Here’s a simple example in Logic’s built-in EXS24 sampler plugin: In terms of sound sources, one of the simplest approaches is to take an audio sample of an existing bass note and load it into your favourite sampler. We certainly aren’t suggesting you should be a slave to genre conventions, but having an understanding of them will help you figure out what tends to work best – and allow you to break the rules to create something new. It also means having an awareness of the genre within which you’re working, and the bassline’s context in relation to other mix elements. It’s good to have a rough idea what kind of sound you’re aiming for before you start so you’re not just fumbling around aimlessly until you discover something suitable. On other occasions, something more subtle and mellow works best. Some tracks might call for a super aggressive bass sound which dominates the mix. Take a step back, get the sound right in your synth or sampler first, then move forward.Įxactly what constitutes a ‘good’ sound is, of course, totally subjective. This one might sound obvious, but it’s one of the most important guidelines when creating bass sounds: don’t make life difficult for yourself by starting with a poor sound and then trying to fix it. It’s far more difficult to process an inappropriate sound in order to make it sound good than it is just to get it right at the source. We’re not suggesting you should (necessarily) follow all the tips in this order for every bass. Note that these tips aren’t in the order – every bassline needs a slightly different approach.
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From synthesis to mixdown, here’s how to approach the bottom end. Here we’ll offer ten bass tips which will make life easier for producers of any genre of electronic music.
No wonder producers of virtually every genre of dance music obsess over bass. It’s hardly surprising when you consider how many things there are to get right: the melody itself the synth sound effects compression EQ interaction with the kick drum and other elements. If there’s one thing which unites almost all electronic music producers, it’s the quest for the perfect bassline. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be well on the way to low-frequency perfection. From synthesis to mixdown, we offer ten tips for producing punchy, powerful basslines.