subs : samples or synth

[wideboy]

I used to use samples, but lately i've been synthesizing my own. I might be 'just' a sine wave, but i find you can change the sub better to your likings if using a synth

[abZ]

i think sometimes sampled subs have a lot of warmth to them , for example the classic 808 boom. i use them sumtimes but i dont think youve got as much control to manipulate them so mostly i use synths.

In certain situations, I agree, but then - how much control do you need over a sub, before any FX are applied? Most control/automation you'd put on them, are fine post-fx anyways.

Exactly. Either way it's not right or wrong but when you say one way has more flex than the other... Not sure about that tbh.

[Kes-Es]

i think sometimes sampled subs have a lot of warmth to them , for example the classic 808 boom. i use them sumtimes but i dont think youve got as much control to manipulate them so mostly i use synths.

I regularly use them for basses, never any less control than I would get on a synth and you can get something different every time.



Both tracks below were made strictly with 808 samples for bass and even piano/xylophone sounds. I won't vouch for the quality because that's not the point and I'm not self promoting, you can do quite a bit with them though.
VVVVV

[decklyn]

I switched to live because I'm doing live PA these days when I played out.
I started using operator for subs. It's fast and easy.

[Mad_EP]

A mixture of both - I have tons of samples that I have been collecting one by one going back 10 years or so... but most of those I have either given up using, or are gradually "retiring" in favor of the 808 booms from Goldbaby.

I do also like to synthesize my own as well. I guess it just depends on the project and desired effect really.

[jaimelee]

I've never considered using samples for a sub, always been making my own.

Recently I found that in Abe instead of using a Sine wave, I tryed the Noise wave instead and it was much more stable for me.
Might try sample soon though!

[madd]

i havent used samples for subs ever since I learned to program synths. DJ madd in his Q&A talked about how he uses samples for his subs, so I'm sure there's plenty of other producers with a similar quality sound doing the same thing. Whats the point of using samples for this?

it's just a faster workflow for me, and i really like to see the waveform instead of blocks of midi-notes. plus using samples doesn't mean you must use someone elses subs - i made a few subs in synths / soundforge but still prefer to bounce them and process them in audio tracks just because i can always see whats happening and whenever i feel like it needs a bit of twist to make it interesting i can just bend a bit of pitch, modulate the volume or do whatever i want with 2 clicks instead of having to automate the synth. Not saying this is better or anything just +1 method of doing things : )

[symmetricalsounds]

I've never considered using samples for a sub, always been making my own.

Recently I found that in Abe instead of using a Sine wave, I tryed the Noise wave instead and it was much more stable for me.
Might try sample soon though!

you used white noise for a sub?

[decklyn]

Isn't a sub technically sub-aural? Your subs shouldn't have harmonics or they're not really subs but by all means layer it up.
I would suggest you keep a pure sine and then filter the bass out of whatever you put over top. There was a thread a while about about pure generated "mathematically perfect" sines vs sines synthesized from operator. I thought that the generated sinewaves from soundforge sounded better (because that's what I was using) but then someone made a wave where they placed several tones a/b and normalized each sine - side by side you can't tell the difference (reference monitor: Mackie HR824)

[ruckus49]

^i assumed everyone knew we were talking about subs as a discrete deep bass instrument, not just the <100 hz range of frequencies or whatever its literal definition is. thanks everyone for weighing in

[jaimelee]

you used white noise for a sub?

Suprisingly yeah, and it work out pretty well after some EQ'ing and compression. Gave me a something along the lines of Square but not as hard on the attack. Try it sure!

[module]

I synthesize my subs 90% of the time, but because I don't have access to analog gear, I sometimes use samples.

[step correct]

Wont using a sample turn out artifacts in a sampler if you don't use the same note constantly? In order to be able to bang out some kind of melody I prefer a synth,

[Gewze]

I prefer using synths and making my own, it feels a bit more of my own work then if you get me.

exactly.

[Dwel]

Being that I haven't been producing very long yet. I make my own subs. So that I'm learning. I'm sure though that in say a year. I'll have a thick enough library of my own basses to use my own samples. But as it is right now. I'm still learning alot. So I try to keep it as original as I can.

[abZ]

Wont using a sample turn out artifacts in a sampler if you don't use the same note constantly? In order to be able to bang out some kind of melody I prefer a synth,

What do you mean? If they are no artifacts in the sample they surely there won't be in the sampler either? I actually like artifacts tho, big reason I use a sampler so much.

[decklyn]

Wont using a sample turn out artifacts in a sampler if you don't use the same note constantly? In order to be able to bang out some kind of melody I prefer a synth,

^ you should probably use multi samples for the best effect if you're using a sampler (I always did). you probably don't want to ruin your sub's purity
Remember - you're trying to make a cone shake in a perfect sine.

[Kes-Es]

Wont using a sample turn out artifacts in a sampler if you don't use the same note constantly? In order to be able to bang out some kind of melody I prefer a synth,

^ you should probably use multi samples for the best effect if you're using a sampler (I always did). you probably don't want to ruin your sub's purity
Remember - you're trying to make a cone shake in a perfect sine.

I like the limit sometimes, you can pull very hypnotic but still fairly complex basslines out of your arse with just one note and some editing, I don't really believe sublines need a lot of varying. Matter of preference though.

[decklyn]

^i assumed everyone knew we were talking about subs as a discrete deep bass instrument, not just the <100 hz range of frequencies or whatever its literal definition is. thanks everyone for weighing in

A sine has no harmonics so will have all the meat at the root frequency. If you add harmonics then you get closer to a square. Likewise applying lp filter to a square will get you closer to a sine. So most of us will say a sub is by it's very nature is a pure sine with now harmonics. Sub means sub aural - you can't hear it - just feel it.