SYNTH BASS Secrets of the 80s (Part 2)
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How did Sting get his amazing bass sound in The Police? And what does that have to do with synth bass and synth pop? This is the second of three videos on that subject, and part of a larger series “Secrets of the 1980s” where I showcase long lost production techniques and how they can turn a vanilla song into a hit record. In this video I explain techniques that used by Sting from the Police to get his amazing bass sound. Then I explain how those same tricks were used by Pet Shop Boys, and how you can use them in your productions. Then I build a synth bass sound on the fly using those techniques, and use that to do a live performance where I play synth bass live. All 100% dawless and, as per usual. I only use hardware vintage and modern analog synths, and all programming is done into my hardware Squarp Pyramid sequencer.
Sound sources used in this video include:
Behringer DeepMind 12
Behringer Pro-1
Yamaha TX81Z
Korg M1
Emu ESi32
Roland R8
Behringer RD9
#sting
#thepolice
#petshopboys
00:00 Previously on Distort The Preamp...
00:28 Learning from Sting: the art of producing bass
02:42 Basic bass production for excitement and clarity
04:28 Innovative bass guitar production from progressive rock
05:35 'Walking On The Moon' by The Police, bass production
05:47 Doubling bass with guitar an octave up for definition
07:12 'Spellbound' by Siouxsie and the Banshees, bass production
08:36 Sting's secret weapon: double bass
09:15 Doubling bass with double bass for extra thump
09:33 Sting's customised double bass called 'Brian'
10:00 Why bass guitar production techniques are relevant to an analysis of Pet Shop Boys synth bass
10:35 Pet Shop Boys' iconic synth bass for 'West End Girls' comprised three layers
11:40 The fourth reason to layer bass: unique sound design
12:09 How to create a signature bass sound
12:25 Synth bass layer one: sustain
15:03 Synth bass layer two: bite and definition
17:20 Synth bass layer three: thump
19:02 Combining the three synth bass layers into a killer signature bass sound
19:46 Recap: what have we done and why?
22:38 Live synth bass performance: 'Jim's Theme'
24:36 Afterword: reflections on record producer Nigel Gray, and what it means to be a 'producer'
@hedmanm 16 күн бұрын
I think the secret to your videos is that your clear joy making sounds and music shines through to the viewers.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
@@hedmanm That’s a very nice thing to say! But it’s absolutely true - I absolutely love it :)
@DumbBeat 14 күн бұрын
For me its the accent 😎
@DistortThePreamp 14 күн бұрын
@@DumbBeat haha! Do I have an accent? 😇
@davidturner5 17 күн бұрын
There is no future that would find me producing music whether with my fingers or through a mixing board. Every one of your videos captivates me with the simple pleasure of seeing an expert share their expertise with clarity, enthusiasm, and a dash of wry perspective.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
This comment means a lot to me. I am really trying to make videos that appeal not only to producers but also to fans. Thank you so much for watching…
@SvenFx-22 17 күн бұрын
Yours is my new favorite KZfaq channel. I’ve already watched all the videos a couple times. Thank you. Please keep it up. I love the format. Don’t change a thing
@TVGibsta 17 күн бұрын
Agreed.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!!!!
@janmuenther 16 күн бұрын
Likewise! This is definitely my new favorite channel!
@rubievale 16 күн бұрын
There's a piano doubling the bass guitar on Walking On The Moon. It's quite subtle, but once you hear it, you can't help but notice it every time you hear the song. They do the same thing on several songs from that album, too.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Yes, absolutely, The Beatles used to add piano under guitar too. People don't do this so much anymore. They really should :-)
@AnthonyAnthony-tk4ye 16 күн бұрын
There’s a Van Halen song that is Clavinet or Rhodes piano run through a distorted guitar amp and everyone was always trying to figure out how they got that tone on their guitar and it wasn’t even guitar lol
@unclemick-synths 15 күн бұрын
It launched a thousand quests for "piano tone" on the bass! On vinyl and tape (and especially on AM radio) it was harder to spot than when CDs came along.
@flipnap2112 14 күн бұрын
@@AnthonyAnthony-tk4ye I remember seeing that on "running with the devil" that whistle sound is one of those goofy party tube sliders you blow into. I can imagine Dave bringing that into the session and goofing around. also car horns on the opening
@Lance_G 16 күн бұрын
Absolutely brilliant! Couldn't be more thrilled to learn these techniques!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@SAT0R1. 17 күн бұрын
Much appreciated. Top quality advice. Loving this 80s synth bass series.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Officially there’s one more to come, but there are at least a couple of other videos that will come before it…
@sub-jec-tiv 16 күн бұрын
The most incredible synth layering album of all time may be “Oh No! it’s DEVO.” It was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the same producer as Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, who’s an incredible layering texture producer. If anybody hasn’t heard it, give a listen. Not to the songs, but to the synth sounds. Luscious and totally unique.
@Lux-Voltaire 16 күн бұрын
I love that entire album. The best DEVO by far.
