Reason and DnB bass

[IndustrialMusic]

just curious if anyone has any suggestions on which "rack" to use for some sweet Drum N Bass bass sounds.

thanx

-Sin

[nibbzious]

hmm... I haven't used Reason in a long time but I've found it to be limiting when it comes to sickly DnB sounds. I'm not sure what kind of DnB bass you're into because theres so much you can do but I like the dark reece stuff.

Subtractor is only two osc which is a problem. hmm..

load up a subtractor and detune 1 to -50 or 50 cents and lead the filters off so 100% raw noise. throw distortion on there, any to your taste. now load up an low pass filter and route the distortion into it.
load up a matrix send the matrix into the LP cutoff and get some wild modulation there. also mess with the envelope follower. lots of attack+modulation = key to DnB bass

you can also make two subtractors and detune the oscillators, put them into a spider, route that spider into the distortion. blah blah

Subtractor + Subtractor -> Spider -> Distortion -> Filter

mess with different filter settings on each. Have a Bandpass on one and tweak it while the other is open. you're bound to have a tweaking good time!

I might be wrong on some things, I use Live 4 with z3ta, Absynth, and impOSCar now. good luck!

[nibbzious]

oh and make sure to use LIBERAL USE OF EFFECTS!!

phasers, reverb, chorus, delay, eq.

cut everything below 100 on the bass, leave your kick drum at 80-100, add a sub in for 30-70. can be square/saw/PWM subs just lowpass it so it doesnt have anything about 80. or just use a sine

[IndustrialMusic]

thanx...ill try it out

what else would you suggest for using for DnB bass lines? (vsti's included)

-Sin

[azreel]

you could try with hydra or junglist, very easy to programm, or absynth (wich isn't easy to programm at all)

[johnnytluxury]

I ran into this type prob few years back, when i was heavliy into Nuskool breakbeat, which had similar tastes in basslines. I kept asking ppl how do i get those warping twisty mid to subbass that was making me quiver with excitement. Hopefully youre referring to those kinna basses, as the simple subbasses (a la LTJ, BigBud, et c.) seem a bit simple. Anyways I've found that simply layering a (any)waveform on top of another waveform (pref. a sine, for the deep resounding subs) in Subtractor (there are 2 oscs, remember). The detuning part is to taste, but you have to focus on the sound being "musical", also be careful of the phase orientation (o, -, x). Leave filter one open but set it at low pass 24db, raising the resonance up a tiny bit to get the upper bass frequencies to scream. Using LFO 2 to modulate slightly filter 2 (low or band pass)slowly to get a "random" midbass sweep, creating a bit of flavour. As mentioned before, you can add the effects you want, but I found that too much distortion adds bit much chaoticness, but then that may be your style. Now the final part is adding the last filter in the chain, and you want this to be modulated, musicially, mind you, by an lfo thats synced (pick your own time, 1/4, 1/2, whatever) so you can connect a cv cable in the back to the bass subtractors lfo, Im not much of a fan of it because your waveforms are limited. I personally like a sine wave lfo, and thats not avail in subtractor. the other waveforms produce a more "stepped' effect making the bass seem more mechnical, IMHO. But whatever sounds good to you. if you want to get a little deeper, you can attach the cv cable of the last filter to a Matrix, and then draw your own waveform, creating a very close approx to a sine, or a unique waveform only you know the secret to. Its a bit more process. Ive found Reasons filters to be a bit light on frequency reduction, evidenced by making the added-on filter a lowpass, then turning the freq down all the way. A good filter shouldnt let anything, well anything audible through, Reasons still allow a great part of freqs through. Now, the next key is to EQ, so you can get your upper bass to hum, while the lows stay low. If any clipping occours, throw a compressor into the chain, taming them clips. Hopefully youre referring to these types of basses, if not, disregard what Ive wrote, Im an idiot anyways..lol

P.S. Dont be scared of portamento, makes for a unique sliding bass sound from one note to another.