TAL BassLine-101

[Ingonator]

deleted

[Kriminal]

True.. a preset generator for a synth with a simple architecture like this? Really?

"Simple" is easy to say but BassLine-101 could do more than Bass sounds...
4 mixable sound sources with PW/PWM and adjustable Sub-Osc is also not what i call a "typical" 1 VCO synth.

This is exactly what i explore currently and work on an free add-on for the patches i already published.

Not saying that it the pinnacle of analog synths but you could do some nice sounds with it.


Ingo

Of course it can do more than bass sounds, but its still a very simple synth

Anyone who cannot be arsed to make their own sounds on it should be shot

[Ingonator]

deleted

[Decagon]

I agree. It's an really easy synth to program, and very versatile too.
So many people always complain about a synth not having enough presets. Why not just learn what each part of a synth does, and make your own sounds?
People are so damn lazy and just want to sound like everyone else.



I saw that TAL is planning a preset randomizer. I really don't see the point of that on this synth. It makes more sense on a synth with more oscillators, lfo's, and modulation possibilities.
The step sequencer needs randomizing features to inspire more.

[Echoes in the Attic]

I agree. It's an really easy synth to program, and very versatile too.
So many people always complain about a synth not having enough presets. Why not just learn what each part of a synth does, and make your own sounds?
People are so damn lazy and just want to sound like everyone else.



I saw that TAL is planning a preset randomizer. I really don't see the point of that on this synth. It makes more sense on a synth with more oscillators, lfo's, and modulation possibilities.
The step sequencer needs randomizing features to inspire more.

Yeah a step sequence randomizer can be very cool for coming up with unexpected stuff. I don't see much point in randomizing so few parameters though.

As much as I love the simplicity of this synth, I'd love to see one aux envelope to modulate any parameter. But at least I can that with Max for Live envelopes in Live.

[Decagon]

Yeah. I know what you mean. I use Live 9 myself. I sometimes need that element of surprise when I make music to not get locked in doing the same thing over and over. There has to be more options for inspiration.
Playing with different time signatures, invert sequences, randomise notes, etc. I like to build polyrhythmic riffs and sequences. This is important to me anyway.

[Andywanders]

Gotta say I'm enjoying this little beast. Think I'll probably buy it.

I had a 101 way back when they first came out - mod grip too (I was a poser then). Used to use it for bass and leads on 4-track demos, and playing live - leads and SFX stuff mostly.

The 101 never sounded as 'beefy' as my Pro 1, but it had a character all of its own, and I reckon TAL has really nailed it here. I just love the sequencer.



As for presets: I prefer to roll my own, and I agree with some comments here that this synth doesn't need them, though I can appreciate why some people do need them.

I think many younger keyboard players have grown-up in an age where hundreds of presets are the norm. That's fine of course, but I was weaned on hardware synths with no memory. There were times when I would take a photograph of the synth if I came up with a killer sound, just-in-case I forgot it the next day.

For the sequencer though, presets are a real bonus. The original 101 could only store one sequence at a time - a real pain for live work - but TAL has given us a way to store sequences. That's what I would use presets for on this synth.

My only gripe so far is that I find it consumes too much CPU, especially when in poly mode. I haven't tried it in a heavy project yet, but this does concern me a little and could be a deciding factor. Is there any chance CPU use might be optimised in a future update? Or is this it?

Either way... bloody nice synth.

[Crackbaby]

Unless you set the rules for the randomization yourself, isn't randomizing a step sequencer sort of ... "cheating"

Regarding randomizing synth sounds.. The more complex the synth is, chances are that it will just cause a mess (unless you set the rules but that would remove a lot of the synth's complex features). I fear that with a randomizer on this synth, the incitement to create your own sounds goes out the window
Our brains are all wired differently though. I know Theo likes to use presets but i wouldn't say he's lazy by any means. Just check his posts or that Ableton PDC video .. no way he's a lazy man
So this thing about incitement is mainly aimed at me. On a rainy day i wouldn't mind hitting that button a few times, but when the sun is shining, what if i still use it?
Those new to synths can learn a lot from it. Once they figured the synth out they can hit randomize and then try to tell why it sounds the way it does.

[BDeep]

There were times when I would take a photograph of the synth if I came up with a killer sound, just-in-case I forgot it the next day.

No, no, no, young man. It would be useless the next day. You would maybe have your film developed the next day -IF you used up all pictures on the film roll-, and pick the photos up the day after at earliest

[Andywanders]

There were times when I would take a photograph of the synth if I came up with a killer sound, just-in-case I forgot it the next day.

No, no, no, young man. It would be useless the next day. You would maybe have your film developed the next day -IF you used up all pictures on the film roll-, and pick the photos up the day after at earliest

hahahaa

Not if you had one of these...

[vurt]

or a polaroid.

[Gucky]

TAL Bassline-101 is now my favorite synth for bass sounds.
Here is my first song "Yellow Magic Train" where I use it for the bass.
The "whitenoise train groove" at 3.10 is also bassline 101.

Here it is:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 57#5418857

[spirit]

There were times when I would take a photograph of the synth if I came up with a killer sound, just-in-case I forgot it the next day.

No, no, no, young man. It would be useless the next day. You would maybe have your film developed the next day -IF you used up all pictures on the film roll-, and pick the photos up the day after at earliest

A polaroid might work but the resolution was so poor. Maybe the first Kodak digital camera? But the resolution on those was even worse: 100px x 100px

[Decagon]

[quote="Crackbaby"]Unless you set the rules for the randomization yourself, isn't randomizing a step sequencer sort of ... "cheating"


No it isn't. Then you could say that using an arpeggiator is cheating to, which it isn't. There are also complex melodies and riffs that you could never have thought of or come up with without the experimentation with arpeggiators or step sequencers.
When you play a piano, or a keyboard, or a midi controller, that also supports velocity and aftertouch, that is also a sort of randomisation actually. Same if you add midi cc values to control the filter or whatever it is on the sound you play.
Yes, there needs to be control over which parameters you wish to set to randomise, and how much of those to randomise.
You need to find more ways to add that element of surprise to get new ideas or trigger your creativity.

[Andywanders]

A polaroid might work but the resolution was so poor. Maybe the first Kodak digital camera? But the resolution on those was even worse: 100px x 100px

This was my weapon of choice back then...



An OM2

I had the whole darkroom thing going as well. Those were the days



Anyway... Lets stay on topic.



Nice synth this...

So how do you guys rate the CPU hit then..?