@elretsof1606 16 күн бұрын
DEVO-Excellent
@edgardvera3132 16 күн бұрын
Thanks for that note. Both Devo and Queen. And of course, love synths.
@flipnap2112 14 күн бұрын
magicians in the studio. their performance in "Urgh: Amusic war" was top notch
@simoncolvex 16 күн бұрын
Anthony Marinelli's channel also gives great insight into creating the famous bass sounds for the many 80s hit he's worked on (e.g. MJ's Thriller). Both his and now this video has given me new recording approaches. Thx
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Oh yes, Marinelli’s videos are excellent! He’s a first class sound designer. So many people don’t realise how much work went into the tiniest details on those records. I have had the opportunity to scrutinise the actual ‘Thriller’ multitracks and all the synth bass was bounced to a single track (although electric bass was kept on a separate track). So if it weren’t for Marinelli we would not know how those tracks were layered.
@seftw 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for talking about Nigel Gray! I haven't been able to find much information about him, so I'm really grateful for your insights. I absolutely agree with your preference about the sound of the first three Police albums. The bass sound you created is incredible, and the music you composed to showcase it is fantastic. Greetings from Argentina!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! That's really kind :-)
@mrbigbosskojak 17 күн бұрын
You are my new favourite channel. Brilliant content. Thank you for sharing!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@Zaccyonline 16 күн бұрын
You, sir, are an amazing musician - which I’ll praise you for several times in the future - but equally a brilliant storyteller. Thank you so much for continuing your channel, you’re my favorite creator these days.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
I’ve probably said this before but thank you so much! I will try to increase the frequency of my output…
@TVGibsta 17 күн бұрын
And thanks Mr Gray. I loved those early Police albums.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
We really should all thanks Mr Gray. He never really made the money he deserved. Which is why he retired from the industry at the age of 40 (in 1987). If only he’d been paid properly there might be a lot more amazing records…
@kennyzee3221 7 күн бұрын
I have the Yamaha V50 and ever since I bought it in 1989 I found how bloody good fm bass is. I have mostly layered bass sounds and love creating phat bass sounds using different synth engines. However time pressures these days frustrate my efforts but your video is like a message in a bottle to return to my old ways haha. Cheers mate for that.
@DistortThePreamp 6 күн бұрын
Oh fantastic! I was putting together some music in a hurry yesterday and playing and layering was *so much faster* than laboriously programming. It’s funny - what should take longer is sometimes actually simpler. Really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment :)
@kaikiefer8303 2 күн бұрын
Great insight. I really learned a thing. Now I understand what the 90s synth from Roland each patch has multiple partials. So you can layer/blend sounds together to get different characteristics in one patch. Like blending Scottish whiskey.
@DistortThePreamp Күн бұрын
Yes, that’s exactly right. This was the way a lot of synths developed in the 90s - sometimes they get called ‘romplers’ because there’s a sample element (in rom) as well as a synthesises element. We had a D-50 in the late 80s though nowadays I find the sound a bit cold. I still have a Korg M1 though which not only has some classic presets but also is incredible if you programme it (it has partials and a really interesting synthesis engine). But for me, blending not only different synths but also different styles of synths is where the sound really takes off :)
@RANDOMLOOPGENERATOR 3 күн бұрын
Beautiful, just what I needed as I prepare to make the most of my studio while condensing my live set up. I'll be firing up the TX81Z, Bass Station 2 and Kawai K1 for layering up sounds before sampling to my Lo-Fi 12. Excellent video! Cheers.
@DistortThePreamp 3 күн бұрын
Oh those sound like amazing layer choices! K1 for the thump?
@liamhemmings9039 9 күн бұрын
This is superb work. To crib from Red Letter Media: you don't know the kick drum is there, but your brain does.
@DistortThePreamp 6 күн бұрын
That’s very well put. I had it mixed super loud to ‘make the point’ but even at lower volumes it does exactly what you say - adds thump that your brain recognises. Really appreciate you watching and making the awesome comment :)
@DirtyWindshieldSeries 12 күн бұрын
That smile (and laugh) of yours', when you strike gold, in the world of "Synth Punch". 😂 Great Channel and Video!
@DistortThePreamp 12 күн бұрын
Thank you! It was SO LOUD in the room 😂
@DirtyWindshieldSeries 12 күн бұрын
When you said in the video, it was loud', my first thought was, "The neighbors down the street got to enjoy it with you...perhaps, without the laughter". 🤣 @DistortThePreamp
@DistortThePreamp 6 күн бұрын
😂
@proluxelectronics7419 17 күн бұрын
Now you explain the construction of a good bass sound, I will look at my go-to sounds as more, building blocks. Keep up the great work.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
It’s all a lot of fun :)
@Diabolik771 17 күн бұрын
Very cool. That was a cool song at the end.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you! Originally I did something that sounded more like The Police but abandoned it. The bass sound was huuuuuge in the room!
