Erica Synths Bassline DB-01 Review: Not What I Expected

[@stephenmarsh6746]

Love my Baseline. Richard DeHove does a great series of deep dives as well as tutorials to get the most out of it.

[@vertigev]

His videos on the Bassline are amazing!

[@peterziegler8267]

@@vertigev so good.

[@etbonz3499]

Dude yeah one of the best synth tutorials I've ever come across!

[@roks1357]

Product aside, this is one of the best KZbin reviews I’ve seen. I really liked how you used the concept of bias to segue to your discussion on the instruments sound design capabilities vs available presets. Thanks!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thank you so much for that! I truly appreciate the kind feedback❤️ have an awesome day🤟🏻

[@janpienkowski]

Love this fun review! I have had the DB-01 Bassline for a year now and I absolutely love it. It really sounds sooo phat - it was so surprising how much so when I first fired it up (as I was used to the Roland TB-03 sound - which I have and love in it's own way, but doesn't sound as massive). One thing that should be clarified though is the part where you say that "there are no presets". It is absolutely true that there are no presets for the knob/switch positions (just like the TB-03/303 doesn't save those either for example), but there are slots available (8 banks of 16 patterns each) to save the sequencer patterns and their settings. You can save per pattern: notes, scales, direction, length, accents, slides, VCF Modulation, pitch envelope per step, arpeggios... Per bank: LFO settings, Arpeggiator settings. Not take anything away from your video, I just thought I would add that info, as being able to save sequencer patterns and their settings does make a big difference :)

[@nubirthmedia]

Well said as had me potentially on a google rabbit hole on that bit!

[@charleszaman7666]

It’s an amazing synth, i make industrial style music and use mine with a. Distortion pedal, it sounds like three guitars screaming all together, can’t beat that

[@EverettVinzant]

Thanks!

[@milesjay2330]

Love your review style and honest reflections on this instrument! Much Appreciated !

[@johnstride3809]

Another want ! , so much gear coming out right now & in the near future , the dawless revolution continues 👍

[@RetroBassed]

I just got one of these and Oh Holy Hell it does its thing brilliantly! I unboxed and sat and played with it for a looong time! Like you said... all smiles & fun! I love finding out what it is capable of, just sit and turn knobs forever! Lol Thanks for another great video!

[@glennpaul351]

Just wanted to say thanks for the review. I ordered one of these bad boys literally minutes ago. I also have a Microcosm.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thanks so much for watching! Glad it was useful🙌🏻

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

indeed now I want one and the microcosm pedal too! add these and distortion pedal good for synth/darkwave@@MidlifeSynthesist

[@p3k1n0]

Bought it two years ago. Best synth purchase of my life. If you make electro, techno and acid is an asbolute must buy imho. This is way more acid, fun and powerful than the behringer "clone" of the 303, for example.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

yup and pair up with either LXR02 or Perkons and heaven. I love sound creation from scratch so this looks like massive fun times! I want this and the Acidlab bassline plus some new drums

[@p3k1n0]

@@GuitarsAndSynths oh yes, the lxr02 is the next one on my list, it sounds awesome. Perksons is a pricey wet dream for now :D

[@ghadturner5645]

This thing looks sick!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

It does!! And it sounds sick too! Thanks for watching my friend!

[@jayjones9125]

Just saw this. Fantastic review.

[@mitchminimal6942]

I appreciate your perspective. I'm still learning more about this synth.

[@jsieb]

Came for the 10 Secrets Masterclass, got an epic bass synth review instead... 10/10 would do again.

[@ashorii]

that was great. Thank you for an honest review. I'm in the market for a bass synth but the lack of a preset patch bay is a huge factor. I might still pick this up though to play with.

[@tomphillpotts]

Thanks, helped me choose the minitaur.

[@jello-tarzan]

Good job, as always. Thanks!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thank you very much my friend!

