape.
peace. |
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S7a5
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
62
Posted : Jun 11, 2005 13:55
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Soryy for double post, cant find delete post button.
excatly to remove the click, I make a very small attack, I just choose 3 first steps and fade them in so it almost doesn't affect the dynamics but just put the wave in the right shape.
peace. |
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bholenath
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
103
Posts :
1137
Posted : Jun 11, 2005 15:16
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i had the cutoff at 0.. thts wht there was no sound.. ok im getting a sound.. more of the thud of the kick.. but i guess it needs a lotta tweaking..
....good fudge comes on slow!!! |
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illusions
Erebus
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
626
Posted : Jun 12, 2005 14:06
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cutting the wave at "zero-level-crossing" in wavelab/soundforge is usually good enough for me to remove the click, and have it as punchy as possible. don't quite like the idea of adding an attack, even if it "seems" like its not changing the dynamics much
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gabrielcd
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
4
Posted : Jun 13, 2005 22:33
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Hi S7a5
Man, i try to download the files in the yousenit, but i can´t...i don´t know why
if u can give me some tip on how how i download those files i´ll be tankful
----------------------------------------
Hey...forget this reply.....now i get the files....tks bro |
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s0ft
IsraTrance Junior Member
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42
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825
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 17:21
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Cyzum
Cyzum
Started Topics :
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347
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 17:56
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s0ft
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posts :
825
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 18:18
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