Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[steubig]

Any of the gang here familiar with the Access Virus models? I’m getting interested but uncertain which model I would hunt down.

super minimal:

a neighbor lent me his cause he was moving. had a lot going on, but turned it on. i auditioned a bunch of sounds; don’t remember if they were presets or his. either way, i was not super impressed. imo, the hydrasynth or iridium are much more interesting, as they have more modulation slots, more options for waveforms, etc. and it seems like a lot of things out there these days that have more going on for them (red shift, terrain, etc.).

slight tangent: i got the ios virus homage app at an early release price found it to be very limited. i assume that they based it on the virus. it has the problems (well, for me) that i mention above. not often that i’d say this, but ten minutes with it made me feel like i wasted $5.

ymmv, etc.

 

[Spectrum]

 

[Spectrum]

Made this a little while back on a trip to a mostly empty beach. Portable synth gear for the win. Didn't bring a bass, though.

 

[steubig]

i know it’s odd, but i’m actually going to post something (kinda) bass related:

this is bass into zoomlivetrak6>l into spotykach looper thingie.

started both channels recording at the same time. pulled one out slightly earlier (hence phasing almost immediately).


started with regular loop mode, but changing length and position of loop start. did some cross modulation of the loops using their envelope follower as the source. messed around with pitch a bit. went in and out of reverse for one or the other deck.


then went to splice mode. messed around with position/length/pitch/reverse.

then went to newer granular-ish mode. same times of manipulation. also messed with window size.

then back to the loop, but staying in reverse.

throughout i used the onboard cross fader for deck (channel) volume and had different modes going on in different decks at different times.

it’s not great art. just thought it might be interesting (and i had fun doing it).

 

[Spectrum]

Interesting effects combo:

 

[steubig]

stealing @monsterthompson’s gig again:



not idea why the mask is important.

 

[monsterthompson]

stealing @monsterthompson’s gig again:



not idea why the mask is important.

I just skimmed that demo. The creator just joined TB and posted it in another thread. I honestly couldn’t hear a single thing of interest in the entire video. Maybe it sounds better on synths and drums, but I’m not dropping $639 on that for a bass distortion. It looks good, and the midi implementation is probably handy, plus it is stereo.

 

[steubig]

I just skimmed that demo. The creator just joined TB and posted it in another thread. I honestly couldn’t hear a single thing of interest in the entire video. Maybe it sounds better on synths and drums, but I’m not dropping $639 on that for a bass distortion. It looks good, and the midi implementation is probably handy, plus it is stereo.

i saw another vid that had it on drums machines and so forth (inckuding a little bass guitar) that might’ve been better. i chose this one cause, ya know, bass.

but $639 does seem a bit much.

 

[monsterthompson]

I'm currently struggling with choices for a "big" synth. I started looking at the Access Virus models because of artists I like using it. I've also been eyeing the Digitone II for the sequencing, FM, and effects.

My ear likes the Sequential Fourm I played at Perfect Circuit but $1k for a 4 voice mono synth seems hefty. I did like the keys better that other full boards and I do have plenty of my own effects. I know the locals will suggest the HydraSynth for less with more.

Of course, I got down into a rabbit hole of the Take 5 or TEO 5 and modules like the Novation Peak, seeing as how I'm not a keyboardist and I'd like to save some space. Of course the demo of the UDO DMNO was stunning, but that's a huge step.

Obviously, I'm all over the map and need to figure out what I want and will use. That Fourm sound is great, and the simplicity is tempting. One big sledgehammer.

Great problems to have. Just venting.

 

[monsterthompson]

For reference.

 

[steubig]

the Novation Peak

the peak is pretty good.

 

[monsterthompson]

the peak is pretty good.

They’re all amazing in various ways. I’m just trying to get my head around what I want “it” to do and what I’ll use. I already have my eurorack for sound exploration, so the deeper modules already have me flinching at the idea of another time hole. That Tonepusher demo has a lot of stuff I like, but it seems like a narrow application for a hardware synth at that price range, and several cork sniffers point that out. I kinda want to trust my gut and just get the Fourm and go at it, but I’m trying to cool down a bit and not go 100% impulsive lizard brain reflex. I really need to go back to the shop and plug in again.

