Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[monsterthompson]

As someone who generally struggles with beat construction in general, it certainly was not the best choice for my first drum machine. I found the workflow more of an impediment than a benefit.

Many people do amazing things with it. I am clearly not one of them.

This is helpful. I’m not skilled at beat construction and I’ve considered that box.

 

[lordradish]

This is helpful. I’m not skilled at bat construction and I’ve considered that box.

 

[Poobini]

This is helpful. I’m not skilled at beat construction and I’ve considered that box.

I mean if you're considering it...
It's very daunting, though. Countless times, I've booted it up and just stared at it. Feels great for live playing/noodling around, but I cannot wrap my brain around it.

 

[Starthief]

Oh, and I played with a Belgrad for like half an hour on one of my pilgrimages to Schneider's and it sounded lovely. I almost bought it but at the time "didn't need another filter" (<--I know that phrase actually has no meaning in Euro).

I had a Belgrad for a while, but never quite got comfortable with the Mode switch and all the different options for whatever reason. Blades makes more sense to me, since it's presented as two separate but relatively simple filters that you can combine or not as you see fit.

I kind of went through phase where I was anti-subtractive synthesis, which seems silly in retrospect, and my relationship with filters was weird. I felt like I had too many, sold one of those and now I almost feel like I don't have enough. But I'm OK with also using software filters for some things. If I could go back in time I'd tell myself not to sell Three Sisters though (or, at least wait until I could list it on Reverb for 3x what I paid...)

 

[lucas303]

The Hydrasynth Explorer has landed. I've got a looooong way to go before I understand this thing.

 

[steubig]

The Hydrasynth Explorer has landed. I've got a looooong way to go before I understand this thing.

there are some really good tutorials out there. the engine is the same as the other hydra stuff,

i recall that i got a lot out of these:

 

[lordradish]

@lucas303 I have the Hydrasynth tutorial series by King Unique, a very comprehensive 23-part series. Hit me up in the PM, may be able to help you out.

 

[steubig]

@lucas303 I have the Hydrasynth tutorial series by King Unique, a very comprehensive 23-part series. Hit me up in the PM, may be able to help you out.

sweet!

 

[lordradish]

sweet!

I would assume, you being the resident HS master, would not need to see this... but lemme know if you do.

 

[steubig]

I would assume, you being the resident HS master, would not need to see this... but lemme know if you do.

“master” lol.

i wish. i can do some stuff, but serious synth guys are way ahead of me (in general).

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

sweet!

Dude!!!

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

You're like a me that's better at everything I've tried to do.

???

 

[JES]

I almost want to get a HS desktop now just to be part of the club. But I’ve got my hands full ATM.

 

[lucas303]

???

I meant we seem to have a lot of the same interests but you're better than me at all of them.

 

[lucas303]

I'm already adding some stuff with the HSE to a project I've been working on. The Microfreak might have been cool too, but I'm glad I got this thing. Thanks again all for the help.

 

[steubig]

I'm already adding some stuff with the HSE to a project I've been working on. The Microfreak might have been cool too, but I'm glad I got this thing. Thanks again all for the help.

great. the polyaftertouch alone i worth the price of admission, imo.

 

[lucas303]

great. the polyaftertouch alone i worth the price of admission, imo.

I don't think I've noticed that yet.

 

[steubig]

I don't think I've noticed that yet.

interesting

not all patches have it, but try this:

hold a chord in your left hand and press a hight note in your right and then starting pressing harder. if the patch has some pat programmed in it, you should hear a difference. next, if that patch has it programmed, try pressing different notes in a chord with different pressure.

 

[dukeorock]

mostly it’s about a quad setup.

p/reverse p/straight line p/massive four coils.

look at the bigman too.

I’ve got a Bigman and absolutely love it.

Invalid Link Removed

Lots of flowery language on the page. The summary is:
Syntakt is a drum specialist, full of percussive possibilities, but its four analog and eight digital tracks can be used for melody, harmony, and bass sounds too.

Syntakt looks really great to me, but I’m not jazzed to have one right away for whatever reason. They took the best aspects of the Model:Cycles and improved on it (I have and love my Model:Cycles). It also has some sounds and tricks from the Analog RYTHM drum machine. Overbridge is awesome as every track comes up in the DAW separately via USB. For me, that would be a wonderful thing. Syntakt with my Octatrack would be a very potent combo, but anything and an Octatrack is
For now, I’m still trying to master my M8 tracker. It still hurts my tiny brain a bit but so far I still think it’s genius.

Xaoc Devices

I’m tempted by a few modules. More than I’d want to spend for many of them, but the company seems highly regarded in reviews.

People seem largely over the moon for Xaoc stuff and I love the design aesthetic. I have the Zadar and can’t say I’ve gelled with it. Too many button combos on a tiny interface for my liking.

I have a good time with my Novation Circuit and Arturia DrumBrute, but those are both *relatively* straightforward - I agree that the Digitakt workflow is for a different frame of mind (which is a common complaint, I discovered after my purchase).

Hmm…Digitakt is extremely popular and I think for very good reason. Elektron stuff speaks its own language, but once you learn it, it’s crazy fast and fun. I only sold mine because I like the Octatrack even more. Octatrack is the greatest piece of hardware of all time for me, but if you think the Digitakt is tough to wrap your head around…

 

[JES]

It’s funny, I feel like the Octatrack is really the only thing for which I tolerate unlabelled button combos anymore, and that may be because I’ve had it for over a decade.