Low Frequency Basslines

[roartiz]

I have experimenting for a while with the lowest-sounding bass sounds that I could reproduce outside of my studio headphones in other environments such as the car, PA systems etc. The problem I always encounter is there is always too much high end for my liking, but when I cut that or low pass the instrument, there is very little definition/movement in the bass I programmed (i.e. can't really hear the modulation).

I guess I was just trying to look for a general path or some tips and tricks to make a hard-hitting low bass like this one:
http://soundcloud.com/airfeemusic/airfee-amen

Right before 0:30 the bass kicks in and I think that it is either an envelope on the cutoff or volume correct? How can I achieve a high level of low-end clarity whilst producing a sound this low?

[drake89]

I haven't listened but only use a pure sine wave. read some stuff over at bassnectar's site. He's very forthcoming about his techniques, he's an OG of bass music, and he's pushing the envelope of loud sub bass. I read his new system can hit down to a C. Meaning he got someone to make a whole lot of bass bins just so he could hit 3 or 4 semitones lower. I think he was bottoming out at a D or E before then.

[subfect]

roartiz - I think you need better headphones/monitors mate, bout the jist of it. haha

I've also done a similar bass in the tune in my sig - and it's very easy to create. Little bit of filter/amplitude modulation and you're good. He also sounds like he's overdriven/saturated it slightly.

Like drake said - sine waves. I like to combine them with low-passed saw/square waves (really low though, less than 100hz) - and you'll get the solid sine wave style along with a little more grit.

[mthrfnk]

I haven't listened but only use a pure sine wave. read some stuff over at bassnectar's site. He's very forthcoming about his techniques, he's an OG of bass music, and he's pushing the envelope of loud sub bass. I read his new system can hit down to a C. Meaning he got someone to make a whole lot of bass bins just so he could hit 3 or 4 semitones lower. I think he was bottoming out at a D or E before then.

This doesn't really make sense, C0 is 16ish Hz, i.e. unhearable whereas C1 is 32ish Hz and achievable by lots of systems. So assuming you mean C0 why would you specifically use infrasonic frequencies, because only people with such a system would be able to perceive them (basically feel them).

Also, to the OP, try as others have said using gritty saws (you could even go as far as a reese) layered over a sine sub, then lowpassing (definitely play around carefully with the cutoff). Saturation can help too.


Edit: Someone in the "how to make that sound" thread asked a similar question about subbass and I made this to try and recreate what they wanted:
Soundcloud
This may have too much high end/not enough low end for your liking but it seems to sound okay on both my laptop speakers, headphones and monitors.

[subfect]

I haven't listened but only use a pure sine wave. read some stuff over at bassnectar's site. He's very forthcoming about his techniques, he's an OG of bass music, and he's pushing the envelope of loud sub bass. I read his new system can hit down to a C. Meaning he got someone to make a whole lot of bass bins just so he could hit 3 or 4 semitones lower. I think he was bottoming out at a D or E before then.

This doesn't really make sense, C0 is 16ish Hz, i.e. unhearable whereas C1 is 32ish Hz and achievable by lots of systems. So assuming you mean C0 why would you specifically use infrasonic frequencies, because only people with such a system would be able to perceive them (basically feel them).

Also, to the OP, try as others have said using gritty saws (you could even go as far as a reese) layered over a sine sub, then lowpassing (definitely play around carefully with the cutoff). Saturation can help too.


Edit: Someone in the "how to make that sound" thread asked a similar question about subbass and I made this to try and recreate what they wanted:
Soundcloud
This may have too much high end/not enough low end for your liking but it seems to sound okay on both my laptop speakers, headphones and monitors.

Not sure I agree with what you've said there - because D0 is well audible on a subwoofer. All my sublines are in octave 0.

Edit: Went and did some reading, you're absolutely correct. I wonder if my DAW/keyboard is giving me different info? *scratches head*

[mthrfnk]

I haven't listened but only use a pure sine wave. read some stuff over at bassnectar's site. He's very forthcoming about his techniques, he's an OG of bass music, and he's pushing the envelope of loud sub bass. I read his new system can hit down to a C. Meaning he got someone to make a whole lot of bass bins just so he could hit 3 or 4 semitones lower. I think he was bottoming out at a D or E before then.

This doesn't really make sense, C0 is 16ish Hz, i.e. unhearable whereas C1 is 32ish Hz and achievable by lots of systems. So assuming you mean C0 why would you specifically use infrasonic frequencies, because only people with such a system would be able to perceive them (basically feel them).

Also, to the OP, try as others have said using gritty saws (you could even go as far as a reese) layered over a sine sub, then lowpassing (definitely play around carefully with the cutoff). Saturation can help too.


Edit: Someone in the "how to make that sound" thread asked a similar question about subbass and I made this to try and recreate what they wanted:
Soundcloud
This may have too much high end/not enough low end for your liking but it seems to sound okay on both my laptop speakers, headphones and monitors.

Not sure I agree with what you've said there - because D0 is well audible on a subwoofer. All my sublines are in octave 0.

Edit: Went and did some reading, you're absolutely correct. I wonder if my DAW/keyboard is giving me different info? *scratches head*

I've read before sometimes certain VSTs or DAWs actually pitched up an Octave (so C0 input = C1 output), can't remember where though. Like I said though if you have a big enough system you might feel <20Hz but I doubt most (if any) people can really pinpoint it especially within a track.

This is why a lot of bass music producers use F# and G# as keys since those sit just above the 20Hz threshold.

[subfect]

Yeah. F is the sweet spot. hehe

I dunno though - I mean I use D/E (my fav notes), and they always seem quite audible =\ Definitely octave 0 though, as that's where all my subs are.

[Ghost of Muttley]

Ableton is an octave above mate, not sure why..

Remember reading a post on dillinja's twitter talking about losing half an octave on funktion systems around 45hz..which is higher than i thought originally...