Making Real Bass Sound like Keyboard Bass

Stress Man · 16th August 2006

Any suggestions for doing this?

Kiwiburger · 16th August 2006

Sample it with your EPS16+ and then play it from the keyboard.

Or am I not understanding something here.

If you want a fake squidgy Moog bass sort of sound, you can use an envelope follower filter (an auto wah). I would use use a stomp box for that, rather than anything digital. But you probably own a fake digital one somewhere amongst that lot. Try sampling a riff and then playing with whatever effects algorithmns you have.

What is a keyboard bass anyway? Could be anything - acoustic, electric, analog synth, FM synth ...

You can try compressing/distorting before filtering/envelope follower, maybe pitch shift chorusing or flanging - there are so many ways to screw up a bass sound and make it cheap and nasty.

Aaron H. · 16th August 2006

There are quite a few "bass synth" stomp boxes. A couple of the most popular ones are the Electro Harmonix Bass Micro Synthesizer and the one made by Akai (discontinued). The Akai one is digital, while the Electro-Harmonix is analog. The BMS has an octaver, square wave distortion, and an envelope filter built into it, so it is a pretty nifty tool. I'm considering buying one. What I use for those analog synth sounds is running through multiple stomp boxes- usually coupling an EBS Octabass and an Electro-Harmonix Q-tron.

**matt thomas** · 16th August 2006

hmmm you need to define the sound you're after a bit better, since a "keyboard bass" bass can literally ound like anything.

I use the electro harmonix micro bass synth a bit, it works grea on some basses but not on others, it creates octive down, up and square waves, then a resonant envelope following filter to all.

For that squelchy funk bass try the DOD envelope filter, cheap as chips but quite cool (it can be a bit over the top)

then there is the electro harmonix "bass balls" for a more subtle talky kind of sounding bass.

or use an octave box and play the real bass up high, using the octave box to create the bass, for a straight but pure bass synthy bass sound

or play your keyboard
narco

thenoiseflower · 16th August 2006

Both the EXH peices, I THINK , are where your going with this, if were talking about kinda squased, flat and dry nice computer, like massive attack/ or bjork bass, with a little flat wave-ness to it, but smooth and clean, Wich I think we are, the EHX BMS and a decend compressor, and an eq would do the trick niceley, with a decent bass and a smoothly played part/

Me and a few my buddies call it "AUTOBASS" as it sounds like computers in the slightest way, its pleasing and can really extend a mix way down if used well.

if thats not what your talking about the BMS would still be getting you close, its very flexable, and the q-tron + is a dirtier more harmonic type thing with hard envelopes, and selectable filters.

hopeless_opus · 16th August 2006

Well, my first suggestion would be to double the bass line on a synth and mix the two sounds together until it sounds the way you want it.

As far as pedals go I'll second the Octave pedal. The boss OC-2 is very cool and tracks pretty well. (so long as the parts aren't too busy) Following that with an auto-wah/envelope pedal might be a cool idea to try.

Fuzz pedals into phasers or auto-wah's can be fun as well.

fonman · 16th August 2006

There are various multi-fx units that offer "synth bass" sounds (Boss GT-6B, Bass Pod, etc.) However, they always seem to trigger goofy, and I have not ever found on that I liked, so I usually build my own patch, which (depending on the Multi-fx unit) will usually go like this:
gate->comp->low octave @50%->bass fuzz (light)->modulation (flange/phase/etc) or autowah->amp/cab sim (light overdrive)->eq->spacial FX (delay/verb/etc)
I have about 4 main patches that cover my synth bass needs, and they are all substandard compared to real Moog, or a keyboard designed synth bass, but will typically fly on stage to "cop the effect".
As a single stomp box, Digitech had something out a while ago (forget the name) that had about 9 switchable sounds in it, and only 1 or 2 were cool. But I was able to get a "bloop" effect out of it that was pretty neat, but a one trick pony.
I use the Bass Pod XT with patches designed with the format listed above.

