basslines

[Jay Pace]

I find with basslines its almost as important to work on your mix than the bassline itself.

Need to think about what your track is doing, and what sort of bassline you are going for because its going to affect every other element of the track.

If the bassline is the main feature you have to build everything else round it.

If its supposed to help drive along the groove, you should incorporate it after you've got your groove.

You'd be suprised how ordinary the actual bassline sound itself is on many outstanding tracks. Its more down to clever positioning in the mix.

Listen to D&B for some ideas on how to use bass. The tracks with the biggest basslines just have percussions sizzling on the top, and the bass takes up nearly all the space. Other tracks are more percussion led and theres just a deep sub adding depth.

Really depends on what you are looking for. Give us some examples mate, sure we can help ;)

[Siege]

Doing your bassline later as jay said is 1 way of doing it,but personally i get my kick,then work on the bass before anything else,regardless of what style,vibe im going for.Just find starting at the bottom and working my way up easier.Once youve got it right,youve got a significant chunk of the trk done...in my opinion.

[MangaFish]

Really depends on what you are looking for. Give us some examples mate, sure we can help ;)

I don't want to limit myself to when style of techno (or even EDM) so I'm just trying to get to grips with the theory.

Eventually i want to be-able to write any kind of bassline as i love my bass.

So basically just throw me some hints at how to produce what ever basslines you favour and i'll have a play around to see if i can make it my own (so to speak).

[dirty_bass]

I don't want to limit myself to when style of techno (or even EDM) so I'm just trying to get to grips with the theory.

Eventually i want to be-able to write any kind of bassline as i love my bass.

So basically just throw me some hints at how to produce what ever basslines you favour and i'll have a play around to see if i can make it my own (so to speak).

I`m nearly done with my production masterclass part 2
(part 1 here on BOA) http://www.blackoutaudio.co.uk/content/view/29/29/

The part 2 has a big section on compression, attempting to put it all in laymans terms, and giving examples of all the various uses of compression.
There is also a section called Bass(ics) which deals with bass treatment and various methods (obviously, music theory, melody, and scales are something you will need to learn yourself), plus another section on EQ and mastering.
I`m typing it up this week, and then sending it to EG to go up on the site soon I hope.

[MangaFish]

techmouse: that actually explains things very well. thanks mate

dirtybass: i'll look forward to reading it