[@mikey303]

Bassline was one of my favorite eurorack modules so it was a no-brainer to get what is essentially an upgraded standalone version for me. I absolutely love it, so massive and juicy! I will say the weak point for me is the lackluster slide. It also doesn't help when midi controlling it the slide is not even triggerable via cc or legato.

[@purplesphere88]

Delicious review. Thanks!

[@ScottTewis]

I appreciate your video. Thank you!

[@alexanderlane]

Really nice sounding. I don't think it's something I need right now but maybe some day!

[@karhukainen2274]

Great video and thanks for sharing your thoughts 👍

[@adamoliver82]

You seemed to have captured the essence of this machine, it's to be played with. I've got one of the LXR-02's as well and they're great together, such small machines, such a lot of noise!

[@station2station544]

I recommend Erica's own demo. You'll get a feel for the sound better. And they add in their own Zen Delay.

[@jordanm2984]

Man, that first demo song is so freaking dope.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thanks so much fam❤️🤟🏻

[@cybergwen]

Between my NuBass and TD-3-MO, I think I'm fine in the performer's bass synth category. Otherwise this video would indeed trigger some serious GAS 😅 Great exploration of bias in there, and I'm glad you got to take that needed step back to bring us this video!

[@nikolishutinski2952]

Great honest review

[@candyflip6345]

I just ordered the module I cant wait to play this thing.

[@r3dsh1ft3d]

Love your videos bud!

[@acefstripe]

Nice expressive demo

[@gokhan9395]

thanks man cool video

[@r0bophonic]

Love the jam tracks! Thanks for the excellent review. Perfect Circuit: please send more gear to Midlife Synthesist for review!!

[@MrBadboomer73]

Great video!

[@slowfreq]

I'm just commenting because you asked nicely. I've got nothing to add.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

🫡❤️ I wholeheartedly appreciate it!

[@CoolJacketCoder]

Your videos are always good and honest. You don’t really need those “bla bla bla producers don’t want you to know” bait. Thanks man!

[@cthulholmhastur5317]

Good stuff Home Brew! ;)

[@michaelkonomos]

Great video! Just subscribed

[@station2station544]

Doesn't dispense bass like a bass mono synth. It seems to live in the Roland SH-101 midrange spectrum. At least in this video. And I listened through Adam A8x monitors. No heft. And it wasn't KZbin's fault because the tones were around C3 on a keyboard. (edit - I just went and listened to Erica's own demo. Ok, now I get it.)

[@nastied]

Hey love your reviews and channel! An upgrade would be to replace the stock backround music loop I hear from 10 other channels with one of your own loops :) have a great day !

[@itchyjazz]

“skin deep” menu diving 👌nice!

[@arnarariluviksson6407]

Love from north Iceland.

[@martingoldmannmusic]

That FM scratching sounds fun :)

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Lol, look at me, I’m a DJ now😅 thanks for watching my friend! Love your vids!!

[@martingoldmannmusic]

@@MidlifeSynthesist DJ Midlife - nice channel name :)

[@MrRexBaron]

lovely video

[@robertlee1176]

I need 10 music secrets that producers don’t want us to know

[@eyesintheskies]

They certainly look playable sounding awesome is just a benefit 😂

[@bravelux7609]

great-- and helpful video! I see that beautiful orange (same color as mine) Lyra-8 looming in the background. would love to hear your thoughts on using it in a video sometime. I love mine-- and its limited capabilities is a relief from thinking every piece of gear needs to solve every problem or become a new hub of a new crazy branch of new gear. it's the best vehicle for getting away from the every-day. (but is still useful for cinematic soundbeds and more) many thanks!

[@gregvittore5004]

Uh nice one🔥👌

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thank you my friend!!!🤩

[@gregvittore5004]

@@MidlifeSynthesist actually we should thank you for the great content sir😊🤘

[@nottieru]

Really, why can’t Dreadbox and Erica Synths collab and make a Dreadbox Typhon with a Bassline’s sequencer and front panel. Would be an ultimate desktop mono synth.

