Bass Sound Design: 808s, Plucks, Growls and Sub Bass

[@inthemix]

►Get My Serum Sound Bank: bit.ly/inthemixstore ▶TIME STAMPS 1) 808 Time - 1:30 Originally from the TR 808 drum machine, we will synthesise it from a basic Sine wave. This is a common bass used in many genres of music. Originally widespread in hip hop, it has now moved into pop music with full force and you'll likely hear this sort of bass in the charts and as the exclusive bass sound from any producer with the prefix "lil". 2) Pluck / House Bass Time - 6:40 Very common in dance and house music. This pluck bass provides a really solid foundation to the song and is easily heard on smaller monitor systems too! Use a simple Square, Sine or Saw wave and adjust the filter envelope to give a really solid pluck. Try using a lower octave than I used in the video (Headphones were tricking me with the bass!) 3) Growl Bass Time - 11:30 A fundamental of many genres including dance and dubstep. This bass is impossible to miss and thanks to its rich harmonic content, it will sound clear even on small phone speakers. Use a single Saw wave for the bass and a stereo spread of saw waves in a higher octave to make a really wide and professional sounding bass. Be careful with stereo widening effects and check-in mono to make sure the bass sounds as epic in the real world as it does in your studio! 4) Sub Time - 15:40 A classic. Use a sine wave and play low octaves. Try adding distortion (tube, tape, preamp) to make it cut through on smaller speakers. Sidechain to the kick and it'll be perfect. Get all my bass presets here for free, no signup, no purchase or anything like that! Enjoy :) bit.ly/basspresets

[@MELLOGANGGuys]

Bro I am also interested in the music like you so much so can you help me by giving me FL STUDIO please it's my humble request 🙏 🙏🙏 🙏❤️💓 💓💓

[@SKMPMusic]

Nice Tutorial!....Can You Make a Tutorial of Making a Good Bass with Massive?.. Thanks

[@OrigamiWithAmaan]

The suffix ‘lil’...

[@assumingtrash6853]

In The Mix what producer ends with lil. Lmao. It’s mostly rappers with the prefix lil like lil pump, lil baby, and lil wayne.

[@inthemix]

@@assumingtrash6853 it was meant to be prefix oops

[@PhaTs00p]

In case you're wondering why you should keep low frequencies in *MONO*, here's a little physics info. The wavelength of sound increases with decreasing frequency. At 330Hz the wavelength is around ~1m (speed of sound: 330 m/s). Everything below that, has even larger wavelength, up to 10m for sub bass frequencies. The way stereo enhancing generates the sensation of "width" is by separating the left and right audio channel and running them slightly out of phase. In nature our brain uses phase difference to locate the origin of a sound, since any noise coming from anywhere but straight in front or behind the head will travel slightly longer to the ear facing away. The brain corrects for these differences and derives spatial information from it. Reverb or echo is processed in a similar fashion and allows us to approximate the size of the room the sound's coming from. The problems with stereo widening effects occur when we try to simulate the distance of the two channels, close to the wavelength of the sound. A 100Hz signal has a wavelength of ~3m, if we apply a stereo effect to simulate a distance of 1.5m (pretty common monitor setup), the phase of one channel lags exactly half a wavelength behind the other, in case of a sine wave this results in total annihilation of both waves. Depending on your speaker setup and your position you'll experience total silence. A mono signal will not produce any annihilation as long as you're the same distance from left and right speaker away. Large venues and festivals combat this phenomenon by staggering the phase of the different sub woofers so that very little dead zones occur. The required measurements and calculations are performed well in advance of any event and depend on location and speaker setup. Now if you wanna play your absolute banger with maximum * W I D T H * on such a calibrated system you'll most likely fuck up everyone's day. The phases of your channels are added to the phase of the setup, rendering the calibration useless. Half the audience won't be able to hear any bass, the technicians will be running around looking for a bad cable or a fried amplifier and the mixer will be pacing all around the venue until he's able to calculate the exact amount of stereo width you used to fuck up your mix. Higher frequencies have much smaller wavelengths and are generally more chaotic reducing the size of potential dead spots and decreasing the overall likelihood of wave annihilation. Virtual Riot actually has a story from when he played a track live with a serum bassline and a width of non 0. He was not happy.

