3 Tips For Perfect Sub Basses

In this video we'll explore 3 tips to better sub basses.

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[monomagnus]

Nice video! I'd actually stay away from saturation, amps and filters on the sub itself, as it often kills the fundamental and/or introduces unwanted offsets and phase shifts.
Better to get your harmonics at oscillator level if you can, and Serum is perfect for it since you can get all the harmonics you need into one perfect osc cycle, giving it more predictable phase and easier for any physical speaker to play. Better to add presence on a separate sub layer with distortion etc. that's highpassed as the last step and mixed in gently to complement the sub.
You should also be aware that the MG filter in Serum introduces DC offset as part of its sweet, sweet sound, so you actually kill 2-4db of headroom by using it rather than the normal filter. I recommend using the Filtered Saw wavetable that comes stock with Serum in Osc 2 instead if you wanna add harmonics. Try watching your waveform through scopes like Vengeance or Melda (both free) switching filters and you'll see the difference is pretty severe.


Some advanced tricks in Serum I wanna throw it out here in case it helps anyone (assuming you know Serum basics) :

First understand the principle of using bins to create your own oscillator waveforms. Create a primary sub sine using bins, a secondary an octave above, adjust volume to taste, and a third going either a major 3rd over, or a perfect 5th. This is going to be the deep sub that goes down to C1, so play C1 notes and adjust the upper partials/harmonics so they're audible on smaller systems. Now, make another window in the wavetable editor, and make the same combination of bins - only this time play bright C2 notes and adjust the upper partials to not give that intrusive bright sub feel.

Now select both and edit - morph spectral to get a smooth transition between them.

You can now adjust the amount of harmonics in your osc (and it's cycle perfect, so no worrying about different oscillators going in and out of phase) using the WT Position knob, having perfect sub from one oscillator. Now assign the keytracking modulation (lower right corner by velocity) to the WT Position (you might have to tweak the curve) and your sub harmonics is now getting lowered as you play higher notes!
This way you can go as deep as C1 and still be audible on smaller systems, and you can control that feeling of sitting inside a vacuum when the pitch goes higher. I prefer to assign the keytracking to the Osc volume as well, so the volume lowers a little when the moves go up. Again, tweak the keytracking curve so you don't lose any power around your fundamental key.

If you want to take it even further, you can actually make a third wavetable with a C0 on it that keytracks in, so you start filling in the lower end when you play higher notes. The principle is like a Shepard tone, like a spiral for sound. Or you can AM (amplitude modulation) a C2 with a C1 to fake the movement of C1, getting a slight C1 feel.

SORRY FOR WALL OF TEXT FOLKS

[garrett]

The buzzy saw/sine sound you made in the saturation section was because when you add non-factory waveforms into Serum, for whatever reason a lot of times it chops off a little part of the first cycle, giving that cycle a buzzy sound every time it happens, hence only the first cycle having that buzz, then smoothing out in the second cycle.

[DJRAFIK]

learned something from this, but since in the context it's important: the note at 5:14 is not F# but A#. Quite high and more easily audible even without harmonics. Great video anyways

[NinjaDeathTeddy]

Simple and effective, I like it.

I think if I was going down to some of those lower 'no-go' sub frequencies for a while, I would automate those higher harmonics to be a bit louder so that even though the full punch of the sub wouldn't be there, the progression would still be audible. In music the brain fills in the gaps surprisingly often.

[MattShockley]

Do you think there should only be one instance of sub bass plugin used in a song? Or can it be used more than once? Should it only be used on kick or bass or what about master buss? What do you think they are doing on post Malone “circles” ? Only on kick or drum bus?

[KrishnenduHari]

My sub bass creates a lot pressure to the ear. I want to reduce the pressure. How can I reduce the hardness?

[ZIMOBASSMUSIC]

Make sure to pull down the random knob on the OSC so that the phase starts at the beginning of each midi notes. In this instance, the re-sampled wavetable phase was offset.

[brianjohnson]

I assume you produced the beat that starts at 9:21 ? The subs sound super clean and professional as hell. Do you have any vids showing your workflow from start to finish? That mix sounds really nice and it would be extremely helpful to get to see your process.

[SamSilk]

This is some twisted dark magic, the whole distortion thing is very well known but the way you resample the waveform in serum is some serious shit!

[Skiroy]

What about ADSR. What you want slow attack do kick punches through? And does Sub bass have short release to keep tight like a kick?

[allcapsbeats]

You're a great teacher man. Very informative.

[dayzrustream]

Thank you for pointing out that sub bass key thing.
If anyone would tell me this couple years ago, I would not believe it. But all my mobile dj experience is telling that it's pretty much true.

[calvinthomas]

Great video, up to you saying "I hate spring reverbs" lol.

[Keroser]

Thank you man, simple and to the point. I am totally amateur trance producer, actually not even close to the commercial standards but I strongly think that SUB can push to 80ish Hz. At least that is how I treat it. Other than that it is crystal clear. All the best. Thank you.

[collint]

My first time seeing your vids, great job!

[buckyflex]

Extremely informative. Essential information no matter what daw software you're running

[coldprojectofficial]

I don't usually comment on vids but nice one. You explained something that has been plaguing me for a while when i write a specific genre. Thanks dude.

[danielkisel]

Hate spring reverbs ? Try Softube one.
Pan first one 100% left and other one with slightly different settings 100% to the right and you will have just great atmosphere...

[jacklyons]

If say you track was in f minor and you bass was hitting the note f would it be OK to have your sub underneath hitting the note g

[JoeDillingham]

"Emotionality" is a perfectly cromulent word. Keep on using it.