[@TDRKB]

You asked for comments. I have never heard a review of a "bass synth" that rattles my wall through my sub-woofer. So the definition of bass escapes me. I guess I need to hear a "Sub-bass". I'd love one of these because it looks cool, but only because of G.A.S! Honest video.

[@paulbrady5632]

Nice Video. This is an awesome machine. IMO it stands head and shoulders above any TB303 iteration or clone. It can be warm & lightning fat.

[@johnwalter6410]

If you want a synth that just plugs in and makes noise this ain’t the one. It’s hard to even gets sounds out of it at first. But once you spend 3 weeks learning how to use it it’s a good side piece to main units.

[@TimH123]

I like your content dude 👍

[@WillRoan]

Love your channel! I’ve been thinking about this product a bunch. I have a few Elektron Boxes and wondering if it would play well. And or if it beats the Analog 4 as far as bass supremacy. Best!

[@Tape_Echo_Player]

Good stuff

[@alexwestconsulting]

Thx for this. This has been on my top 5 buy list but I keep getting sidetracked with good deals used stuff. Might save for a Medusa else it will be this next.

[@willyum3108]

This is me as well.

[@TheBiggerNoise]

I feel like I need to design some sort of quantum dimension storage closet so I can have space to have all the cool toys you review. And I'll patent it and use the royalties to buy all the cool toys.

[@NIGH.NE.]

Agreed!

[@miksmax]

Besides getting honest down-to-earth reviews from you, you make me just want to grab a beer or two with you talk about a heartbrake or something I’d share with a friend. This immediacy and feeling of talking to a long time buddy is what you bring to your work and, personally, I find it captivating.

[@alexanderlane]

If you've got a few bucks to spare, join his patreon! the discord is really fun. And no, I'm not being paid to promote it haha

[@felixpeccatum1705]

I believe the touchscreen Roland TB-3 also has a random pattern generator. That one is mainly presets though, so this is definitely different ;) But feel that this screams for needing the lxr-02 as well…. Argh! GAS! Refocus!

[@davidpinto1195]

If it has no presets it's not the "ultimate live performance bass synth".. just saying, My opinion.. nice review though! I love the acid sounds that makes

[@SonicVibe]

If ya get this ya have to pair it with the lxr 02 drum synth machine version

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

I’ll try to get a hold of one for sure! Thanks for watching, see you soon!

[@adamoliver82]

I agree, lot's of fun.

[@lorenzovicari1724]

Where i can buy the link lamp???

[@davidalexander9245]

the arp only works with external keyboard right? you cant use it with programmed notes in the internal sequencer, correct?

[@drTinta]

Thanks for the review. I have a question though, does it have a memory at all, will it keep the pattern after reboot? Can you program multiple patterns to switch between?

[@lokologico]

I see a Lyra back there... Is this a teaser?😁

[@bronchitemorale]

Is there a way to connect an electric bass guitar to it? Maybe with a midi converter?

[@davidsanfeliumarco9664]

🖤

[@Thegingerwolff]

Is all the music playing while you're talking made on that synth? Thanks

[@baxarender5013]

I wanted one until I saw the lack of volume knob lol that’s nuts

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

😅 I spent more looking for it than I am proud to admit lol

[@localhost4460]

My issue is that you can get a DFAM for ~ the same price, and that just sounds "better". I like Erica Synths though, have a lot of their stuff.

[@thchris]

you mean that thing from moog without midi that is made for an entirely different purpose?

[@tommyg5095]

@@thchris I believe both have potential for aspects of making music,,,,, YMMV.

[@Tofupancho]

Try telling someone that grew up in a 2% family that skim milk is the best. If you grew up around X time, listening to X music, etc., you’ve been taught for years and years that a Moog is what a synth is supposed to sound like. However it makes a lot of sense that “a Roland” is the answer for lots of other folks. Hence there are probably as many SH-101 clones out there as there are ladder filter clones. If you’ve got an itch for one, the other’s not gonna scratch it. If you ever feel like the latter might be good for rounding out your expanding toolkit, this particular box is an exquisite take on that.

