We Need To Talk About Basslines (talking head video)

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This is a big one. I wanted to share some crucial insight I’ve learned about how to make your basses, whether sub or mid, whatever, work in your track. You have to change the way you attack the problem and think more about what the master of the beat is…. The groove, baby
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[@Alckemy]

Something I glossed over but did not specify in the video was that making your main basses and drop sounds relatively the same volume (I.e all Neuro basses are -2) is super helpful! Little accents can be quiet and there are always exceptions. If you’re pulling up presets and writing with those this tip could be the reason why your track doesn’t have cohesion^^

[@onsite2406]

Feeling attacked in first five min. Thanks for this one, great video.

[@chriswftdj]

Would love to see you do a clip2zero type video. Would ve interesteing to hear your take on it.

[@Alckemy]

To be honest I don’t really contribute anything new to it. Clip everything, clip in stages haha

[@KillaKoi.]

hey, so I found your channel a few weeks ago and I got to say this is the best instruction I have received in the 18 months I've been "producing". Thanks :)

[@Alckemy]

Thanks for watching! KZbin can be a really good resource for learning if you find the right topic and people.

[@Lucrecious]

omg i felt so called out when you showed how starting with the kick and snare is uninspiring. that's what i've been doing 💀 i was wondering why i was finding it so difficult to write something interesting. thanks for the video :)

[@Numocron]

Wow Alckemy this is such an awesome breakdown & video I love it. Big up dude.👊

[@PERKYDnB]

really inspirational video, defo need to change my approach to the FAAFO style and start to enjoy the music making process again :D nice work bro x

[@Stereotype3]

Loved this video. The call and response section was my favorite bit, it's one of those things that I know about, but I don't do it enough in practice. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[@anyme3046]

Been waiting for this vid for so long I can remember you talking about the concept of using 808s on stream ages ago this did not disappoint thanks this is gold. ❤

[@Alckemy]

Thanks for watching it! Hope it all made sense

[@Chaotrick]

Nice video, call and response is one of the most fundamental skills to develop as a musician. Not only it's an effective concept for basslines, but for writing cohesive tracks in general. It forces you to simplify and find things that work, rather than writing 16 bar directionless melodies for the sake of "complexity". Ask me how I know.😅 8:27 - small nitpick. 7 semitones up is a 5th, correct, but 7 semitones down is a 4th. The way I think about the intervals, is that it all needs to add up to 12. So if I go 4 semitones up, then the same interval can be found 8 semitones down. You're probably aware and just rushed over it, but for those who may find it useful, there it is.

[@Alckemy]

Thanks for clearing that up. I’m not a theory expert. This is purely from approach and experience over academic education ^

[@Chaotrick]

@@Alckemy I'm self taught as well. Keep up the good work, you give solid advice.

[@Alckemy]

It means we all have stuff to learn from each other^ thank you!

[@LumenateBinauralBeats]

I tend to boost harmonics rather than cut them. I would boost the root frequency and then pick a couple of harmonics and boost them. Then I low pass distort filter then resample. I find it a really nice way off getting nice low mid tones with a nice crispy but not overpowering high end.

[@Alckemy]

Harmonic series is absolutely cracked when you understand them for sure^^

[@philippebackprotips]

Will put this to the test in the MPC, now that I have better control of OPx4 for making the bass.

[@Alckemy]

Let me know how it goes! It’s definitely a skill acquired over time. Approach it with patience

[@anyonsounds]

Hey Alckemy! I'm sure you have seen it already be sure to check the two new waveshapers by kilohearts! Those are sick!

[@anyonsounds]

And I know you've been the one asking for it as well (:

[@DisconnectedAutomaton]

Yeah theze are great I got them already too

[@Alckemy]

I’ve been beta testing it:)

[@XpiredUK]

5:37 Check this out! - *ad plays* Me: 😑 I swear youtube just knows

[@Alckemy]

They do, I don’t insert my own ads- sorry! Lol

[@XpiredUK]

@@Alckemy S'all good, I was just like '😮.. 😑' lol

[@aspirativemusicproduction2135]

My go to are pulse wave an saw wave with some low pass as needed. I haven't found use of sine wave ever so I just never start with one. It's much easier to start with some more interesting wave and put low pass on it until it matches the rest of the music. That's just my process.

[@Alckemy]

The thing about sine waves is that it’s super malleable. As I said in the video; building with small amounts of distortion over time, using the harmonic series with fm, and stacking effects over time get you some really cool stuff. Also, that 1st harmonic and a third is a perfect 808

[@aspirativemusicproduction2135]

@Alckemy I just want to ask what if you start with something harmonically reach and filter it. Wouldn't it be easier to get where you want faster? Or maybe just sample your bass 😁 That's going to be fast too 😄

[@Alckemy]

@@aspirativemusicproduction2135 sometimes! The more harmonics you have the more you get closer to noise. Harmonics have a relationship with volume. When you apply distortion you usually apply it all of the harmonics. It’s a balance. But yes, working subtractive is a skill to have too

[@jordanrattanavong2655]

I think you need some soothe or a de-esser on your mic when you record videos. This one was painful.

[@Alckemy]

haven’t changed anything in the last 100 videos, why’s this one different?

[@wemustkungfufite]

@@Alckemy I actually agree with him. there's a ton of sibilance in your mic recording and it prevents me from turning up the volume on your videos. still, good stuf

[@k-rom8694]

17:55 how tf did you know

[@Alckemy]

Been there ☠️