[@zxcjason3619]

The sheer length and effort put into this comment deserves more likes

[@danielcarlsen8975]

@@zxcjason3619 Ikr, feels like i've just read an essay on music theory

[@nicholasscott1206]

thank you

[@rscam0]

Thank you, really, but I have not been producing enough to know what tf this means 💀💀💀

[@tomerharari1063]

Can someone explain this in layman's terms ^^

[@christianjoaquin24]

This channel is a gem for aspiring producers. Thank you for this.

[@frolicclaws1899]

wacky de guzman Facts man

[@Fiddlesticks86]

True, I have learned so much since I started watching this channel!!

[@igo9481]

prol the best of its kind

[@briantyson7744]

No kidding. Of course producers are the problem.

[@spicerow]

@@Fiddlesticks86Are you a pro producer by now?

[@VirtualDova]

808 bass: "booooop" Pluck bass: "bonk" Growl bass: "vrrrm" Sub bass: BMMMMMMMM

[@exleydragon231]

hehe

[@samuel14674]

The most accurate comment

[@salixbaby]

that's it. no need to watch the video. pack it up, pals

[@scallopy7546]

why is this so accurate lmao

[@zuodu1]

Sub bass from my laptop speakers:

[@alexvanzyl_official]

After 2-4 months of searching, I have finally found a video where someone explains how to create THAT specific Deep House pluck. Thank you so much Michael :') thank you

[@inthemix]

The search is over! I find that you can get really creative with the wave shapes too, warping the square a bit etc can make it sound totally unique to you :)

[@alexvanzyl_official]

@@inthemix Yes!

[@hiranga]

same!!! 👌🏾

[@Raconteur_mark]

Hello Michael, I am one of your subscribers all the way from Nigeria. I only stumbled on your channel a few weeks ago and my production skills have literarily improved these past few weeks. Thank you for the lessons and for being a blessing to me.

[@oluwagbemigalukman3854]

I just stumbled on his channel and I feel like Sarz already

[@Raconteur_mark]

@@oluwagbemigalukman3854 You will find a lot to learn here.

[@imdebestmoderfokingsosigin7861]

Same

[@piccell244]

@@oluwagbemigalukman3854 same over here 🔥

[@insteadnotschoolthaninvain9957]

@@oluwagbemigalukman3854 you same as my name

[@NarcissistMargarine]

Can I just say how much I love that you timestamp your tutorials? Seriously, well done. Too many tuts have the voice too quiet, the audio too loud, low framerate, minutes of unimportant stuff or overly technical jargon to look impressive. You make great stuff, I'm glad I subbed.

[@realalphabet]

A legend says that michael can make music without hands.

[@TetFeMal]

I'm sure he can do it without ears

[@cowboyboots9]

Without arms

[@ewan_mclean]

Without Michael

[@CsO5O699]

without

[@rajkumarkushwaha6467]

without DAW

[@RussTafari]

I've been producing music for 22 years and I still am learning new techniques. Thank you for providing such a wealth of knowledge.

[@airbornesnow4541]

A message to In the mix: Just because a video doesn’t have a lot of views, doesn’t mean it’s not good enough!! This video is so very helpful to every one of us who want a good bass in our music Please, keep up the hard work and we all support you!!

[@drdebrillos8909]

Again, I thank you, you are an outstanding member of the human race, once again, you have helped me understand things more clearly and consequently enabled me to transition your exceptionally, and consistently valuable information into the Great work that is the absolute joy of creating music. You are the most helpful and informative source that I know of. May you go far brother. Kindest of Regards and Respect. Thank You

[@TASLightnindog]

This channel is absolutely essential for aspiring producers and sound designers. I really appreciate the depth of your explanation with each piece you change. Most tutorial videos don't explain WHAT the effects they add are doing and I love that you take the sound design approach because we have plenty of quality content on how to structure the sounds but not how to make them.

[@Nicklz5555]

man just got back into all this since messing around with my mates back nearly 15 years ago!! life got in the way lol .. Thank you massively for doing what you do bro your'e a genius and a great help. cheers.

[@kryt7955]

this is just the mere truth : In The Mix is the best music producing tutor.

[@andyt6824]

Thank you for being so thorough in all of your videos. You're a Godsend

[@emilecoetzee9911]

You probably hear this often but I just wanted to tell you you're terribly underrated and I really enjoy your content. It's informative, straight forward and high quality which isn't something you see often. Keep it up and may your career reach heights you could never imagine

[@adityanair7342]

Hey Michael! This comment is not adding anything to what's already being said. But look at just how many people are being helped by you. We love you for your dedication in these stuff. You are really the guiding angel for many beginners out here! I'm just here to appreciate your work and summing up all the comments down (or up) there. YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB!!

