Suitable oscillator choices for bass sounds?

kraku · Joined: Apr 24, 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Prague

Hi! First post on these forums.

I was very recently bitten by the modular bug and there seems to be no cure for me. I've been thinking of building a Eurorack system which' only purpose is to create bass sounds for my tracks.

I'm looking for building a bass monster which can create really powerful/tight/ripping bass heavy sounds. Since the oscillators need to be really powerful sounding to make all this happen, I'm a bit lost here which oscillators might suit my needs.

If anyone could give me some pointers, I would greatly appreciate it. Better yet, if you could post some examples of raw oscillator sounds from the modules you're suggesting. Low note saw and/or pulse (about 40/60 pw so the sound isn't so hollow) would be ideal.

What about subharmonic generators? How usable sounds do they create?

Thanks! Smile

EdisonRex · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:34 am Post subject:

Hi and

I would respectfully counter that good bass isn't so much the oscillator as the filter, in my experience. Most VCOs are perfectly capable of putting out the basic few waveforms you need for raw material for a fat bass. In fact, the more waveforms you get, the fatter the raw material is.

But the filter is what makes the bass, to me. There are a lot of opinions on which filter is the best, but my favourites are Moog style 24db /oct lowpass filters with some good resonance. That's just my opinion though, I'm sure others will chime in. Wink

kraku · Joined: Apr 24, 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Prague

For filter's I've already chosen to buy MS20 and Wasp/Oscar filter clones. I'm somewhat familiar with those and I like their sound Smile

EdisonRex · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:34 pm Post subject:

Then just make sure you have a good selection of PWM, multiple octaves, and more than one VCO and you'll be fine. You have an LFO to modulate the pulse widths, I expect.