Author Topic: bass distortion  (Read 9707 times)

machinevos

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bass distortion
« on: December 06, 2016, 05:36:57 pm »
Hi i'm trying to recreate a sound from the nexus examples.

I really like the "drive/distortion" that has been put on the bass in this example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp0M8uEdJuE&feature=youtu.be

Now i've tried every eq, drive, gain distortion out there and it just wont sound the same

Can anyone tell me by ear what kind of effect is on the bass.

Cause it sounds like distortion/overdrive/gain, but whithout it becoming "muddy".

I already a lot with the eq, but it seems as though there is another effect.
I dying to find out what this effect is because it sounds really cool.

Marrow Machines

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Re: bass distortion
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2016, 06:37:55 pm »
Layers man.
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Tieme Typhonic

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Re: bass distortion
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2016, 10:02:25 pm »
Maybe you could try to layer a bass you like, with a square/saw like synth. Then only distort that second bass slightly, or maybe don't even distort it at all.

Marrow Machines

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Re: bass distortion
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2016, 04:32:51 am »
Maybe you could try to layer a bass you like, with a square/saw like synth. Then only distort that second bass slightly, or maybe don't even distort it at all.

the distortion adds audible content that would make it hard to hear on smaller speakers other wise.

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270

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Re: bass distortion
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2016, 06:06:01 pm »
This sounds like nothing more than a square-wave based synth patch. The reason you are hearing distortion is that a distorted signal is a regular signal with the peaks chopped off to resemble a square wave, but this sound is cleaner and less crunchy than an actual distorted signal. It sounds like there might be either some noise or a more heavily detuned layer underneath but if you want to create a very similar sound I would say a square wave is going to be your starting point and forget about distortion. Often times we over-complicate things because we think that something that sounds so good to us MUST have gone through a rigorous and meticulous process of creation when 90% of the time it's just something really simple.
« Last Edit: December 22, 2016, 06:19:11 pm by 270 »

Tieme Typhonic

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Re: bass distortion
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2016, 09:32:41 pm »
This sounds like nothing more than a square-wave based synth patch. The reason you are hearing distortion is that a distorted signal is a regular signal with the peaks chopped off to resemble a square wave, but this sound is cleaner and less crunchy than an actual distorted signal. It sounds like there might be either some noise or a more heavily detuned layer underneath but if you want to create a very similar sound I would say a square wave is going to be your starting point and forget about distortion. Often times we over-complicate things because we think that something that sounds so good to us MUST have gone through a rigorous and meticulous process of creation when 90% of the time it's just something really simple.

I 100% agree with you. Especially with bass you should follow the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid  ;)

I'm curious if you succeeded recreating the sound. Can you let us know?

Marrow Machines

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Re: bass distortion
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2016, 04:28:53 am »
the thing about distortion is that it's a wave shaper.

So there's some things you can only get if you do alter the wave itself.

The whole choosing the right wave as a starting block is good, but the problem with that is, you might not actually be near what it is you want with out some fundamental understanding of how the waves are altered to begin with.

it might sound like a square, but it could just be a particular distortion on a sine wave.

Not to mention that there's different processing parameters in the synth and distortion unit itself. You sort of have to be extremely familiar with those aspects to replicate and be satisfied.
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