i dont understand bass lines..

what up everybody. im really new to my mpc1k but i have mostly all of the basics figured out. what i cant figure out is how to make an effective bassline that has a nice thump to it using the samples that i chopp up. i know i need to use a low pass filter and i know i need to create a new program, but when i put the low pass filter on my chopped samples all i get is a really low and quiet grumble like sound. i know im missing something. im debating just getting a bass guitar and playing the bassline manually but i dont really know how to do that either.

also, if anyone could tell me why my sample sounds distorted when i pitch shift it, that would be great.

Thanks!

It might be helpful to run your mpc through a electric tuner. In doing so you can harmonically mix drums, samples, and basslines if you don't have an ear that can discern pitch. If you have trouble formulating or finding bass sounds then all I can recommend is digging and practicing using your mpc. Pitch shift is not a perfect tool and distortion should be expected. To make effective basslines try and figure out the key your sample is in. Basslines are most pronounced when using the root note, third, fifth, seventh, and octave. Never end your phrasing on the 4th as the result is usually unpleasing. To learn more about theory and key signatures try ricky Adams music theory website, it's a valuable resource for beginners and learning theory will only aid you as a musician as it will teach you the language and vocabularies of music.

I typed this in a rush, let me know if you need further help or clarification.

afoldesi42 wrote:what up everybody. im really new to my mpc1k but i have mostly all of the basics figured out. what i cant figure out is how to make an effective bassline that has a nice thump to it using the samples that i chopp up. i know i need to use a low pass filter and i know i need to create a new program, but when i put the low pass filter on my chopped samples all i get is a really low and quiet grumble like sound. i know im missing something. im debating just getting a bass guitar and playing the bassline manually but i dont really know how to do that either.

also, if anyone could tell me why my sample sounds distorted when i pitch shift it, that would be great.

Thanks!

The low and quiet grumble could simply be that you've low passed the bass so far that your monitors don't reproduce the lower end frequencies accurately. If that's the case don't be fooled thinking there's no bass there just because you can't hear it. You could try to layer up your bass sounds and EQ each layer differently. So there's still an audible bit in the mid-range, but you still have the low end that you feel in your chest

Ya, Basslines can be really tricky, because they're so important. Especially in Beatmaking. Alot of times I'd be quite happy with the beat and then nearly get frustrated over the bassline
I'm not to good at music theory when it comes to harmonics, so I go by ear. Then it might sound OK, but on another set of speakers it sounds out of tune..

My method is; I find a single bass note and make an INST program. Play around till I think it's dope. And that's pretty much it.. Still learning..

Otherwise, just Low end theory on a Sample or EQ or whatever just to Bass up the track..

i would say stay away from the low end of an existing sample as your bassline. that horse has been beaten to dust. get a sine wave, a square wave, and a triange wave and learn the dirty secrets of GPE (as opposed to INST pgms which can get the job done but are less nuanced/detailed)

make sure that your sample is properly tuned too otherwise you're on a train to nowheresville

Do you mean like this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42lfPv62wPs

what kind of monitors or speakers u runnin on the mp?

2 things you need to know about to shape your sound:

1. ADSR

2. compressor

learn about those and you'll be able to do what you want.

Last week I sampled ground hum, beefed up the volume (distorted it a little) and put some low pass VCF on it. Worked a treat.

conclusion: experiment.

MPC2K500 wrote:Do you mean like this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42lfPv62wPs

That's my video

ähm... Nym.. what's GPE ??

eimer wrote:

MPC2K500 wrote:Do you mean like this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42lfPv62wPs

That's my video

ÜBERCOOL , Alta!

TreCipher617 wrote:what kind of monitors or speakers u runnin on the mp?

rather cheap Reloop monitors.. They're not that great but they work OK.
My brother played a couple of my tracks at his place, and it sounded fine. Ther was no low frequencie rumble or mud that I couldn't hear on my monitors. All good. And he's got really decent monitors. real accurat.

What I meant was; If I play (some of) my stuff on my little boombox (which does kinda lack bass) the bass lines would sometimes sound kinda diffrent, to what I heard on the monitors, or in the headphones.. I guess because some of the low end is missing??
Or maybe sometimes with all the oomph, I can't really tell if it sounds out of tune..
I ain't that great with the harmonys.

i think i have m audio av40s. there the cheepest ones but they allways sounded decent to me. i just realized yesterday they have a bass bost on the back which helped a little and that the sample i was using dident realy have any bass to it to begin with so thats pretty much my bad haha. i figured out how to use my low pass filter. but i dont know if i should eq my filtered chopps or not. also how do i make it so i can play my bass chopps over my main sequence using a new program?

create a new program?


Or did I get ur question wrong??