Multi-layered basses

[MoonUnit]

So I was wondering what people's opinions were on multi-layered bass synthesis... As in creating a top, mid, and sub for a bass. Is that taking it too far? I know yada yada 'do what sounds good,' but, am I making things too complex for myself? It obvious that the more I try to add, the more it is harder to tweak and manage the sound so that it becomes cohesive. In my mind, the most difficult part of synthesis is getting these multi-layered basses to sound as one... Like, I can hear the distinctions between the layers and it's bugging me because I feel like it should sound like one autonomous unit. Here's an example of something that I've synthesized (its a reason patch) and I was wondering if someone wouldn't mind giving me some feed back in context of the subject. In this particular patch, I've been having a hard time getting the sub-bass to synch nicely to the upper range of patch. Or maybe it does... audio fatigue is my worst enemy

http://www.mediafire.com/?hld9hkqqp5fq51s

[MoonUnit]

excuse the levels... all I have to produce on is a pair of SKPros, no monitors so I know it's a bit fucky.

[MoonUnit]

shiiiiiaaaaat
well thanks guys. just tryin to learn here.
mods, you can probably go ahead and delete this thread

[lyons238]

dont want to download the file. u should put it on soundcloud.

also you should give it some time. not all the users who would help are on right now probably.

[kHoff]

[ToxicBass]

People won't download a file. Upload a clip onto soundcloud and post it. Also people won't always answer your question the second you post it up, maybe not even the same day. If you come across as having a poor attitude then someone with the perfect answer you need may just ignore you because they wrongly think you are difficult to deal with. You'll lose out on advice big time .

[MoonUnit]

Alright I can understand that... I just put the file up so someone might be able to actually see my entire processing method so that they might be able to better give me advice. It was just a tad annoying to me that like 6 people downloaded it, but nobody had any feedback for me. That's cool though

Thanks for the video embed, about the check it out

[MoonUnit]

Been a bit cynical lately and it's kinda stupid, not trying to turn this into Oprah, but its only gonna hurt me in the long run and interfere with me being able to produce. Toxic Bass, thanks for pointing that out to me.

That aside, after only watching three minutes of that second video, I notice that his sub bass is a separate track. This is interesting to me, as I tend to synch my sub to the mid range of the wobble rather than writing it in separately. Is this disadvantageous or is it a good thing to do? Or is it all just preference?

[Ldizzy]

people push it further then just layering...

try to read the stickies

[drake89]

I didn't listen to your bass sound but if you want a more cohesive sound make sure the lfos youre using are all set to the same rate. Also don't over process just one layer of your bass- that'll won't help it mesh. Try using up all of the octaves within the range youre working for a phatter sound. if you're using more than one waveform (which i reckon you should be) it would help if they at least sound similar. keep that sine wave down on the bottom though

[BevOh]

re-upload as soundcloud file and have some patience. people here will try to help you as much as they can when they have time to.

[bassinine]

throw a compressor with a soft knee and low ratio on a master bus for the different layers (excluding the sub), then have a return track or two with reverb, delay, or whatever sounds good - and route all your different basses to that return.

[henrebotha]

This is just my approach and I'm hardly a dubstep god, but it works for me. The trick is to make one patch, not three. In Reason, I'll use one instance of Thor. One osc is an octave-down sine, the others are maybe detuned squares or saws, or maybe even octaved ones. Everything goes through both filters. One filter is a resonant LPF with full keytrack tuned to the frequency of the sub. The other can be a LPF, HPF, or BPF, usually also with some resonance but letting through the thick midrange and crisp highs of the sound. Then I might take the output to an aux with distortion and no bass. But the point is, even though I'm creating all these distinct frequency bands, it's still one synth.

[Redderious]

Keep that sub seperate, always.

[steeze]

Layering your basses shouldn't make them too complex at all. Once you've got the main sound in your synth of choice try duplicating the track then eqing so that each track takes up its own portion of the frequency spectrum, then add processing and effects to taste. This gives you a lot more control over your sound. If you're finding that the bass still doesn't sound cohesive try sending the tracks back to a single bus and add a compressor or some other form of dynamic processing, this should allow them to sit better together

[Ldizzy]

use the search button!!! tons of info...but hey.. lets contradict ourselves and add up to this one

what gave my basses the kind of sheen i was always looking for but couldnt achieve (controlled hardcoreness)... was to take the lower energy apart, and compress it to achieve balance ...

eg : a reese has dynamic peaks and holes... if you flatten the lower part with some kind of macro-oriented compression, the bass itself will look more controlled and less deceptive to the ear (imo)