@philippendletonmusic 17 күн бұрын
Love your attention to detail and in-depth analysis.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you! Very much appreciated :)
@paulpower9863 11 сағат бұрын
Absolutely enjoyed this..your explanation’s where on layman’s term’s,kudos to you sir for taking the time to share your experience & helping other musician,s make better music,tip my hat to you sir 👏🏻👏🏻😎
@DistortThePreamp 8 сағат бұрын
That’s so kind! That you very much indeed! Really appreciate you watching the video and taking the time to comment :)
@thedddemon 17 күн бұрын
Awesome ideas and tricks! This is my new favourite channel, cheers!!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@johnghadimi 15 күн бұрын
More and more impressed with PSB from your videos. Adding a kick over the bass?? Genius. Thank you for bringing this valuable information to light.
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
My pleasure! Although I suspect it was Stephen Hague the producer… after all it was actually the second time they recorded (and released) ‘West End Girls’ and they definitely didn’t put a kick under the bass with Bobby Orlando’s version 😂
@magica2z 7 күн бұрын
The most greatest video about bass. Thank you so much.
@DistortThePreamp 6 күн бұрын
That’s a very kind comment indeed! Thank you so much!
@drewmediaaustralia2923 5 күн бұрын
How good are these videos ? Brilliant analysis !
@DistortThePreamp 4 күн бұрын
You’re so kind! It’s 01:37 and I’m shattered from editing all day so this is such a nice comment to read 🙏
@adamntbk 17 күн бұрын
I can’t imagine overdubbing/layering bass guitars and not creating all kinds of phase cancellation in the low end.
@Sharkpuss 17 күн бұрын
Good point. But I think it’s more a case of guitars played an octave up or a db (short decay) against an eb (long decay) so not a like against like situation. Stacking sounds should be constructive rather than destructive etc. I’ve tracked bass with a dirty amp feed against a DI and cut a lot of the low off the amp channel as you’re really after the fast transient and the fizz. So it doesn’t really interfere.
@adamntbk 17 күн бұрын
@@SharkpussI guess that makes more sense. It just seemed like he’s claiming so many old recordings would “double” the bass parts with guitar(?) Like, i understand it in theory, but I have literally never heard any mention of that for it to be supposedly commonplace for old recordings. So did the bassist pick up a guitar after playing it on a bass? If so, news to me.
@markkilborn512 17 күн бұрын
EQing the layers to create more separation between them can help as well. Music is a hobby for me but I’m a professional sound effects designer, and we do this all the time when making composite sounds out of layers.
@fradav68 16 күн бұрын
If e.g. A1 is 55Hz, is phase cancellation gradually reducing with each semitone up or down from A1? Tried to decipher this with ears + oscilloscope but still in dark 🤨
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
It’s actually fine. Maybe the best example would be one of the tracks on ‘Thriller’ which has four synth basses stacked and a real bass. The only phase checking would have been simple in/out on the desk, and there is *nothing* wrong with those bass parts. I see a lot of people getting obsessed with low end phase nowadays and doing phase rotation. In my experience phase is important, but I’ve never had a deal breaking problem. When you listen to a recording of a classical orchestra with lots of cellos, nobody did anything to the phase of each instrument coming into the mic ;)
@janmuenther 16 күн бұрын
I now know which bass player you were talking about 😁 Great content, great examples, and as usual, you deliver it so well. I’m truly a fan!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for this ;)
@elusive1970 10 күн бұрын
Incredibly important video for me! I'm such a huge fan of Sting's playing on Regatta de Blanc. I waited years to see this video it was a real moment for me. Thank You!!
@DistortThePreamp 10 күн бұрын
Oh that’s such a kind comment! I’m so pleased you like the video! Thank you :)
@deliusmyth5063 14 күн бұрын
Fascinating to hear about Nigel Gray, a mysterious figure who should get more recognition. Zenyatta has become, over the years, my favourite Police album. It disappointed me at the time of release, but now I think of it as the epitome of the Police sound. Nice channel, I'll be tuning in.
@DistortThePreamp 14 күн бұрын
I agree. I sort of bounce between Zenyatta and Regatta, and Regatta has some great songs, but I think was Zenyatta is The Police at the height of their powers. And Zenyatta captures that so well. Tracks like ‘Voices Inside My Head’, ‘When The World Is Running Down’, and ‘Driven To Tears’ are stupendous just in terms of the groove. IMO Padgham never managed to capture that ‘groove’ like Gray did.
@deliusmyth5063 14 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp Absolutely, Regatta has more “heft” - the Big Songs - but Zenyatta is more all of a piece. I love the soundscape of “Voices”, basically Sting screeching, which Nigel turned into a jungle backdrop. My only gripe is that it should have been called “Zenyatta Mondatta”, as a callback to the previous title track.
@DistortThePreamp 13 күн бұрын
Did you know the original title was gonna be ‘Trimondo Blondimina’?
@deliusmyth5063 12 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp It rings a bell. I guess that will have to be the title of your mythical sixth album.
