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Exploring Synth Bass: How can I achieve this effect?

teej

teej

Aug 19, 2004
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Sheffield, AL 35660
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#1
Recently, I was minding my own when this video from Scott's Bass Lessons found its way into my "you might like" section. They were right. I definitely liked it. While I've always enjoyed synth bass, it's never something I cared to explore as far as effects go... until last weekend.

I've got three octavers to work with (POG, Pitch Fork, or OC-5) and a green Russian fuzz clone to get a good general synth bass sound but there are other things I'm trying to figure out.

"Dancing on My Own" by Robyn:
In the video, Ian uses an HX Effects to create a delay that turn 8th notes into 16ths. As a result, I've got a TC Flashback II Mini on the way. Hoping I can use it to do what Ian does.



"Colors" by Halsey:
Ian again uses his HX Effects to create an attack setting. Without an HX Effects, what could I use instead to create that rising, pitch bendy, "swell in" sound?



"Claws" by Charli XCX:
I've got this sound mostly down so I'm really not that concerned with this sound as I am the others. I just feel like there's more going on than just the octave, fuzz, and chorus mentioned in the video. I could be totally wrong, though.

 
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#3
re the 'attack' effect... I've used a tremolo to create this kind of sound, it's not perfect but it can get part of the way there, and is actually just a cool sound in its own right.

If you set the tremolo rate (sine wave shape) to correspond roughly with the tempo of your 8th notes (my trem doesn't have tap tempo), it can give you that swelling attack sound which kind of phases in and out slightly with your playing. I don't think it would be very effective for quarter notes or longer held notes.

Or.. buy an EHX attack/decay
 
#6
Standalone said:
I didn’t get a chance to look through everything, but I think an envelope filter in the chain is the missing piece of the puzzle
Click to expand...
An envelope filter is what I had in mind, too. I've been eyeing the Mooer envelope filter or something comparable for it's small size and affordability. I've been going pedal crazy lately so my budget is minimal.

Hachimitsu said:
re the 'attack' effect... I've used a tremolo to create this kind of sound, it's not perfect but it can get part of the way there, and is actually just a cool sound in its own right.

If you set the tremolo rate (sine wave shape) to correspond roughly with the tempo of your 8th notes (my trem doesn't have tap tempo), it can give you that swelling attack sound which kind of phases in and out slightly with your playing. I don't think it would be very effective for quarter notes or longer held notes.

Or.. buy an EHX attack/decay
Click to expand...
The EHX Attack/Delay sounded like it would work but I don't have room for it on my board or possibly the budget at this point. I do have a Korg Pandora Stomp that I've never explored in depth. I've also got a TC Flashback II Mini that might have a toneprint I could use or modify.
 
#8
teej said:
The EHX Attack/Delay sounded like it would work but I don't have room for it on my board or possibly the budget at this point. I do have a Korg Pandora Stomp that I've never explored in depth. I've also got a TC Flashback II Mini that might have a toneprint I could use or modify.
Click to expand...

Mooer Slow Engine is youy ticket.

It won't has as many features or be able to do quite as many things as the EHX Attack Decay, but on the other hand the Attack Decay might had been overkill for your use anyway, the Mooer Slow engine will do what you need, it will be cheaper, about half the price, and much smaller as well.

SlowEngine2_1024x1024.jpg
 
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#9
teej said:
An envelope filter is what I had in mind, too. I've been eyeing the Mooer envelope filter or something comparable for it's small size and affordability. I've been going pedal crazy lately so my budget is minimal.


The EHX Attack/Delay sounded like it would work but I don't have room for it on my board or possibly the budget at this point. I do have a Korg Pandora Stomp that I've never explored in depth. I've also got a TC Flashback II Mini that might have a toneprint I could use or modify.
Click to expand...
The Mooer Envelope is garbage. I have one and it’s one of the very few pedals I’ve bought that I hated. Mooer does make some good pedals but that’s not one.
 
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#10
teej said:
An envelope filter is what I had in mind, too. I've been eyeing the Mooer envelope filter or something comparable for it's small size and affordability. I've been going pedal crazy lately so my budget is minimal.


