Ableton Forum

Ok... Did a search and saw lots of info, but am looking for what the current favorites are?

I am looking for a thick, nasty, analog (not virtual) synth for handling bass lines.

Dave Smith? Studio Electronics? Moog?

Hit me with your opinions!

Studio Electronics - Im using a ATC-X (quad filter version) for the job and its just plain nasty!

If you can afford a CODE, then they are really good, but basically any of the SE synths, expescially if you take advantage of the filter pack options.

Its worth getting a decent analog compressor to go with it - some analog synths produce some fairly high transients - I run mine through a dbx 1066 sometimes.

Dont know the P-08 at all - its on my 'to-try' list, but based upon the evolver, if wouldnt be my choice for mono bass synth type abuse - not that these is anything wrong with the evolver, just its better for other things. Of course in the end it may be nothing like an evolver

Money no object? Don't need keys? Want poyphony? Studio Electronics Omega 8, Alesis Andromeda (w/keys). Mono okay? Minimoog voyager.

Care to part with a bit over a grand? Mono ok? Minimoog Lil' Phatty.

Don't want to spend too much? Need polyphony? Juno 106. Wana spend slightly more? Juno 60. Mono OK? Roland Sh-101. Waldorf Pulse.

Also consider, Korg MS-20.

Just off the top of my head. I own DSI Evolver and never use it for bass. I also own the juno synths and use them for lots of bass, especially deep, thick, sub-like bass.

+ 1 for sh-101
though it has no midi, so you'd need a cv-midi interface (60-80€)
juno 106 will give you something similar + polyphony + midi. there's always plenty in ebay .. but price is going higher
they cost about the same

nord lead 2x
yea, baby

voyager or se-1x

4.33 wrote:nord lead 2x
yea, baby

not analog..

I posted a similar query a while ago.

I was set on a studio electronics SE1x

but instead opted to spend much less and get a 2nd hand waldorf pulse. It's pretty good and has shitloads of bass.

if you do get a studio electronics synth, check novamusik as they have upgraded versions like the red-eye edition of the se1x - well worth the extra with those pathces and tweaks etc IMO.

If you can afford a CODE,

heard a demo of this somewhere online the other day... so nice. I want one bad.

Sidstation w/analog filterbank

While the sidstation isn't analog, I mention it because I've got the most ripping basses out of it. More than I have with my vintage analog synths. So it would be the first place I would turn for this. Most people thing of these being only good for blips/bleeps, but when you dig deeper it's just not so!

The wild ass basses I've gotten out of this combo are much more than the sid alone. The sid's chip gives it that powerful, distorted edge which sounds even edgier and buzzier than the meanest analog sawtooth wave. With an outboard analog filter you can roll off the highs and give it even more character than it had by itself by cranking the resonance. It sounds like it's just jumping out of the speakers. Listening to it blindly, you'd swear the thing is some king kong behemoth analog beast from dr who's closet.

There are killer basses to be had from the CZ-101 too! It's not analog either, but killer hardware bass you would never think coming from that chintzy piece of plastic!

Minimoog voyager OR Studio Electronics Omega 8 which is now called a Code8......
Might be wise to check/Test/Listen to this little Fucker first http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/pro ... /index.php

funkdefino wrote:I am looking for a thick, nasty, analog (not virtual) synth for handling bass lines.

Dave Smith? Studio Electronics? Moog?

BTW, I had a Dave Smith Polyevolver and the sidstation has MUCH nastier bass than the poly. So I don't think I would automatically rule out everything that's not analog.

Virtual analog, on the other hand, while it sounds terrific, there always seems to be that last bit of thickness and punch missing from it. I've never played a virtual analog that was quite up there with a 100% analog or the 100% digital weirdos like the sidstation, etc. Somehow virtual always seems to be a bit of a compromise when it comes to bass...

Sure, Nord comes closest of the virtuals, but still not quite...

koneko wrote:

4.33 wrote:nord lead 2x
yea, baby

not analog..

yea, i know

The SE1x and Pulse are pretty much your top choices. My SE1x is permanently patched to a channel on my console marked "bass".

I have an Evolver desktop and think it makes awesome bass personally.