How can I achieve that Reggae / Dub Bass tone ? Any idea ?

[eldongeoffrey]

I use VST Basses, I tried every amp, plugin, everything, I am never close to this kind of massive and consistent bass. Any tip please ??
Thanks !!

[eldongeoffrey]

Here is the Bass DI I start from


Any idea on how I could make it sound like that thick dub bass ?

[thecontrolcentre]

You could give DEEPER by Gooey a shot ...
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/deeper-by-gooey



... or get a bass guitar

[Benedict]

I would assume the P Bass was more common than a hollow body. BUT never let gear get in de way of da riddim mon.

So keep yer Hollow and perhaps double with a bit of Sine (or maybe Triangle) wave from a synth. Be sure to process in a Bus so they become 'one'. The aim being to make a more solid tone overall seeing the hollow is not very even.

I am unsure if combos were used or DI to the desk which many bassists do for recording. I tend to like the right kind of Phaser, one that lets you turn Mod right off or even off. Many phasers are too mild for this. I like Sweeper in Reason for this trik trik trikky trick. Just take care or you build really bad lumps - standing waves.

The thing that I bet no one would have noted, let alone suggested, is that the Drums (or Kik at least) is Bussed with the Bass. That will then be Compressed together fairly firmly for Groove. Generally a slower Attack and then Release to find that "dig a hole" groove. I show this in this vid:


Understand too that most of this style uses a really deep groove (or Swing) in the playing. If you miss that and play or program too tight, it will feel flat.


Note no silly subz or anything, that will be more likely to undo you.

[eldongeoffrey]

Thanks man ! I tried the P-Bass, too much mids, I chose the Hollow as I saw old school bass players using Hofners, it already has a lot of lowend by itself. But you are right, I guess it is not a natural tone, it must be layered, I will try your sine technique, if I use it smoothly it might remain natural.

Your ADHD seems awesome by the way !!! I never thought I would say that to someone !

Many thanks

[eldongeoffrey]

I think I came clother to that sound with your help, not exactly but it will do the trick I hope


DI, no amp, Eq, filtering, limiting, tape and Fairchild comp

Thank you !

[beingmf]

I use VST Basses, I tried every amp, plugin, everything, I am never close to this kind of massive and consistent bass. Any tip please ??
Thanks !!

I only listen on an iMac, but sound and playing does sound like a synth to me. The higher notes sound pretty close to an electric bass, but especially the deeper ones, extremely compressed (while played softly and steadily) could as well be a synth.

[sqigls]

it's a lot about saturation and filtering.
Depending on the track, and the tools you have at your disposal, there's a couple of things you can do.
I'd recommend start with some resonant Low Pass filtering with your filter cutoff anywhere from 100 Hz or an octave above or below. Also generally a shit ton of rich saturation.
In reality, if you have great saturation and good filters, it doesn't matter so much the source you use as the bass.

but as Benedict alluded to - it also comes down to some simple good groove. Maybe some slight 'humanising' with your programming also..?

[jamcat]

... or get a bass guitar

This. Also, you will need to go on a spiritual quest for no less than 10 days, deep in the mountains, subsisting only on ganja. And you'll need a Roland Space Echo.

Also, this video might help:

[Uncle Bastard]

Never change your strings.

[Satasha]

The Arturia Analog lab V: Sinewave combo organ preset by Theo Niessink gets you in the ballpark. I put it through the Ampeg SVX 2 or SVT and also sometimes mess with the attack. You could combine it with a complimentary bass sim such as the Modo bass Hofner.

Trilian has an older Trinity dub bass preset that was a pretty good start.

Good luck!

[KickAndFlow]

... or get a bass guitar

This. Also, you will need to go on a spiritual quest for no less than 10 days, deep in the mountains, subsisting only on ganja. And you'll need a Roland Space Echo.

Also, this video might help:

The spiritual quest part is non-negotiable, clearly. Though I'd argue the Space Echo is more essential than the bass guitar at this point.

[DMG68]

I primarily make reggae and TAL Bassline 101 is the best VST I’ve tried, however, I use my Novation Bass Station ii for that type of synth sound. I find many vst synths don’t have a heavy enough bottom end somehow, but the TAL does. Try a single square wav and adjust the filter to get the sound you want, there’s a range that works, then saturation depending on the sound you want. Check this if you’re interested to hear a sample:

[eLawnMust]

Boy, I got alotta older stuff that sounds like that... Trilogy, ManyBass, Broomstick Bass, Sonivox, etc... Just a decent EQ to bring wished range in proper focus...ZAP!

[DMG68]

Boy, I got alotta older stuff that sounds like that... Trilogy, ManyBass, Broomstick Bass, Sonivox, etc... Just a decent EQ to bring wished range in proper focus...ZAP!

Of course, it’s a filtered square wav in the end, I didn’t say that nothing else would work.