[@adityanair7342]

You noticed this comment! Thanks!

[@dylanlprice]

Me Wearing Earbuds: "This is pluck bass." *cool song* "This is sub bass." *silence*

[@arnelis513]

Dylan Leavitt Price Well, on Earpods i can hear sub really well. 😂🤘🏻

[@lean8078]

I laughed so hard at this 😂😂😂 but I know there's a sound.. it's just icouldnt hear it

[@cowboyboots9]

same

[@ahri3887]

This is why I began distorting my sub and ive never looked back

[@Darfail]

@@ahri3887 why? Does distorting the bass make it audible?

[@mariabr8954]

I was on KZbin last night; searching for any kind of tutorial on sound design. Today you upload this video, I feel so blessed haha. Honestly I've learnt every usable piece of information on production from your channel. Thank you for what you do!!

[@inthemix]

Thanks! I have a sound design series with 2 more videos in it, beginner and advanced. You can find it on the main page if you scroll down a bit. Thanks again :)

[@brianbergmusic5288]

Good tutorial. As a dormant EDM producer, I remember bass design being quite addictive due to how prominent it is in the mix (sort of like a metal head chugging away on rhythm guitar through a great amp). I remember rolling basslines being my favorite due to how difficult it is to nail a fat sound with 16th notes at 133+bpm tempos (hint: it requires strategic layering).

[@xavier2586]

I love when you say HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO THE CHANNEL...It's funny

[@InfiniteConstellations]

and wholesome

[@Noisey_fox]

I thought I was the only who laughed when says it.

[@sraey8133]

Damn serum is a beast!! I didn't knew serum is so much advanced and simple in order to explore knobs.

[@Dubbsteppa21]

best thing about serum is you can get it on splice and pay monthly so you dont have to spend alot in one go

[@adityanair7342]

Oh I go with Vital. It has 3 Oscillators (not a sub), 2 Filters, 6 Envelopes (yeah, the other 3 are hidden) and 8 LFOs! (yep, these too!), 4 Randomizers with controls (seem to be only 2, those too hidden, and unique to Vital as a wavetable synth) and 4 Macros! All those envelopes, LFOs, randomizers and macros can be hooked on to pretty much any modulat-able control! There's a randomizer for the randomizer (and other stuff). It just gives random values and doesn't have any controls that guide it how to 'create' the random values. All this and a pitch wheel, mod wheel, note tracking, velocity and so much to modulate things! And it's so so competitive to Serum, feel so grateful to Tytel. It can really create all those sounds we see being created on Serum out there. One drawback is there that currently only 8 effects are present. And I guess a few controls are either missing or different.

[@amusic9825]

There's vital.

[@djrandalldean]

wish i would have seen this before wasting so much time and money on plugins. This was basics, but to me it was game changing simplification to my workflow. Thank you!

[@schalkdb4533]

Hello and I am glad to be back to the channel

[@iannmassoud]

lol

[@charleebugg8377]

Thank you so, so very much for this video! It's just the right level of "explaining without over explaining", and I really appreciate that!

[@chasingdaydreams2788]

Please do more of these types of videos. This was awesome and so damn helpful. Thanks👍

[@raphomet_]

This video just changed my life on serum, 808s and synths! thank you very much!!

[@台湾省省长蔡英文]

very handsome, capable, responsible, careful, clear youtuber. KZbin needs more persons like you.

[@wojtekwasilewski4420]

Best and most professional FL studio youtube creator there is

[@andreigreger]

Hands down the best sound design tutorials I've come across this far. Thank you for this!

[@defusedninja4334]

I could never understand fl studio without you. thanks man

[@genretypebeats4612]

I learned so much from this. It's unbelievable that I have only ever relied on presets and samples

[@vincentpaula3184]

That 808 at 2:00 is 🙌🏽

[@melchiortod29]

In the mix is the channel i've probably learnt the most things off

[@jdg2198]

Clicked the bell a week ago, and this dropped right when i needed it. This man a legend

[@maonicolasastudillo688]

Today you uploaded this video I decided to watch all the three videos of sound design. And I just loved this world is crazy how we can manipulate sound. And thank you so much the way you teach is just perfect for me. So thanks for uploading this videos ❤️

[@hardyharhar61]

bless you man. you're my favorite outlet for information on producing on KZbin

[@65Drums]

You just blew my mind

[@k7247]

By far the best tutorial channel. Your lofi tutorial helped me finally get started. I had absolutely no music exp lol so intimated by FL studio but you explained it so well. Keep up the good work. Don’t change the way you make the videos. Very clear and easy to follow

[@TetFeMal]

I've been wanting to know how to design 808s for a long time! Saves me money from getting one of those gimmicky 808-Monster plug-ins!

