I apologize if similar thread already exists, I did search function and couldn’t find it.
I have a hard time getting that phat dirty bass sound in Ableton, just by using Ableton’s instruments (ex: operator, analog, etc ). I looked all over youtube, however most of the videos, just shows how to get that bass with different VSTi’s. If anyone couldn’t quickly explain me what should I do and twick to get that phat dirty bass, using only Ableton’s plugins, it would be greatly appreciated!
Just do what you are seeing in the other video’s and apply it to Abletons native pluggins. Should be pretty straight forward.
Most synths share the same basic functions, and after that most effects are the same, i.e. a reverb is a reverb no matter what kind of pluggin it is, same with delays, compressors and so on.
I found it very difficult to make phat bass patches with just Live’s instruments. I use Massive now and that gives plenty of punch but here’s a few things you can do:
Use the “Spread Knob” in Operator a little to widen the sound although you’ll also add detuning which may not be what you want.
Layer different synths over each other, you can do this by creating an “Instrument Rack” and dropping several synths in. I liked to have a few synths - one for low, one for mids and another for highs. Then you can also duplicate these and pan them left and right as well.
Use some effects to get more grit into the sound. The saturator, overdrive and amp effects can all help here. Although its easy to become carried away and just end up with distorted mess with no body to it.
Side chaining the bassline to the kick (and turning down the threshold and ratio) gives the sound a pumping effect which is common is heaps of EDM.
I really appreciate all the feedback, and I will try to experiment now, thx! @polybius: i’ll check the video for sure, thx mate! @fellis: is Massive really that good ? Cause I heard that Trilian by spectrasonic is better, also some people said that SampleMoog by ik multimedia is awesome as well. I am just saying what I read from different forums. But maybe Massive is great for electro house ?
I was also wondering, what VSTi’s you guys use the most ?
Nexus has some good patches I’ve used for pads and synths. I’m still learning everything that can be done in Massive and it’s a lot of fun, so far. Good for gritty basses and some interesting sounds to layer in with other instruments.
layering is super basic. key to fat drums = layered drums. key to fat basses = layered basses. key to organic pads = layered pads…