@commodore74 15 күн бұрын
This channel is a hidden gem
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! Although my ambition is to stop it being quite so hidden 😂
@commodore74 15 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp Ha! as I wrote the comment did think that probably your goal is that is not so hidden any longer. Anyway great info and very inspiring too, cheers!
@DistortThePreamp 13 күн бұрын
Well my goal is obviously KZfaq domination. But somehow I have to achieve that without resorting to thumbnails of me looking surprised pointing at a synth with words like “The Pro’s Don’t Want You To Know This Secret” 😂😂😂
@commodore74 12 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp haha glad you're not doing those annoying click baits thumbnails, that honestly, at least for me, makes me not want to 'click'! Anyway your videos transmit great knowledge and years of investigation that are of great value for anyone that is really interested in this genre of music 🎹
@PATRIK67KALLBACK 17 күн бұрын
Awesome video with great analysis of this bass sound!
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you!
@janmuenther 16 күн бұрын
Just like the first part and your other videos that I watched so far this was FANTASTIC!!! Absolutely love what you do. The kick drum sample as an additional layer - it makes so much sense and you can actually make it out once you know about it, but I would have never guessed that! Thank you so much for sharing!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
What has been so fantastic about these videos is that apparently some people are actually trying this stuff out for themselves. Although I also have a mission to make the videos as entertaining as possible for non-musicians. Thank you so much for all your comments Jan…
@angben 16 күн бұрын
Brilliant. I learn a lot from your analysis and suggestions. The photos and microphone text themes are fun, and I’m always looking for them now. Thanks for sharing your craft.
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Thanks for noticing the text on the microphone :) Really appreciate you watching and commenting… :)
@rushmanphotos 16 күн бұрын
i'm just getting into the synth bass process and now i'm hooked. i am a bassist. it didn't take me long to realize a lot of music consists of electronic/synth bass. music is very dynamic beast. it changes constantly and if you can't change with it - either willingly or unwillingly, it's too easy to get left behind. another thing is, as a musician, you got to pay attention to the details. there is no way around it. whatever i listen to there is so much going on in the background. michael jackson and stevie wonder are masters of this. and that's just scratching the surface. and yea, as you point out, it goes back to the 80's pop. i started implementing synth bass with a behringer neutron and i couldn't believe the sounds i could get out of it. i soon realized the synth bass on most recordings was a mixture of several tracks or "layered" - consisting of several different sounds and instruments. i'm currently building a euro-rack based synth to expand on it. for me, it's really fascinating.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
That’s exactly right! Attention to detail is critical. A lot of modern artists get this wrong - not because they don’t believe in detail, but because they leave it too late and then can’t solve the problems. The trick is to spend time getting really good sounds and then commit them. That’s one of the wonderful thing about working with real instruments versus software instruments - you’re forced into that workflow. Meanwhile, you should *definitley* be doubling *all* of your synth bass with real bass! Just tuck it under the synth bass so you can just hear it. Thank you so much for watching!
@unclemick-synths 15 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp I agree about commitment. In my experience, many "mix" problems are arrangement problems that could have been fixed before hitting Record.
@unclemick-synths 15 күн бұрын
@rushmanphotos I love my Neutron!
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
@@unclemick-synths Me too! Two reasons for me: (1) it’s straight up a fantastic synth, but also (2) it was how I prevented myself from falling down a Eurorack hole which was endless and which I would never have been able to afford 😂
@rushmanphotos 15 күн бұрын
@@unclemick-synths so do i. it's amazing. and for the price you can't beat it.
@Hairyfoot_Studio 14 күн бұрын
Great video thanks for this. That bass guitar amp splitting technique is still used today to great effect by Mike Kerr from Royal Blood. He also uses all sorts of other effects such as octave shifters and different lead guitar pedals but its really interesting to hear it started with the prog guys.
@DistortThePreamp 14 күн бұрын
It was really Chris Squire from Yes who’s famous for this. His Rickenbacker bass had two outs (one for each pickup) and he routed one into a guitar amp. Amazing sound. But a lot of the prog guys do similar nowadays - Geddy Lee for example (from Rush) uses a very similar setup. Mike Kerr’s rig is a little different but very interesting. He’s a bit coy about it but it’s basically almost like a reverse of Jack White’s setup. Kerr is splitting his bass signal, shifting an octave up and then treating that like a guitar. What really makes a difference to a setup like this is to route it into an entirely different amp. If you try and blend the signal back into a single amp it doesn’t sound nearly as good. Thanks so much for the kind words about the video :) Bey much appreciated :)
@andybeta1971 16 күн бұрын
Had great fun applying these techniques to my modest set-up. Definitely something I'll be applying in future.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Fantastic! Modest setups are where music happens. Expensive setups are where creativity goes to die ;)
@user-wt7pq5qc2q 17 күн бұрын
Awesome !! thanks for the learning.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
🙏🙏🙏
@richtowns 16 күн бұрын
Really great tutes. Im a big 80s fan and so your material really helps to make it all so much fun..After kin years of listening to sounds you explain it all effortlessly. Impressive. Thanks
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
So glad you like it! Really appreciate you watching and commenting! I need to get them out faster…
@tomtebby7408 16 күн бұрын
Really enjoying your channel - loved how you tell the stories and then those moments of enlightenment. But also how you build a track and take us along for the ride - fabulous- can’t wait to see and hear more from you.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@AntonMochalin 16 күн бұрын
Your videos are so well produced, such a pleasure to watch. Thanks for being an inspiring source of knowledge!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Very kind words :)
@gregparker1012 16 күн бұрын
Thanks a bunch! I'm doing an 80s style song this weekend. Your ideas are exactly what I'm looking for on this track.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Oh that’s so great to hear!
