Ableton Forum

A few pointers:

-It's better to use a synth like Operator or a sampler, as the notes always start at the zero crossing point, which is essential to get that tight trance bass. Synths like Analog, for example, emulate analog oscillators that don't start a a precise point in the waveform.

-Kick length can change our perception of the bass notes, some trance has a big kick almost 1/8th long, sometimes short just over 1/16th (depending on the number of notes, etc)

-Bass layering is pretty much essential for this style of music.

-On your second example, I think the artist is using a subby bass on the off-beat, and a plucky sound on top. That way the rolling sound doesn't interfere with the kick sound and the off-beat has that powerful bass contrasting the kick.


hope this helps!

MacGuffin wrote:A few pointers:

-It's better to use a synth like Operator or a sampler, as the notes always start at the zero crossing point, which is essential to get that tight trance bass. Synths like Analog, for example, emulate analog oscillators that don't start a a precise point in the waveform.

what about syncing the oscs, or warp the tracks manually exactly to zero crosspoint of the waveform after you bounce your sequence???

i would never touch a sampler while doing a bass sound. plenty of synths out there are capable of doing fatass bass sounds, synced tightly.

B-S wrote: i would never touch a sampler while doing a bass sound. plenty of synths out there are capable of doing fatass bass sounds, synced tightly.

Yes, like Predator, Operator and other synths like that, but analog or analog-emulating synths won't work as good for that trance sound. Correct me if i'm wrong, but oscillator syncing on analog synths is syncronization between the two oscillators and not syncronized with the note-on midi command.

Warping will not really work and will be a lot of trouble in comparison to sampling your analog synth (especially with the Covert Operators slicing preset Slice to single sampler).

The reason for this is that oscillators in analog synths are always running and when you press a key the amp envelope lets you hear it. So your note could start anywhere in the waveform, which sounds less tight. It's an aesthetic choice, if you make italo-disco maybe it's better to have it sound like that.

This is why many trance artists use the Virus for bass, or Trilogy, or samplers.

my 2 cents

check out the sander van doorn future music vids on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CovxJVgL ... re=related

also check out the sonic academy series of "tech tips" on you tube, they go step by step through the making of the bass sound for trance. wikid series of tutorials as well, while they focus on trance/tech the ideas can be used for other genres as well

Check this out : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txYvRthi7FQ
You could also sidechain the bass with kick and put a highpass filter on it to avoid to much energy(interfering frequencies) at the low end.