[@melsmith9362]

Been watching all your work, you really are the man. Inspiring and explanatory in layman’s terms . I’m totally new to producing and you have helped me get the bug so much. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@Nuovee]

6:00 With serum, you can't use the glide notes in the piano rack, so don't forget to turn up a bit the porta knob in serum, check mono and legato, and stack the normal notes in the piano rack to do the pitch bending effect we can hear on the 1st 808 pattern

[@Kevlexicon]

pluck bass looks fun. love the breakdowns, things make sense and have a process/method

[@marcosduarte2239]

I celebrate your videos. I've been able to take so much from your videos that have helped me in my productions. thanks, keep it up.

[@scpk2246]

it's getting clearer as i started watching your first video up to this point - i'm near to your latest video -you make complicated things in FL Studio simple to understand.. thank you so much -number zero fan here... :D

[@AdilConstantineMusic]

This was very helpful! Very easy to follow, not only I know how to design my bass sound better but I also understand Serum better too. THANK YOU!

[@yashwith100]

Much love Michael, please make a comprehensive course or series about sound design from very basic to advanced level of achieving any sounds as desire, or any recommendations of related sources will be appreciated ☺️

[@avogadzo2106]

Watching the third video you did. Now I hit the like button even before the video start. You are doing just great. Thanks for that!

[@bassyjay6281]

Mike... YOU ARE CLASS MAN!!! bass music has been my preference since a child!! thanks man for the vid

[@tocadiscoz]

I was always wondering, how guys like Michael (that have such a big knowledge about electronic music) aren't famous artists Loved the video btw!

[@2bored4life]

Thanks for this, Im making a g funk bass and I want to add some growl and although the growl bass you have is more suited for EDM, it gave me a little idea of the process. Now the rest is in my hands.

[@joshualaferriere4530]

Thank you for adding time stamps. It's like a ToC for video :)

[@KaisaSalonpaa]

I'd love to see some kinda tutorial on how to add more percussive elements to a song. I've always loved the way you produce your music - those hi hats and all the other stuff. I can also hear all this crazy stuff everywhere but I struggle creating any of that on my own so my tracks just end up being boring.

[@TheRealJinking]

Micheal You too Genuine not keep that authenticity coming bro you the Goat at Producing Especially in FL Studio

[@benyaminabedini9478]

Man this change in your videos is great. Better than past... keep going

[@SibuGirl]

Your Sound Design & Every other video of yours is too much 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@FinalEntity-ofc]

That sidechain on the grown bass is awesome man I’m new to serum and learning it pretty fast but this has help a lot cheers man

[@BeachLookingGuy]

hey bro just tapping in for 2022 and studying very hard through your great videos.

[@lleevv1052]

Great video. You channel is definitely one of the best ones. I've learned a lot from you and I keep learning.

[@iDoAutographs]

literally have googled this exact question and you answered n the first 30 seconds

[@raddleriddle7752]

Really helpful and insightful tutorials. Appreciate that you are using Serum for lots of them which is obvs very relevant. Nice clear manner and well paced. Thank you so much for doing these!

[@Celastrous]

Amazing video as always. Loving this synth design series

[@DheerajBangari]

Hey i just want to tell that.. U r great👍👍👍

[@TheDude-vx6wn]

Awesomene video! Audio design is a topic we need much more coverage of on KZbin, it's too important of a topic.

[@Ssemaganda]

thank you so much. from theses videos i can now make any bass using my synth. quite a way to start. am an aspiring producer using cakewalk but whatever you say here adds up.

[@PncK64]

Such great videos, so easy to understand and actually teaches me how to create, not just copy paste.

[@misschiefbeats]

Absolutely love that pluck bass! Great video👍

[@karmeleonmusic5654]

Fantastic tut. I use Logic Pro so will attempt to translate this into that. But the basic principles are the same. Thanks!!

[@jtekholm]

Watching this in March 2022, and damn I'm learning a lot! Thank you so much!

[@sabienprissette2922]

I love your channel so much! Everything is taught so clearly with so much detail. Thank you!

[@zubb5120]

Thanks for all these tutorials dude. The quality of all your videos are incredibly high, definitely the best on youtube!