@AndreasJohansson76 16 күн бұрын
Thank you, this was just extraordinarily good. Absolutely loved everything about this video.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! Really appreciate your comment, and you watching!
@jacksonmade9294 12 күн бұрын
That track was GROOVING! Thank you for the breakdown
@DistortThePreamp 12 күн бұрын
I’m so pleased you liked it! I’ve considered dropping the performances because I wasn’t sure if people cared about those bits of the videos, and it’s quite a lot of pressure to write something new and interesting and good every video. But I’m definitely keeping them for now!
@eduardobuscariolli6152 15 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing these techniques. I just tested them and the results are amazing.
@DistortThePreamp 14 күн бұрын
Oh I am so pleased! It’s comments like this which are what the whole channel is for! It’s really not about recreating sounds from the past, it’s abouy learning forgotten techniques from the past and adding them to today’s bag of tricks :)
@DavidSmith-ne1zp 15 күн бұрын
My new favourite music channel!! Loving the content and the amount I’m learning. Cheers.
@DistortThePreamp 14 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! This is amazing!
@kevintaylor-cox2880 16 күн бұрын
Thanks for this, really enjoyed it, particularly like you style of presentation, enjoyable and informative!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! That's very kind :)
@fldrummerman 16 күн бұрын
My mind is blown... Amazing!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Fantastic! So pleased! Thank you so much for watching, and taking the time to comment :)
@Dooblecaine 17 күн бұрын
You never introduce yourself. However, I find the information is thought provoking, esp the portion on how the West End Girls bass was created.
@RastaSaiyaman 16 күн бұрын
Just a little correction, Sting's upright bass wasn't made by him chopping up his favorite acoustic upright. It's a Z-bass, made by Dutch luthier Henk Van Zalinge. I love your channel.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Ah, actually the Z came later, and Copeland got one too. Brian was the precursor…
@DavidUK64 15 күн бұрын
Great video!! Thanks so much for the info on getting a killer bass sound. Also really interesting stuff about Nigel Gray - ALL those tracks you mention are MASTERPIECES!! 🔥🔥🔥
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Thank you so much David! Really appreciate you watching, and the really nice comment :)
@JoeMurphyLondon 12 күн бұрын
Another absolute banger - many thanks
@DistortThePreamp 12 күн бұрын
You’re too kind! And you’re very welcome! Thanks (as ever) for watching :)
@timball8429 16 күн бұрын
One of the best mixing tutorials I’ve come across in a long time. 🙏
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thanks Tim! That’s so kind!
@timball8429 16 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp It’s so valuable to really understand a mix philosophy and how that can translate across all genres. I was also a huge Police/Sting fan and they/he inspired me to learn the bass. Great learnings, great channel!
@robboburgers 16 күн бұрын
Just excellent content. Thank you.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
🙏🙏🙏
@andrewrossy 16 күн бұрын
WOW! Just suggested this channel thanks to the KZfaq algorithm! Amazing content. Channels like these are truely the best of KZfaq!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much Andrew! Really appreciate the kind words :)
@Screenbience 17 күн бұрын
Your videos are interesting to watch even just for fun, you are a nice person and present the content in a special, smooth way ❤
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! One of my goals is to make videos that work on a purely entertainment level and can be enjoyed by non musicians. So I really appreciate your kind comment…
@enricmarshal 17 күн бұрын
Amazing information! Thank you!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
🙏🙏🙏
@PeteMOBie1 16 күн бұрын
Nice to know I wasn't a million miles away. I often used an ESQ-1 layered with a DX11 (keyboard version of the TX81Z). The DX added the spike cut and the ESQ the fatness and filter warbling. I like the idea of the bass drum sample adding a subtle bit of thump to the bass sound. Thanks again for another secrets revealed video.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Honestly I think that’s spot on. It’s really not about the exact sound, just the layering trick. The DX11 is fantastic - one day I will have the space to have synths which aren’t all in racks 😂
@SaS-Music 15 күн бұрын
Brilliant. Thank you for the great information. Subscribed!
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Thank you! Really appreciate you watching, and the comment :)
@markf.3617 17 күн бұрын
Thanks Mr. Preamp, enjoyed that!