The EHX Attack/Delay sounded like it would work but I don't have room for it on my board or possibly the budget at this point. I do have a Korg Pandora Stomp that I've never explored in depth. I've also got a TC Flashback II Mini that might have a toneprint I could use or modify.
Click to expand...
I have the mooer and it is decent; I recommend it as a good cheap pedal.

I use the MXR Bass Envelope Filter on my gigging board, I’m playing out enough and at big enough shows to warrant having a step up. (I spend the gig pay on gear, it’s a fun self-sustaining hobby) They’re $150 new though. And I can tell you that the little Mooer really gets you mostly there. I should play some more bass through it and do a comparison video.
 
#11
JimmyM said:
The Mooer Envelope is garbage. I have one and it’s one of the very few pedals I’ve bought that I hated. Mooer does make some good pedals but that’s not one.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I’ve only tried mine on guitar and sort of just recommended it above. Then I saw your post! I really do want to do a shootout now. (Not with you. Between the pedals…)
 
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#13
Been trying to get my TC Flashback 2 Mini to connect to my computer so I can edit the toneprints. The software opens, my computer detects the pedal, but the software does not. I can look up toneprints and beam them from my phone (Pixel 5) with no problem but I can't edit from my phone, even if I connect the USB cable via USB-C adapter.

Recently, someone questioned why I didn't tweak the toneprints on my "purchased and immediately returned" Sub N Up. This is why. I totally get the appeal of TC toneprints but let's say I was at a gig and I needed to tweak something but couldn't connect... Or I could but only after delaying the show for troubleshooting.
 
#14
Jeff Hughes said:
Just get Garageband on your iPad and use all of the bass synth patches. I know a bass player who was playing so many EDM style songs lacking bass lines that he just started bringing a little synth.
Click to expand...

Good reply. Although the SBL guy is trying to replicate it a bass guitar and FX pedals, all those records were done with keyboard bass. I play a bit of keyboards and I can tell you it's a hell of a lot easier to dial in sounds like that on an actual synth. Plus they are easier to play, no triggering issues. If anyone wants to work out a pedal chain to get sounds like that, more power to you but I'd just buy an inexpensive synth, esp. for gigging because you can call up presets for different songs with a button push.
 
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#16
teej said:
I used to have a midi keyboard when I did synth stuff in FL Studio. It was infinitely easier than trying to replicate using a bass and pedals. I may ditch this experiment. It's already getting pricey. :laugh:
Click to expand...
While I find it really cool trying to emulate this stuff with my bass, these are all much easier on a synth. But then on the other hand, if you are trying to do something in your first video posted live in a band format, which is just a bass arp on a synth, you have to be able to have the drummer hear it well to keep up. It introduces its own challenges.
 
#18
arbiterusa said:
If you want synth bass buy a synth. You can get a “kinda/sorta” version of that sound with expensive pedals, but it doesn’t fool even a casual listener.
Click to expand...
I mean I can get "sorta synth" with an octave pedal, fuzz pedal, and some chorus from the Pandora Stomp but I'm starting to agree that if I want that sequenced 16th note sound and waveform shaping then I'll need more expensive gear than I'm willing to pay for just to experiment with.

I may give the Mooer Slow Gear a try. At $40 used, it's affordable. Might also try an inexpensive envelope filter. That way if I don't care for it, I can sell it for little loss.
 
#19
arbiterusa said:
If you want synth bass buy a synth. You can get a “kinda/sorta” version of that sound with expensive pedals, but it doesn’t fool even a casual listener.
Click to expand...
Where are you finding your casual listeners? I've played shows where I just used a bit of basic distortion to sound slightly more like a synth and no one was bothered. And on the other end of the spectrum my brother, who plays keyboards professionally, described the Source Audio C4 as sounding "exactly like a synth" when he first heard one in person. I know nothing can completely replace a real synth, but I think you give audiences too much credit.
 
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#20
Teryup said:
Where are you finding your casual listeners? I've played shows where I just used a bit of basic distortion to sound slightly more like a synth and no one was bothered. And on the other end of the spectrum my brother, who plays keyboards professionally, described the Source Audio C4 as sounding "exactly like a synth" when he first heard one in person. I know nothing can completely replace a real synth, but I think you give audiences too much credit.
Click to expand...
It should be noted that my audience consists of a pug, three cats, and sometimes my wife. :bassist:
 
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