[@dylancampbell3531]

Your voice is very nice to listen to, great to watch to learn something before bed

[@unlucidbeats7243]

Man your content is always so clean, not only do you know a lot, you are also very good at explaining and teaching. Much love

[@walbermota7026]

Obrigado por repartir seus conhecimentos. Desejo a você muita Paz e muito sucesso !

[@syndice]

That master tune trick's awesome, def gotta use it

[@inthemix]

It changed everything when I figured that one out, instant punch!

[@davidpetersonharvey]

Great video! I've done the second sound on my Juno 60. Good idea in stereo with unison.

[@elijahworden219]

Yes yes yes yes Hella been struggling with bass for a very long time barely started to be okay at it

[@lourouzzedo]

thank you my favorite teacher I ve learned so much with you... !!!!

[@jxun4l3ht10]

Me hearing that pluck bass: "Instant banger"

[@TheNatester222]

You are a GOD send for this entire series my guy,

[@arawncronnis3112]

Man this one of the best topic to cover.... Really man its awesome..... I really am thankful for this video...

[@Avernalism]

These sound design videos are fantastic. God bless you for the hard work.

[@amithsameera9069]

nice explanation bro you are good gentlemen.

[@briantyson7744]

Nice comment. It is good to hear people one doesn't know be positive.

[@ailikschip]

For everyone who wants a similar synth to serum. On November 24 the synth "Vital" by Matt Tytel comes out that is free and very similar to serum.

[@arasaltan]

You are such a great teacher with a good heart! Thank you.

[@cyberrang]

First of all, thanks to all you do for the community. I really couldn't find the answer to this question on any of your or anyone's video or article online: Let's say you record 30 seconds in the Edison and you want to record over it with keeping the same data and adding extra notes or whatever to the current data in Edison. It's like recording over on what you just recorded. Am I missing it because I am over looking it or something? It's like you are looking for something for hours and then you realize it was right in front of you the whole damn time lol

[@doriandao]

thank you so much for all the detailed and actionable idea and tutorial you made. Hope to see more in the future

[@danefoster8074]

I recommend these tutorials this guy knows his stuff :)

[@razyliah6364]

severely underrated channel

[@pltxpltx7996]

I really like your videos, they're complete and goes straight to the point.

[@MaikuTachibana]

Loving this series so far, I've been binging all your other vids, thank you so much for all your hard work!

[@profdrsir]

It even helps if you explain something I already now, because i remember it better then. Thank you so much. Every single video ist helpful.

[@OlbaidMusic]

Me: *creates full sound design course Michael: Hold my beer... Good job man! Keep them coming, sound design is a whole universe. Consider a video about foley, that's really fun to do.

[@inthemix]

I will never come close to your skill mate! But I hope I do the topic justice! (Anyone who doesn't know who Olbaid is, he is responsible for most of the best FL Studio presets available in the stock synths, so definitely check out his channel)

[@OlbaidMusic]

@@inthemix Thanks man, you are so kind! I would like to make more videos about this topic in english but Im not as fluent speaking it hahaha. Anyway I think you are doing an excelent work here, keep it up! Cheers

[@TheTamandtone]

@@@OlbaidMusic I own FL and I see all your presets for Sytrus and Flex and I love them, would you be able to make some presets for use in old skool hardcore (91-94) and Jungle/DnB (94-98) please. I'm an old skool raver from UK and would love to make a banger that would fit into a set from back in the day.

[@Y0nex]

@@OlbaidMusic well done man!!

[@OlbaidMusic]

@@Y0nex Thanks mate!

[@hsnozgr]

Great example have a video can be very useful and peaceful at the same time!! Thanks a lot man!! Liked and subscribed!!

[@iwillieyou]

Damn how do you always get straight to the point, yet deliver so much info that you can still go along. This was my favourite video or yours

[@KunalKumar-jt1xl]

Thank you for this lesson and all the lessons you are my favourite now. Thank you very much

[@valentin_boes]

And the last step: watch a Virtual Riot tutorial ^^ Amazing video, really helpful for beginners!

[@a-trox7848]

Amazing video, like always... the best of the best , thank you so much for the great job you've done here. Keep going on ...

[@I21476]

Just amazing. I am learning so much from your videos, you are so inspiring!

[@RafaelNelvam]

instant like and subscribe after the time stamps! thanks for the "no bullshit" approach!

[@inthemix]

Appreciate it! I don't have time to waste people's time :)