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
@@markf.3617 I am so please! I was a bit worried that the entire viewer base would go ‘What? Real electric bass? Who cares!’ and leave en masse. Thankfully this does not appear to be the case…
@tiergartenmusic 14 күн бұрын
This is a fantastic video (as are your others), thank you for sharing your knowledge! I like to layer my SH-101 and Elektron Digitone for bass, but will now experiment with adding some thump too.
@irradix213 16 күн бұрын
Awesome, thanks again
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching :)
@AndrewJohnClive 16 күн бұрын
Fabulous! Thanks man!❤👍🏼
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
🙏🙏
@neuronist 15 күн бұрын
I really love your videos. They are the best on KZfaq, for real! ❤(at least for me)
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
That’s a fantastic compliment! Thank you so much!
@Pan6888 12 күн бұрын
One of the best if not the best production tips video here all over the net !
@DistortThePreamp 12 күн бұрын
That’s extremely kind Panos! Really appreciate you watching, and taking the time to make a comment :)
@Pan6888 11 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp I think that you absolutely deserve that cause in my career as a composer and a producer i was engaged to quite many genres from Italo Disco which i still love , House and even classical music, so layering various sounds that serve other frequencies to the listener is a known tip for me but you explain that so simple so this knowledge which is essential for a great production is accessible to anybody from a new composer to a pro one, keep up the great work i always enjoy your content and i am glad that you still use my beloved roland r8 too !
@DistortThePreamp 4 күн бұрын
Sorry for the late reply! (So many comments, they all get lost). Fantastic that you’re an R8 fan. I absolutely *love* mine. I had the WaveRex sampling card but didn’t get on with it. When I loaded samples they didn’t sound the same because it turns out the R8 preamps are very coloured. I guess this is why the (insanely overpriced) R8 Cards sound so good - because Roland would have spend ages tuning the samples so they sounded as good as possible out of an R8. And also glad you like Italian Disco. I had planned to make a video showing how Moroder made the bass to ‘I Feel Love’ (the point being that it’s 8th notes with a 16th delay, and the delay is louder so the offbeat is accented, and late so it’s swung, and there’s a second repeat so it flams, etc) but I became convinced that nobody would care. And it might already have been done. And now, if it hasn’t been done, I’ve just given the game away 😂
@Metamerist625 15 күн бұрын
That was AMAZINGLY interesting, I really had no idea that this was such a widespread technique. I am fairly new to recording music and I actually ended up doing this intuitively on one of my own tracks, I had two bass sounds that I really liked and accidentally played them together and realised that they were way better combined. Now I know that this is an official studio technique that can be exploited for effect. The examples you gave of The Pet Shop Boys and Siouxie and the Banshees were really intruiging as well. I have learned a lot today
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Oh I’m so pleased you liked it! This kind of technique can really make a difference. Don’t treat it as a compulsory rule though - as my old producer mentor is fond of saying, ‘There are no rules!’ Thank you so much for watching, and for your comment…
@AaronSmith_avocadosmith 17 күн бұрын
Thanks for the tips! Sting one one of my favorites. I admit that image is what got me to watch the video.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
I’m so pleased to hear this! Somebody asked me who the person in the thumbnail was, and I was wondering if I had failed to choose a sufficiently iconic image ;)
@Melmoth 16 күн бұрын
Masterclass!!! Congrats and thank you for the channel man!!! 🎩
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for the kind words!
@zumazmusic 12 күн бұрын
Another banger of a video! 😎🎶
@DistortThePreamp 11 күн бұрын
Thank you!!!!
@djh6970 17 күн бұрын
I simply love this channel 😀
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@Interdimensions 16 күн бұрын
Thanks a lot for this advice. You gave me an idea how to use 4 layers of my JD-08 boutique to make this kind of bass! I guess linear arithmetic synthesis was made to make this kind of patches anyway :D
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Absolutely! I've been thinking about getting a JX-08. I really like them. I wish they had proper sized jack outputs, but you can't have everything. And they certainly sound great.
@hawsrulebegin7768 17 күн бұрын
Great vids. You deserve many more subs. The west end bass line has fascinated me for over 40 years!
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
That’s a very kind thing to say!
@meteorheartofficial 16 күн бұрын
New to the channel, i loved this video. Look forward to more.
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
That’s so great! Thank you!
@MegaCraptacular 17 күн бұрын
What a fantastic channel!!! Being a sound design freak, I love your deep drive into classic sounds. Bass sounds are hard to sort how they were made. I'm still trying to decipher Andy Connel's bass line on Swing out Sisters Break Out. Beautiful channel, thank you sir.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@alexisn51 17 күн бұрын
that's gold. Thanks !
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
So glad you like it!
