Ableton Forum

I've been experimenting with everything I know about synth design hoping to recreate this filthy-hollow-grinder of a synth from Riot in Belgium's remix of Yelle's "ACDG". Click the YouTube link and fast forward to 1:53 to hear what I'm talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqUVSp-mfCM

Any suggestions or tips regarding the suspected instrument/plugin/effect/automated setting/etc. to get something close to this is greatly appreciated...

I'm not so sure its any specific synth making that filth, I'd say its the effects being used. This is just a guess of course but it sounds to me to be a fairly standard synth run through an octave pedal (possibly the one in guitar rig?). Thats my guess on what is causing those random sort of pitch fluctuation's yet stays in tune. I think its a technical flaw in the original (maybe all) octave pedals in that it has trouble tracking the original pitch... but its sounds SO damn dirty and nice. I love it on my bass guitar too.

If you have guitar rig try messing around with the octave pedal and turn the dry signal off and see what you get. Oh yeah and don't forget a healthy dose of distortion.

Let me know!

wow what a niiice bass!!!

"If you have guitar rig try messing around with the octave pedal and turn the dry signal off and see what you get. Oh yeah and don't forget a healthy dose of distortion.

Let me know!

I don't have guitar rig. I'm more curious how the bass has sooo much "power" behind it. I'm thinkin its a setting of dynamic tube with chorus and maybe a split pan of the EQs. Its like the lows rumble at the begginning of each bar, then the highs come in over top at the end of each bar before cutting out again leaving the lows of the next bar. This is a very non-technical explanation for what I'm hearing. Any more thoughts?

sounds to me like a bunch of distortion and some side chain compression. The distortion is creating the harmonics you like, and the side chaining is giving it the behavior you are describing.

Also part of what you are hearing is how the bassline is written. It's a pedal bassline that does octaves, fifths, and minor 3rds. The fundamental is happening on beat, at the same time as the sidechaining.

dankusCDW wrote:sounds to me like a bunch of distortion and some side chain compression. The distortion is creating the harmonics you like, and the side chaining is giving it the behavior you are describing.

Also part of what you are hearing is how the bassline is written. It's a pedal bassline that does octaves, fifths, and minor 3rds. The fundamental is happening on beat, at the same time as the sidechaining.

whoa that sounds pretty right on... but how the hell do I write a "pedal bassline"? And by "doing" octaves, etc. do you mean there are these 3 different types of audio effects placed on the bass synth track? Can you point me in the direction of where I can learn this technique from scratch? Thanks man...

here's a link to ableton's sidechanin compression movie.

this helped me out a lot!

http://www.ableton.com/_common/download ... aining.mov

trelax wrote:And by "doing" octaves, etc. do you mean there are these 3 different types of audio effects placed on the bass synth track?

sure
they are free
google em...

I think that in this case one thing that is creating the sound, more so than the instrument itself, is the relationship in the mix between bass and kick drum. I bet if you were to separate them that the bass wouldn't seem as powerful. So in part I think it has alot to do with the production.

As for an instrument that may give you a sound like that after getting to know it, try the Unique VST.

trelax wrote:

dankusCDW wrote:sounds to me like a bunch of distortion and some side chain compression. The distortion is creating the harmonics you like, and the side chaining is giving it the behavior you are describing.

Also part of what you are hearing is how the bassline is written. It's a pedal bassline that does octaves, fifths, and minor 3rds. The fundamental is happening on beat, at the same time as the sidechaining.

whoa that sounds pretty right on... but how the hell do I write a "pedal bassline"? And by "doing" octaves, etc. do you mean there are these 3 different types of audio effects placed on the bass synth track? Can you point me in the direction of where I can learn this technique from scratch? Thanks man...

By doing octaves and a pedal baseline I'm talking more about the composition musically of the baseline than the effects and production. First and foremost, what's happening with the baseline is a musical and rhythemic thing. Once you nail that, you find the rest clicks into place with a tonal palate based on your preferences.


Pedal bass line 101.

A pedal bass line is a style that was originally developed by electric bass players. Basically, they would alternate between a constant low note (usually an open string so they wouldn't have to finger it) and other notes that outline the harmony of the chord being played. In most cases, the note used as the pedal is the same as the key the song is played in.

So musically just using the third and the fifth, and the track doesn't have any chord changes, this works out like this.
A C A E A C A E etc...

As you can see, every other note is A. A is the pedal It doesn't always have to be every other note, and stylistically, adding in rhythmic flairs can make the bass more interesting, but in general, a pedal bassline returns to it's pedal.

In the track you posted, the pedal hit's with the kick dru. and it alternates with a note from the chord structure every off beat. Doing a pedal bassline with a synth is easy- find a bass sound you like, and set it to be monophonic. Figure out what key you want your song to be in, and that's your pedal. Draw or play a whole note on the note you've selected. Now every other off beat eigth note, play or draw in a note to alternate to.

Throw some sidechain compression on the bassline so it's pumps out of the way of the kick drum (but doesn't go away). Throw some distortion on the synth for some harmonic flavor. And then, maybe try opening up a lowpass filter to coincide with each alternate note played.

+1 on the pitch pedal.. that's the oomph the original poster is describing.