Synth for Good Bass

Hi, I currently have my MPC hooked up to a Microkorg and a yamaha p250 and neither of them have quite the bass sound I want. I make hip hop beats and the kind of bass I'm after - and I'm sure you will understand from this description - is Very heavy low end, deep, smooth, rounded, rich and warm. Very deep and powerful but rounded and warm. I don't currently use a computer for anything.

So I have spent the last week looking into different kinds of synths especially for bass. I hear Moogs are great, Nord, Prophet 8, and a load of others, but they are well outside of my price range. My price range is around 200.

I have discovered synths in price range such as Waldorf Pulse, Q, Mopho, Bass station, Prophecy, and the more I look into this the more synths people seem to be suggesting. And none of these people seem to use these for hip hop.

So basically the Pulse seems most attractive for powerful loud strong bass, but then I hear it is harsh and dirty. I heard the bass station for example is a bit thin and tinny, and that the Mopho isnt very powerful for deep end. I really want something smooth and rich as well as deep, perfect for hip hop.

I know that this is subjective and people will have different opinions. I also know there is a level where any sound can be tweaked to get the sound you want. But still it would be great if anyone can offer any suggestions as to which bass synth (keyboard or rack, whichever) would produce the best deep sound? Does anyone use the pulse for hiphop bass? Does the mopho do the trick?

I gave up and thought I'd ask on here because I've been overloaded with information, and i dont really have the opportunity to test lots of them myself. Thanks in advance!!

I dunno, man...I've had my Nord Lead 1 for years, got it used for only $500. Great bass sounds there - I'd save the extra money and get you a Moog or Nord, or see if you can cop one used off Craigslist.

If and when you do decide to use the computer, you can give the Arturia minimoog v a shot. It's got those nice deep basses that you want and you can build your own as well.

It also comes through your mix real good so you don't have to tweak it much unless you want to. But I forgot to mention one thing, it's also a vsti.

Thanks, I definitely hear what you are saying about the Nord, but it is definitely gonna be out of my range for a while, I'm keeping an eye on ebay for bargains at the mo, saying that do you think any of those lower budget ones are worthwhile or considered good for hip hop? Or would you say I'd be wasting my money with either of those and should just get the Nord.

OR, do you think the general concensus would be that I should stop being lazy and pull my finger out, get an audio interface and go via the computer as suggested? Is that the way forward? Would I be able to get decent analogue feel that way as well? (would be playing through microkorg i guess)

Thanks again for replies hope my questions are logical.

if its bass only youre after Id recommend the pulse....but watch out you can destroy speakers on it.....dont think you could equal it via the pc

Thats what I've been leaning towards up til now, except people suggest it is harsh and aggressive in nature, can you also get a smooth warm sounding bass from it too? If so then I think I'm sold

Cheers

Waldorf Pulse all day every day

I would recommend the Supernova by Novation if it wasn't so hard to find. That's not to say it's expensive though, I just sold mine for 300 USD. Before I sold it, I used it for all my basses, and it's engine builds off the bass station so it's kind of like getting the bass station plus some other goodies. Still, I never really see them for sale often. But if you happen across one, I recommend it.

I looked online and there is one going for a couple of hundred. I could get that but I am really interested to know if anyone else can compare this to the Pulse which is going around the same price. I am torn between the two. From what I read the supernova is not analogue either. Is there much between the two? Thanks.

I would really like someones opinion on this

its ok, I just purchased a waldorf pulse. Thanks everyone for the input. However if anyone wishes to tell me I made a stupid decision please go ahead!!

1

great choice.....you wont be disapointed

going the computer route is the affordable thing to do, but is it really what you're looking for? you said you're not getting the "right" sound out of your synths you think a computer is gunna deliver the secret weapon? you'll just be wasting precious time learning the computer route to do simple shtt.. get a moog voyager. or there's plenty of cheap vintage synths out there on ebay and craigslist. korg and moog. with low pass filters and eqs you cant go wrong on analog bass sounds. 2 cents.

are just not happy with the preset sound choices........?

or still disappointed after tweaking patch parameters............?

dabmeister wrote:If and when you do decide to use the computer, you can give the Arturia minimoog v a shot.

Or the whole V Collection for $500! http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VCollection2

Minimoog V, Moog Modular V, CS-80V, ARP2600 V, Prophet V and Prophet VS, Jupiter-8V.