I can't re-create simple sounds! (Basshunter related, a challenge)

N

NateButch

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Wasn't sure if putting "Basshunter" in the title would deter you or make you mad enough to click. :P

I've been wanting to make this thread for months now but was too scared I'd get mad fun of. lol I can't find these generic answers on youtube/google

I'll skip right to the chase. I'm okay at making sounds/pads with synthesis (V-station specifically). However, I've been trying to recreate SIMPLE, SIMPLE Basshunter sounds and I can't do it. This doesn't make any sense to me. If you can give me any tips that would be GREATLY appreciated. There are also a few things in here I literally just don't know how to do (especially certain fill sounds).

Answer as few or as many questions as you'd like!

Let's start with the absolute basics:

OCTAVES

Basshunter - Boten Anna (Original Version) - YouTube

Basshunter's infamous octaves. Listen to the beginning of the song (or any song he's ever made really). It seems to me it's nothing but a simple pair of saw oscillators playing on an octave (obviously automating the cut-off filter but I'm focusing more on the octave/sounds themselves).

WHY can't I get this to sound right? It either sounds way too piercing, too cut-off, or the high octave sounds too far away from the low (or backwards). I can never get it to sit in my mix right either. Some have recommended the default sound on Nexus but that sounds just as bad to me.

Tips?

BASS
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgFwiCApH7E

Basshunter - Every Morning (On Ultra Dance 11 out now) - YouTube

Basshunter - Angel In The Night (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - YouTube

Basshunter - I am so in love with you - YouTube


This is what's been frustrating me the most. Any of his basses in here, in fact, ANY four on the floor bass. Aren't they usually just a single saw/square bass?! WHY am I NEVER satisfied with my basses? Is there some secret I don't know? Say I load up V-station and make a saw bass out of one or two oscillators. I play it four on the floor but it NEVER sounds good if I throw a lead over the top. Any tips on making those simple basses PERIOD? Is it one osc? Two? Do I filter/use a plug in?

PERCUSSION SOUNDS:

Basshunter - Ellinor - YouTube

0:38 seconds, 0:45-0:50, 0:51 seconds

WHAT IS THAT? Is that a tom drum? Is a bass drum really high pitched? How do I recreate that?

Hello There - Basshunter - LOL - YouTube

Same thing at 0:04?
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4bbXvfxr6A

0:47 Is that just a snare roll he filtered?

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYlvHSOnMjY&feature=related

1:02

Is that a snare drum? What did you do to make it drop like that?/Sound so muddy?

Basshunter - Far From Home (Album Version) - YouTube

0:54 What's going on there?

SNARE ROLL

This is another one of those frustrating things. Just like the bass. It seems so simple and yet I can never get it to sound right. I can make plenty of snare rolls, but they always seem to fill up the mix/not sound very clean.

Example:

Basshunter - I Promised Myself (Album Version) - YouTube

0:44




Again, any ANY ANY help at all is greatly appreciated. This isn't me asking everyone to do my work for me. I just can't seem to figure out these simple sounds and it's been really frustrating. :( Even if you don't want to go through all the work of figuring it out, recommending me to some other sources would be wonderfullll.

---------- Post added at 07:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 PM ----------

Bells and Rises 2 by NateButch on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

This is a little thing I just created to show you my snare rolls. To me, it doesn't sound very good. I don't even know why. Surely you know and you'd be able to tell me. lol Roll comes towards the end.
 
His snare rolls sound filtered... and they seem to have a low volume. I'm prob not one to judge, but it might be just good mixing skills. Also, that tom sounding thing might be a stomp. afaik to make it just put a reverb on a bassdrum of some sort and just turn the dry knob all the way down and the wet knob all the way up.
 
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For the octaves, try square waves, those dont sound like saws to me.

For the bass, a simple square bass seems to be right, but sidechained to the kick

As far as snare rolls, I usually use a different snare, that way I can eq differently, but also volume and filter automation are necessary sometimes

Just remember that the sounds you are hearing are in context. The sounds you make may sound like shit alone, but his probably do too. Throw them in a song with a nice melody and all the other elements going along with them, and it may sound better

---------- Post added at 08:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 AM ----------

Sorry for the double post, but I just listened to the little clip you posted, and it sounds fine. Make that into a song, and when its mastered and everything it'll sound great (except for the fact that I hate that kind of house ;) )
 
his lead is typically a square with a fast lfo on the pitch made in 3xosc, the backing octaving synth is a single saw with lowpass filter and resonance at times, his bass is vengeance (maybe vengeance ultimate bass) or vec1.
 
First of all, I really appreciate it you three. Given me some insights and ideas. Definitely going to try some of what you said. At the very least, you've given me some direction so I'm not just twiddling with knobs and getting frustrated. Maybe I'm over-critical of my unmixed sounds.

I'm going to try squares for the octaves and mess around with the bass advice you guys gave me. I've never side chained a bass that isn't like a pad...if you know what I mean. Usually I play one note and sidechain it to the bass. That way I can play with the limiter and get a 3-step kind of sound. I'll start side-chaining individual notes to see if I get a better effect.

Thanks for the tips, again. I REALLY appreciate it.
 
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