@bubabubu6088 16 күн бұрын
This is now my favorite TV show. Really appreciate the story telling and the general production of this program. But fear not; i will hold back on compliments this time as it came to my ears that the british get spots from compliments.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
This is true. We are bad at taking compliments. But out of the thousands of amazing comments I’ve had so far, you are the first to recognise what I’m actually trying to do: I’m trying to make TV. Thank you for noticing. :) 🙏
@PhilR0gers 16 күн бұрын
I never even considered that the bass might be layered - especially the +1 octave guitar. I just assumed they'd come up with some amazingly fat bass patches for the synths. Listening back and concentrating on the bass line, there it is! And now I know how to do it, too. Thanks for spilling the beans.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
It’s surprising, right! But once you’ve heard it you’ll never unhear it :)
@chriswareham 15 күн бұрын
As a bass guitarist, a couple of other tricks: 1. Use a solid state amp instead of a valve one, as the definition is usually better if you're not specifically looking for that valve "grit". My favourite amp is a solid state Acoustic Control Corporation one, after playing an Ampeg SVT for years and not really being satisfied with it. 2. Don't do the usual "smile" with the EQ or scooping out all the mids that I see most bassists doing. To cut through without overpowering the other instruments I find cranking the mids way up, a touch of bass boost and quite a lot of treble cut does the job. If the amp has a presence control or very high frequencies on the graphics EQ, then they can be boosted to give a little more brightness in a narrow frequency range if the sound is too deep sounding. 3. Use two amps. Split the signal from the bass, and have one amp with the bass boosted a bit and treble dialled right back. Then do the opposite on the other amp. That gives you an easy way to balance the high and low end, plus if you use pedals for a bit of distortion of modulation effects you can put them through the treble amp and not lose too much bottom end that often happens with a single amp setup.
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
These are all excellent points! Generally I prefer solid sate amps for bass for exactly the reason you say. Everybody loves an SVG but they can get a bit saggy. I *never* so smoke eq on either bass or guitar. It’s *all about the midrange!* And the two amp thing is something I never used to do but now always do when I’m recording bass. I end up taking at least three tracks plus safeties if I’m recording through outboard compression, but the sound once blended is colossal!
@TheOuterLimit 13 күн бұрын
Really good lesson! I will explore
@DistortThePreamp 13 күн бұрын
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it! Really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment :)
@FusedMusic 16 күн бұрын
Excellent stuff as always! Thsnks so much!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
🙏🙏🙏
@DarrellNorton-gq2ic 17 күн бұрын
Great informative content. Keep up the good work sir 👍
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@davids736 12 күн бұрын
Hi fella... Just randomly discovered your channel, the Rio video about its arpeggio. Anyway, I'm a bit busy playing around with my brand new guitar that I got today, but I've had a quick flick through and you look like you have a great channel and you present really well, and yep, I'm old enough to have been around listening to all that great music in the 80s. There was a period in the 80s when I wouldn't listen to bands that had real instruments, it had to be all electronic... silly, I know, but when you're a teenager you do silly things, I soon grew out of it. One of my all-time favourite arpeggios is the one that runs through the Yazoo track Don't Go. One of the remixes on the 12 inch really brings that part out, I think it's the one called the Re-Remix. I'll definitely be back to have a proper look... In the meantime, new subscriber here! 👍😊🎸🎹
@DistortThePreamp 10 күн бұрын
Amazing! What’s the guitar?
@alexwestconsulting 17 күн бұрын
yet more excellent content. I've been listening to the police a lot lately, kind of an obsession. they and their production team were doing everything right back then. They were a little too clean by the end, but still fantastic. Hugh Padgham's treatment was also excellent. A track like Spirits in the Material World is stunning. Anyway, yeah, Reggatta is the best. Just want to say that Stewart Copeland's timing and the sound of his kit blow my mind every time I hear it.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
I agree. I do like a lot of the Hugh Padgham stuff, and he really captured a vibe on, say, ‘Tea in the Sahara’ but on balance I think Regatta and Zenyatta are probably better. I’m actually a huge fan of Zenyatta. It’s so live sounding. Probably because it was recorded in about two weeks.
@EchobatMogwa 15 күн бұрын
Best video I’ve seen all year! You rule!!! 😺🤘🏻
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
@@EchobatMogwa thank you so much! That’s such an awesome thing to say!
@EchobatMogwa 15 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp ❤️❤️❤️❤️👌🏻
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
@@EchobatMogwa 🙏🙏🙏
@lundsweden 16 күн бұрын
Great content, and you Sir are a master storyteller!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@KrijnHendriksen 16 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing some tricks of the trade.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
You are very welcome - thank you for watching :)
@TVGibsta 17 күн бұрын
Another great vid. Going to the lab in the morning to make a signature layered bass sound.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Absolutely fantastic!
@DetroitMicroSound 17 күн бұрын
The magic forms, trapped between the layers forever.
@DJSKAROB 16 күн бұрын
I’m sure someone else has already told you this but…… I don’t believe they got the guitar doubling from Motown & so on….. Apart from the ‘punk’ edge you noted their other influence was reggae & it is absolutely traditional (back to the mid 60s) to have a mute/dampened guitar pik over the bass line…seems likely to me it came from there. Big ups on yr vids.
