KVR Audio

lasse1 · Post by **lasse1** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:56 am

It's still a mystery for me how they program those perfect rolling EBM basslines.

For example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0hOvlJsCYw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMoNl310Guc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9D1MjDAM9s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtEoR5quQp8
(starts at 0:16)

I'm really struggling to make anything similar.

Any tips?

Thanks,
Lasse

sonicvision · Post by **sonicvision** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 5:01 pm

Did you ever figure it out? I'm struggling too. Great examples.

mjolnir · Post by **mjolnir** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 5:16 pm

Sometimes I feel like it's just the attitude and the wanting of the basslines that makes them come alive. LOL
I've been hooked ever since I heard "Join In the Chant" by Nitzer Ebb (although "Let Beauty Loose" is a better tune, imho)

ere2learn · Post by **ere2learn** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 6:30 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK23yz6x0xA

mjolnir · Post by **mjolnir** » Sun Nov 03, 2024 6:02 pm

nice to see parallel octaves in that tutorial.

Synthman2000 · Post by **Synthman2000** » Mon Nov 04, 2024 3:48 am

Very simple. 16th notes between the kicks really, any synth sound that has some bass in it pretty much. Making it interesting is the challenge.

Could be bass layer and then saw wave like sound doubling layer from another synth doing the mids portion of the sound/s.

Experiment with amp envelopes/note length to get the right groove going.

And well I never, some stereo bass it seems, the cardinal sin of modern music production ?

Sounds like some of them are multi oscillator (spread) / or maybe chorused.

Difficult to imagine anything more easy than that bass.

Effectsworks · Post by **Effectsworks** » Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:04 am

I find that stuff hard to write as well for some reason despite it's simplicity. It never seems to have the right vibe.

andymcbain · Post by **andymcbain** » Mon Nov 04, 2024 5:13 am

Synthman nailed it. I'll just add that you might want to keep the kick drum short and snappy to get it working well with the 16th note bass.

Synthman2000 · Post by **Synthman2000** » Mon Nov 04, 2024 8:15 am

Also ensure bass is velocity sensitive and play a bar or 4 on loop adjusting the velocities for the feel/groove/timing. That could be a key point.

mjolnir · Post by **mjolnir** » Mon Nov 04, 2024 6:54 pm

Effectsworks wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:04 am I find that stuff hard to write as well for some reason despite it's simplicity. It never seems to have the right vibe.

don't feel bad, me too.

also, i think some of those synths are supersaw synths with filter envelopes possibly mixed with some common stuff like "Lately Bass" / "Solid Bass"

I used to want to be the next Nitzer Ebb but it ain't happenin' LOL

How to program EBM basslines?