Stress Man · 17th August 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

Sample it with your EPS16+ and then play it from the keyboard.

Or am I not understanding something here.

If you want a fake squidgy Moog bass sort of sound, you can use an envelope follower filter (an auto wah). I would use use a stomp box for that, rather than anything digital. But you probably own a fake digital one somewhere amongst that lot. Try sampling a riff and then playing with whatever effects algorithmns you have.

What is a keyboard bass anyway? Could be anything - acoustic, electric, analog synth, FM synth ...

You can try compressing/distorting before filtering/envelope follower, maybe pitch shift chorusing or flanging - there are so many ways to screw up a bass sound and make it cheap and nasty.

Actual I meant Moog Bass. I want a real bass to sound like moog bass.

Tibbon · 17th August 2006

In Logic, i'd use the pitch->midi transcriber, and then just use the Midi out to my Moog Voyager. Easy enough. I have no idea WHY in the world you'd wanna do this however. Just play it on the Moog!

If you just want to impart some of the sound, then perhaps an octave pedal, combined with a Moog Filter pedal would do the trick. Also putting it through something like a pitch shifter for a slight detune will help. Remember the basic moog bass is just 3 oscilators and a filter.

At the same time, a Moog bass can often sound quite like a real bass... so you are just trying to get back to reality anyway sometimes...

Sizzleboy · 17th August 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stress Man

Actual I meant Moog Bass. I want a real bass to sound like moog bass.

Then get a moog filter:

http://moogmusic.com/detail.php?main_product_id=5

2nd Kid · 18th August 2006

I worked on my ASR-X (like I work nearly every day) few months ago. I had same problem, how to make moogy soundin' bass. I coded fx patch, pretty moogy sounding. I don't think it (patch) will work on your EPS, but I'm not sure. So if your eps reads fx patches from ASR-X I will sent patch to you, maybe via email? Or if someone your friends have ASR-X, then there is no problem with that. If someone gearslutz/nutz will get that patch, hit me with PM.

16th August 2006	#1
Stress Man Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Philly,Pa Posts: 179 Thread Starter	Making Real Bass Sound like Keyboard Bass Any suggestions for doing this?

16th August 2006	#4
matt thomas Moderator Joined: Jan 2004 Location: New Zealand/Switzerland/guitar case Posts: 8,266	hmmm you need to define the sound you're after a bit better, since a "keyboard bass" bass can literally ound like anything. I use the electro harmonix micro bass synth a bit, it works grea on some basses but not on others, it creates octive down, up and square waves, then a resonant envelope following filter to all. For that squelchy funk bass try the DOD envelope filter, cheap as chips but quite cool (it can be a bit over the top) then there is the electro harmonix "bass balls" for a more subtle talky kind of sounding bass. or use an octave box and play the real bass up high, using the octave box to create the bass, for a straight but pure bass synthy bass sound or play your keyboard narco __________________ Steve Gadd, New York Brass, David Kahne, Abbey Road Mastering, all featuring on Lesley Meguid (my wife)'s album "The Truth About Love Songs", out now! Check out some previews on www.itunes.com/lesleymeguid or Lesley Meguid on Facebook - neve, fairchild, m49 for vox etc..

17th August 2006	#9
Tibbon Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Boston/MA Posts: 4,780 2 Reviews written	In Logic, i'd use the pitch->midi transcriber, and then just use the Midi out to my Moog Voyager. Easy enough. I have no idea WHY in the world you'd wanna do this however. Just play it on the Moog! If you just want to impart some of the sound, then perhaps an octave pedal, combined with a Moog Filter pedal would do the trick. Also putting it through something like a pitch shifter for a slight detune will help. Remember the basic moog bass is just 3 oscilators and a filter. At the same time, a Moog bass can often sound quite like a real bass... so you are just trying to get back to reality anyway sometimes... __________________ David Fisher (aka tibbon) What is Noise, Blog (DIY, gear, tech, etc) Follow me on Twitter imVOX- Voice for Gamers WTB: Moog Theremin Signature Edition