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
So this is an *extremely* interesting comment. Originally I was making this point and it’s what I’ve always believed. In fact, I even had a private theory that it was Nigel Gray (the producer) who suggested it. In my head the conversation went something like “Well, if you really want it to sound like reggae, try doubling the bass with guitar!” However during the production of this video I struggled to find definitive corroboration that the technique came from reggae. So, basically, I cut it in case I was wrong. But I’m sure you’re correct. I’m sure it came from reggae.
@christiand8243 17 күн бұрын
Excellent!
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
@@christiand8243 🙏
@jedstephensmusic0001 15 күн бұрын
excellent stuff as always, very interesting to hear the kick sample in the bass sound, reminded me that when writing Killer, Adamski had accidentally put a drum machine on the same midi channel and it trigered different drum sounds for each note of the bass line, but it adds a lot of character to it. love the demo tune too, sounded like PSB working with Orbital (particularly The Box).
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Is that true, about Adamski? That makes perfect sense! That bass line totally slaps! Now I’m gonna look this up…
@veganstevenmusic 17 күн бұрын
another banger of an eppsode, thanks so much for make this lad, hidden gems of wisdom. from dublin ireland
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
You are very welcome! Thanks for the continued support :)
@veganstevenmusic 17 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp :)
@gingerfreak01 17 күн бұрын
Another cracking video, and I knew it, I bloody knew it! A kick drum in the West End Girls bassline! I just put it down to some patch they'd made but that never sat right with me. There was always something niggling, and that was it. Thank you!
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
It’s so awesome right! And even when I confirmed it there is nothing like feeling it under your fingers! It just feels so amazing to play a bass line with a layer of tuned kick sample!
@gingerfreak01 17 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp Some real subtleties can be achieved with how much the tuned kick cuts through. Love it. My first keyboard was a crappy PSS170 and all of the non-instrument presets were (let's be charitable) tuned, a bit. Something I noticed at the time. So this made so much sense.
@fredrik140 15 күн бұрын
Bestt channel ever and I'm born in the 70's.
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Oh fantastic!!! So pleased you like the videos :)
@paul6925 16 күн бұрын
Very informative! I always loved that bass sound in West End Girls
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
It’s such a great sound. And that layered kick really helps!
@paul6925 16 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp I remember it even sounded good on my 80s high school art class cheap stereo
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
@@paul6925 This is the key. A song should sound amazing coming out of an overturned stereo on a beach with the speaker facing the sand. If it doesn’t, you’ve got a problem.
@paul6925 16 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp 😂👍
@BrokenManLA 17 күн бұрын
Amazing video! Thank you!!!!
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
That’s a very kind comment. Thank you :)
@dylancoleman4576 17 күн бұрын
Who knew ha! Thanks for the secret trick. Love your videos
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! I’m shattered - it took far longer than I thought. So I’m now going to bed :)
@simoncrabtree6139 17 күн бұрын
Excellent work, keep going. I'm sure it's hard work and time consuming but I'm really enjoying your videos. In one of the previous ones you made a comment about "chords are cheating". I'd be fascinated to hear more of the thinking behind that comment - I'm guessing you're saying "try using mono synths to make single lines which work together" in the same way that an orchestra would have separate lines from violins, celli, horns etc etc... But I'd love to hear more. Cheers from a fellow 80's pop kid!
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you! Yes - this one is still at the planning stage, but it will be coming :)
@gingerfreak01 17 күн бұрын
Me too.
@DarkSideofSynth 16 күн бұрын
"Funny" how in the past few years all young producers feel so clever and proud of their bass layering techniques when these things were already done over 40 years ago ;)
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Exactly, right! Plus I honestly think layering was better 40 years ago 😂
@DarkSideofSynth 16 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp Shhh. Don't tell anyone. What was better surely was that I was only 13 back then hahahaha ;)
@DistortThePreamp 16 күн бұрын
Oh awesome!!!
@flipnap2112 14 күн бұрын
@@DistortThePreamp thing was, just like everything back in the day, there was a value to producing because there was a cost. everything was measured carefully. Track space was limited so when you bounced you had to be confident. nobody had limitless tracks and plugins. even in film. you didnt have 100TB drives with years of storage. film was expensive and once a set was ripped down it was over.
@DistortThePreamp 13 күн бұрын
If this channel takes off, and I mean *really* takes off then I’ve got a plan with a producer friend (whose a properly famous producer) to do a single using tape. Mainly for the workflow because tape is not great. But it would be amazing. I’m already scoping studios. And obviously everything would be videoed. It would be great fun but, as I say, the channel would have to be several leagues bigger because my goal would definitely be for the studio to donate the time and Ampex to provide free tape 😂
@tommyfreudenthal8084 15 күн бұрын
Wonderful video
@DistortThePreamp 15 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! That’s so kind! :)
@simonjefferytaylor 17 күн бұрын
I absolutely love your videos.
@DistortThePreamp 17 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! This is especially nice to hear on a release day :)
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