Hardware synth for angry bass? :)

[Robmobius]

Hey guys,

I'm wondering if anyone can help me out here choosing some hardware for doing "dark and angry" bass lines very well?

I had my heart set on a Virus T.I. snow (can't afford the big daddy). However, I've seen a few other bits recently that also interest me. The D.S.I. Tetra and the Novation Ultranova.

I'm really liking the Tetra for the analog sounds. And I was always a fan of the Novaiton Supernova II (back in the day). Not sure how the Ultra shapes up in comparison tho'.

Or should I stick with the Virus?

I'm a big fan of DJs like Ed Rush + Optical, Teebee, Nico, Fierce, Bad Company, etc. (to give you an idea of the sound I'm after)

Thanks in advance!

Rob.

[LeifonMars]

You might want to check out DSI Evolver as well. It's full of angry sounding surprises.

[Jacqueslacouth]

My personal (and i stress that it is simply my feelings on the subject) view is that if you are after an "angry" bass sound, possibly these VA synths are a tad cuddly. If I am trying to convey anger, i actually lean towards a more digital sound sometimes FM but often earlier romplers. A personal fav for nasty, harsh, bitter sounds for my money is the EMU Audity..cold as shit but certainly conveys distant anger.

[Robmobius]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the response...

I've heard some good reports about the "evolver" sound capability. There were a couple of things that made me a a bit weary of the unit though - just from reading a few reviews.

1) the knobs seem to be poor quality and needed be replaced from time to time.
2) There is no "on or off" apparently switch (I could live with that in fairness).
3) Also I believe there is no "sub oscillator" (which I found to be really useful for some of my very dark tunes).

But if you think these can be worked around please let me know and I'll give it a better look over? Is it better than the "Tetra" would you say?

Re. the EMU I've head really good reports about them (especially for stomping techno). Does it have traditional Oscillators or do you just mangle it;s on board sound library? Would it be suitable for those low growling DnB lines.

Thanks again guys,

R.

[8O]

I listened to tons of demo mp3s before settling on a Waldorf Pulse. Great bass sounds and scale really well on big soundsystems. Lots of modulation possibilities. Wouldn't hesistate to buy one again. Same negative points that you made about the evolver apply to the Pulse too, but haven't found them to be big issues at all over the years.

[LeifonMars]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the response...

I've heard some good reports about the "evolver" sound capability. There were a couple of things that made me a a bit weary of the unit though - just from reading a few reviews.

1) the knobs seem to be poor quality and needed be replaced from time to time.
2) There is no "on or off" apparently switch (I could live with that in fairness).
3) Also I believe there is no "sub oscillator" (which I found to be really useful for some of my very dark tunes).

But if you think these can be worked around please let me know and I'll give it a better look over? Is it better than the "Tetra" would you say?

Re. the EMU I've head really good reports about them (especially for stomping techno). Does it have traditional Oscillators or do you just mangle it;s on board sound library? Would it be suitable for those low growling DnB lines.

Thanks again guys,

R.

1. True. I have two knobs missing. Don't care.
2. True. So what?
3. Not sure what you mean. Mono Evolver offers 4 oscillators, each to be set independently.

I think Evolver is going to be classic (in case it already isn't).

Once you start working with Evolver you realize it's unique. There's something about how it leads your workflow towards quite surprising things.

[3dot...]

^^^^
+1 ..
and it's very easy to make it 'angry' ..
you have to know it better to "tame" it..
and then you get some sublime evolving ear-candy pads and drones..

definitely a classic ! no friggin doubt about it..

about the (digital)encoders..
when automated/modulated .. there aren't 'stepping' artifacts..
but unfortunately..there is when you tweak the knobs..
you can hear the digital control steps...
the keyboard units have 'pot versions' which solve the whole 'stepping' digital encoders issue...

as for relieablity.. I use one (quite heavily).. for 5 years...
never ever had any type of problem...
(aside from Live not handling sysex)

from the dsi website :

The Mechanical UI Components

The buttons and detented encoders rarely (VERY rarely) exhibit signs of age or wear and tear. On occasion, we have seen older units with a button that is intermittent. This can almost always be fixed by simply pressing the button twenty or thirty times, hard.

[dum]

+1 for evolver love.
It's a double, maybe even triple classic.
each model pwns it's respective category.

Never liked the click-click nature of the (desktop model) encoders, but then again they've always functioned to their spec for the last 5ish years. And also the desktop model is serious value for money, so I applaud the man for making maybe difficult decisions to get an affordable/durable/reliable/consistent model out on the market.

the encoders on my very expensive machinedrum, in comparison, are pretty fickle, inconsistent and sometimes unreliable. But obviously sweet when operating to spec.

bcr2000 + evolver = win

[rikhyray]

Funny, the moment I read "angry bass", instantly had Evolver in mind, obviously I am not the only one.
P.S. Tetra is nice but I believe it is that digital part of Evolver that make it unique, that analog/digital blend, Tetra, any DSI analog are too "nice" if you want angry Evolver has that. In fact if I had to use just one word to describe the most characteristic sound quality of Evolver it would be the very word angry.

[Robmobius]

Wow... there's a lot of love for the evolver here! Cool, I actually know a guy who's selling.

Re. the above "issues" I mentioned... I don't mind if there' no "on/off" button. And I'm not too pushed if a knob or two falls off, as long as you can still use it - who cares.

as for relieablity.. I use one (quite heavily).. for 5 years...
never ever had any type of problem...
(aside from Live not handling sysex)

Can't argue wiuth that! Sweet.

[LeifonMars]

Wow... there's a lot of love for the evolver here! Cool, I actually know a guy who's selling.

Remember, son, Evolver is quite different. Evolver is wild and free, not easily tamed. Don't get on with your mind set or you will be disappointed. Let it lead you first and learn to love its strange beauty. Be patient, it will reveal its secrets as the time goes by.

[Machinesworking]

Evolver is a great choice. Definitely for angry bass, you can load two digital and two analog DCO oscillators together in fact that's it's trick really, which I often do with outboard analogue and soft synth wavetable synths to get a huge sound.

[LeifonMars]

two digital and two analog DCO oscillators together in fact that's it's trick really, which I often do with outboard analogue and soft synth wavetable synths to get a huge sound.

Care to educate me a bit how do you do this exactly?

[Machinesworking]

two digital and two analog DCO oscillators together in fact that's it's trick really, which I often do with outboard analogue and soft synth wavetable synths to get a huge sound.

Care to educate me a bit how do you do this exactly?

Didn't make that clear enough I guess?
The Evolver has two digital and two analog DCO oscillators. What I was saying that I like that sound, and often even when not using the Evolver will layer software digital and hardware analogue synths together as it's the best of both worlds. Digital being very in front in a mix, and analogue having an out of control bass natually looser sounding tuning, and fuzzier over all sound in my experience.

[LeifonMars]

two digital and two analog DCO oscillators together in fact that's it's trick really, which I often do with outboard analogue and soft synth wavetable synths to get a huge sound.

Care to educate me a bit how do you do this exactly?

Didn't make that clear enough I guess?
The Evolver has two digital and two analog DCO oscillators. What I was saying that I like that sound, and often even when not using the Evolver will layer software digital and hardware analogue synths together as it's the best of both worlds. Digital being very in front in a mix, and analogue having an out of control bass natually looser sounding tuning, and fuzzier over all sound in my experience.

All right. I was expecting something more esoteric. Yeah, layering, that's what I do as well. BTW, was it you who owned SEM?