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16th August 2006	#2
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,075	Sample it with your EPS16+ and then play it from the keyboard. Or am I not understanding something here. If you want a fake squidgy Moog bass sort of sound, you can use an envelope follower filter (an auto wah). I would use use a stomp box for that, rather than anything digital. But you probably own a fake digital one somewhere amongst that lot. Try sampling a riff and then playing with whatever effects algorithmns you have. What is a keyboard bass anyway? Could be anything - acoustic, electric, analog synth, FM synth ... You can try compressing/distorting before filtering/envelope follower, maybe pitch shift chorusing or flanging - there are so many ways to screw up a bass sound and make it cheap and nasty.

16th August 2006	#3
Aaron H. Gear nut Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 142	There are quite a few "bass synth" stomp boxes. A couple of the most popular ones are the Electro Harmonix Bass Micro Synthesizer and the one made by Akai (discontinued). The Akai one is digital, while the Electro-Harmonix is analog. The BMS has an octaver, square wave distortion, and an envelope filter built into it, so it is a pretty nifty tool. I'm considering buying one. What I use for those analog synth sounds is running through multiple stomp boxes- usually coupling an EBS Octabass and an Electro-Harmonix Q-tron.

16th August 2006	#5
thenoiseflower Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 1,425	Both the EXH peices, I THINK , are where your going with this, if were talking about kinda squased, flat and dry nice computer, like massive attack/ or bjork bass, with a little flat wave-ness to it, but smooth and clean, Wich I think we are, the EHX BMS and a decend compressor, and an eq would do the trick niceley, with a decent bass and a smoothly played part/ Me and a few my buddies call it "AUTOBASS" as it sounds like computers in the slightest way, its pleasing and can really extend a mix way down if used well. if thats not what your talking about the BMS would still be getting you close, its very flexable, and the q-tron + is a dirtier more harmonic type thing with hard envelopes, and selectable filters.

16th August 2006	#6
hopeless_opus Gear addict Joined: May 2005 Posts: 429	Well, my first suggestion would be to double the bass line on a synth and mix the two sounds together until it sounds the way you want it. As far as pedals go I'll second the Octave pedal. The boss OC-2 is very cool and tracks pretty well. (so long as the parts aren't too busy) Following that with an auto-wah/envelope pedal might be a cool idea to try. Fuzz pedals into phasers or auto-wah's can be fun as well.

16th August 2006	#7
fonman Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Orlando Posts: 197	There are various multi-fx units that offer "synth bass" sounds (Boss GT-6B, Bass Pod, etc.) However, they always seem to trigger goofy, and I have not ever found on that I liked, so I usually build my own patch, which (depending on the Multi-fx unit) will usually go like this: gate->comp->low octave @50%->bass fuzz (light)->modulation (flange/phase/etc) or autowah->amp/cab sim (light overdrive)->eq->spacial FX (delay/verb/etc) I have about 4 main patches that cover my synth bass needs, and they are all substandard compared to real Moog, or a keyboard designed synth bass, but will typically fly on stage to "cop the effect". As a single stomp box, Digitech had something out a while ago (forget the name) that had about 9 switchable sounds in it, and only 1 or 2 were cool. But I was able to get a "bloop" effect out of it that was pretty neat, but a one trick pony. I use the Bass Pod XT with patches designed with the format listed above.

18th August 2006	#11
2nd Kid Gear interested Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 8	I worked on my ASR-X (like I work nearly every day) few months ago. I had same problem, how to make moogy soundin' bass. I coded fx patch, pretty moogy sounding. I don't think it (patch) will work on your EPS, but I'm not sure. So if your eps reads fx patches from ASR-X I will sent patch to you, maybe via email? Or if someone your friends have ASR-X, then there is no problem with that. If someone gearslutz/nutz will get that patch, hit me with PM.