recording blog #3: bass synth
Q: Ok. A synthesizer does what now?
Now that the beat is selected and edited, the song is ready for my favorite thing in the world: tacos. Wait…I meant to say “bass”, as in, bass synth. Of course, there is no such thing as a “bass synth” per se—although there are many variations in their appearance and characteristics, all synthesizers basically do the same thing: make electronic sounds. Some do so by using physical electrical components and wires (analog synth). Some use a computer chip that calculates the sound (digital / hybrids / virtual analog). Some are even inside your computer software itself (soft synth). Regardless, a synth is generally controlled by a key board (see pictured: the Pulse doesn’t have a keyboard built in), which sends the synth data, telling it which notes to play and/or how the sound should be affected.
All three of these sounds were made with my Waldorf Pulse, which is a modern German analog synthesizer with some digital components:
The verse sound is run through my memory man—an analog delay—which gives it a sort of “warm” video gaming vibe. Since the chorus will have lots of singing and guitar playing and such, the two sounds I used there are very basic and either swoop down on the low note or simply augment the drum hits with a sort of “thoooo” sound. The Pulse is a mono synth, so it can only receive one note at a time, making it ideal for use as a “bass synth”.
Whether a bass part plugs along the root note of a chord or plays a more elaborate melody, it is generally the “glue” of the song, pulling together the rhythmic feel and the primary chords and melodies of the song. I spend a few hours on each song’s bass part, trying different feels and sounds before settling on something I like.
For this recording I am also using two other synthesizers: my trusty Yamaha PSS-140 (remember the little tinkering bells on “Pleasure Theme Song”?) and Benjy’s sweeeeeet Moog Opus 3, which I am getting some beautiful “string” sounds and psychedelic textures from (I borrowed an ARP Solina String Ensemble for those types of sounds on “Booomboxxx”). More about synth, and the other gear I have borrowed later…
Next time: Turntable