KVR Audio

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:34 pm

I realize that there are other variables besides effects in Zimmer achieving his apocalyptic low end, but I'm wondering if he's mentioned specific effects. When I'm talking about his low end sound, I'm referring specifically to his superhero stuff (and to a lesser degree soundtracks like "Inception").

I have Renaissance Bass (a great tool in general) but I'm wondering if things like Loair might be a bit more useful.

I'm really grateful in advance for any help and advice!

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:42 pm

It's Cubase and its fantastic low end.

Hans Zimmer wrote:Another thing is that Cubase sounds really good. And what I mean by that is that what you put into Cubase is what you get out. It’s not colored like other systems. I can tell straight away when somebody brings in a Logic track — I know exactly what it was recorded on. Part of why I like Cubase is that I don’t sound like everybody else. I mean we never use library sounds. You don’t really want to hear a sound you have in your 160-million-dollar movie in somebody else’s movie in the theater next door so everything we use is made from scratch. And so it’s very important to me that the quality of the software ensures that what ever work I put into it, it isn’t going to get colored. We already had this with the early digital recording where you can listen to a recording and you literally can put a time stamp onto it. And I think this will also happen with other DAWs. So you don’t really want to be able to identify the sound and that’s why the DAW has to be as transparent as possible so that it becomes timeless.

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:48 pm

I suspect it's not just a case of whacking on a bass extension plugin

It's a sequence of processes starting with 20-30+ years experience, best of the best audio sources (he built his own sampler because he said it sounded better), real orchestral recordings mixed with in depth synthesis knowledge and layering.

And most likely a fat budget to have things mixed in a kick ass studio by a kick ass mix engineer.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:55 pm

Niiiice! Well, I did mention the likelihood of other variables. I'm pretty sure that Zimmer himself had a large hand in the actual engineering, which makes my esteem for him even higher.

Bucks can make or break a low end, I get it

Eleventh · Post by **Eleventh** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:57 pm

probably LoAir though.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 2:07 pm

Eleventh wrote:probably LoAir though.

I keep thinking that I read something about that...it would fit though, huh.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 2:08 pm

I also seem to recall that Zimmer was told the Dark Knight soundtrack was extremely hard to put on vinyl because of that sub bass prevalence.

Jax Pok · Post by **Jax Pok** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 3:40 pm

He used u-he Zebra a lot for Inception and Batman Begins. U-he made him a custom Zebra synth with Diva filters and a few other extra effects for The Dark Knight Rises. Presets for Zimmer were made by Howard Scarr who makes the presets for u-he synths.
You can buy the Dark Zebra from u-he and it comes with all the presets used in the Dark Knight Rises.

To get the bass more I usually add on Soundtoys Filterfreak with one of the bass presets and tweak those. Decapitator focused on a narrow frequency helps too.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 3:54 pm

Apostate wrote:Hans Zimmer's Incredible Low End ...I'm talking about his low end ...

sprnva · Post by **sprnva** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 3:58 pm

My money is on OneKnob Pumper.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 4:02 pm

Aloysius wrote:
Apostate wrote:Hans Zimmer's Incredible Low End ...I'm talking about his low end ...

Dr. Evil rules!

sprnva wrote:My money is on OneKnob Pumper.

That is a tool that's more useful than many people say.

I have Zebra HZ+Zebra 2 and those two (along with PPG 3, Nave, and Earth DNA) are the only synths I really use now. I get so much from the Zebra that I usually have to remind myself to use anything else. I don't think there are any better than those first two (and yeah, I've owned and sold the 2015 top five CM synths already).

Jax Pok · Post by **Jax Pok** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 4:09 pm

Aloysius wrote:
Apostate wrote:Hans Zimmer's Incredible Low End ...I'm talking about his low end ...

Oh he doesn't use synths for bass then? Bass starts with the instrument.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 4:13 pm

Jax Pok wrote:
Aloysius wrote:
Apostate wrote:Hans Zimmer's Incredible Low End ...I'm talking about his low end ...

Oh he doesn't use synths for bass then? Bass starts with the instrument.

He got some amazing Zebra bass sounds for Dark Knight. At least imo. I was more interesting in the effects, perhaps some engineering tips, etc.

Jax Pok · Post by **Jax Pok** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 4:15 pm

I've updated my post on what I typically do to add more bass.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 4:17 pm

Jax Pok wrote:I've updated my post on what I typically do to add more bass.

You've got me super interested in Filterfreak!