 

[sunbeast]

I'm currently struggling with choices for a "big" synth. I started looking at the Access Virus models because of artists I like using it. I've also been eyeing the Digitone II for the sequencing, FM, and effects.

My ear likes the Sequential Fourm I played at Perfect Circuit but $1k for a 4 voice mono synth seems hefty. I did like the keys better that other full boards and I do have plenty of my own effects. I know the locals will suggest the HydraSynth for less with more.

Of course, I got down into a rabbit hole of the Take 5 or TEO 5 and modules like the Novation Peak, seeing as how I'm not a keyboardist and I'd like to save some space. Of course the demo of the UDO DMNO was stunning, but that's a huge step.

Obviously, I'm all over the map and need to figure out what I want and will use. That Fourm sound is great, and the simplicity is tempting. One big sledgehammer.

Great problems to have. Just venting.

The Fourm looks awesome to me- I’m way outta the loop so had never heard of it. A bandmate in my last band in LA did the whole unofficial “Guitar Center rental” with a Prophet 6 to track with (he’d already built the performances in MIDI tracks with softsynths, so just a few days to build sounds on the Prophet and record) then returned it after getting the recordings and it was an absolute dream to me in the few days it was around- worlds better than the VA synths we wrote with, but way outta my price-range for my needs.

Fourm= 4 notes of analog polyphony, polyphonic aftertouch, seemingly decent mini-ish keyboard, cool modulation capabilities/approach, arp, sequencer, and intuitive simple UI without much menu-diving. Seems pretty nice to me for $1000 these days but maybe I’m missing some obvious analog competition with that feature-set from one of the bigger players? Hard to imagine much comparing sound-wise though if you like those Sequential sounds. Of course quite a few digital synths around that price point will offer some of that sound-palette and most of the versatility with alot more besides, but probably at the expense of a much more complicated UI and subjectively maybe less appealing basic sound engine.

I hope I can track one down to try in person myself! I’m also not a keys player, but have been on a long hunt for a nice synth for recording and layering sounds with. I’ve had a few nice sounding ones come through but often the UI trips me up- much menu-diving and I start to lose the muse. I love the direct UI of the Moog approach and can get nicely lost in one, but definitely want something with some polyphony as I get bored with monosynths too.

 

[monsterthompson]

New tool in the box. It lets me do one fingered power chords on the bass vi. Still dialing levels and figuring out where on the fingerboard works best for tracking, but it has potential and was on sale.

 

[steubig]

New tool in the box. It lets me do one fingered power chords on the bass vi. Still dialing levels and figuring out where on the fingerboard works best for tracking, but it has potential and was on sale.
View attachment 7380874

serious question (and probably age-related due to when i started hearing power chords):

isn’t part of the magic of power chord the slight phasing and overtones of the strings ringing against each other?

 

[monsterthompson]

serious question (and probably age-related due to when i started hearing power chords):

isn’t part of the magic of power chord the slight phasing and overtones of the strings ringing against each other?

That is part of the traditional magic. However, I’m somewhat a fan of the synthetic. The timing of the pick hitting the strings naturally vs the near immediate tone generation (probably some latency) is a little odd. I’m also fighting against hand dexterity/mobility issues (go mountain biking they said, it will he fun they said). Being able to do single finger power chords is a handy crutch to have.

I found a few “sweetening” settings I really like, particularly into a delay. They aren’t super obvious chords or stacked octaves, but just a subtle added top end and even a bit of low end roundness when playing up around the 12th fret.

 

[steubig]

and then there are the def leppard “power chords” that are all overdubbed singles notes.

 

[monsterthompson]

I’ve thought of doing that before but I don’t trust my timing. I didn’t know they were known to do that.

 

[steubig]

I’ve thought of doing that before but I don’t trust my timing. I didn’t know they were known to do that.

not suggesting that you do that; just talking power chords.

 

[monsterthompson]

not suggesting that you do that; just talking power chords.

It’s an idea I had been toying with. I was considering an attempt to record multiple single note lines that combine to power chords, but pan separately them in the mix to see how that works in the stereo field. Root in the middle, octave left and fifth right. Or some such nonsense.