[@carstensorensen154]

Not a music course - just another excellent video ;-)

[@BrianOuellette19]

Where are my music making secrets!?!?

[@williamwallace6508]

Perfect timing! Q. I have a deluge but i cant map any cc values from the db01 over midi. other than 1 . Which cutoff on cc 1. The deluge has CV but never tried this yet , so wonder if thats a solution? Can you suggest whats the best way to control the db01 using the deluge? Particularly the lfo , filter cutoff, drive etc

[@adamoliver82]

You can't control them things using the deluge, cc1 is mod wheel which controls cutoff, you can plock that on the internal sequencer and that's how it does it. You could control filter cutoff through the cutoff cv in. There's prog change for patterns via midi cc and that's it, nothing else can be automated, you've just got your fingers on the pots.

[@williamwallace6508]

@@adamoliver82 pattern changes by midi? thats what i was looking for !

[@adamoliver82]

@@williamwallace6508 Just checked this so it definitely works. It works for program changes on any other bit of gear that accepts program changes too, it's very handy. It's normally patch changes but on the db-01 it's pattern, it was added as a recent firmware update, 1.07 I think so make sure you're up to date there first. Set up a midi clip on the deluge on the midi channel the db-01 is running on. Then whilst in the clip press the black select encoder it should come up with PGM on the deluge screen, press select on that and it will say none, turn it and numbers will start going up, that's how you choose your pattern number. Press back and you should be back at PGM, turn the select encoder 1 click clockwise and it should say bank on the screen, press select on this and again it will say none. Turn the select encoder to select bank number, then back, back until you're out of the menu. You can select one program per midi clip and can just use them for pattern changes if you want, don't need any note data. So if you wanted pattern 13 from bank 5 you'd select PGM 13 and bank 5. If you select the bank number on the deluge first so that it's the bank you're in on the db-01 and go into pattern selection on the db-01 then go to PGM on the deluge and start turning the encoder you'll see the light on the db-01 moving back and forth as you go through the numbers on the deluge, it's surprisingly satisfying. Hope that helps and if you haven't already and have other gear try it on that too.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

this and. the LXR02 drum synth are the best desktop pair

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

i tried one for a while, i prefer to use my TD3, as it doesn't get as crazy as Erica seems to go at easy.

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

td3 also has random mode, you have to hit it a hundred times to find something good, but i like it as a tool...

[@TheFlippertube]

It's not a 303. It's a beast. Playability on par with zen delay. Only gripe is the firmware upgrade process.

[@els1f]

Hmmm, melt faces you say? 🤔 I'll take 4 lol

[@kobi-kobsen]

Bo Beats has a new hair cut :)

[@lonelyfireband7758]

You could review Sonicware SmplTrek

[@mauriziomauricone]

9:04 It’s just a noodling device, just like many many other devices… but that’s just my opinion.

[@maarzt]

ezbot likes this one too. approaching critical mass...

[@antdog4117]

Anybody try using a bluetooth transmitter with their gear?

[@GeorgeLocke]

Can you tell us eleven music making cliches the experts all want you to forget?

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

🤣

[@Hal-hq8fx]

Just for algorithms.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

🙏🏼

[@bjornorrognvaldsson7528]

Cool, but needs presets

[@LSRay_Music]

Until Erica makes gear that can't save a patch i'm not buying. I hope they start implementing that because i like there gear.

[@esticaandres3169]

new haircut?

[@DNGMaestro]

Sounds kinda uninteresting to me.

[@nvrmor023]

Enough with the arcade noise already.

[@raveagainstracism]

A man discovers what is meant by the simple words Bass Synth. Utterly groundbreaking.