• SONAR
  • Help getting a Dubstep-style wobble bass (p.3)
2015/06/03 16:07:19
kevmsmith81
I do have the version of Z3TA which comes with Sonar professional as it happens.  I just can't figure out the trickery to getting the LFO set up.  As I said, I'm a complete novice with this kind of thing.
 
I did see a tutorial on Youtube, but the guy doing it goes way too fast for me to follow, plus it's only 480p so a load of the text is illegible, so it's not like it's easy to follow it by pausing it and making out the text.
2015/06/03 21:23:35
mettelus
Z3ta+ and Z3ta+2 are very similar in the Modulation Matrix Area. The MM begins to get used at ~15m in this video. I like that one for "starting out" as the first thing he does is initialize the program (starts from scratch).
 
This link is an overview of the wobble bass, which I have never tried personally, but if you use Z3ta+ the modulation matrix area needs all the fields filled out to work (source - LFO1, range, curve, (affected) control, and destination).
 
I am not a huge synth guy, but some here most definitely are. B rock is one that comes to mind who is very synth heavy and could probably slam dunk this issue for you (may want to try shooting him a PM).
 
Edit -  I just shot b rock a PM and linked this thread.
 
2015/06/04 01:12:23
cryophonik
Here you go.  I threw together a very "bass-ic" wobble sound in Z3TA.
 
http://www.cryophonik.com/files/bass-ic_wobble.rar
 
Save/unzip the .fxp file somewhere and load it into Z3TA from the "VST2" dropdown in the top window using the "Load Preset" command and navigating to wherever you unzipped the .fxp file.  Basically, it's just a sine-based LFO that is rapidly modulating (increasing/decreasing) the filter cutoff frequency.  You can use the mod wheel on your MIDI controller/keyboard to change the wobble speed.  You should know that it really pains me to help anybody make something as atrocious as dubstep, though, so you owe me big-time for this.  
2015/06/04 03:18:47
MrDoc
Here's a link to a video tutorial I came across on the Cakewalk Blog that has been immensely helpful to me:
 
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovre1jS-I0A">Digital Sound Factory Z3TA2 Sound Design</a>
 
The tutorial uses Z3ta 2, but the principles are the same.  It's helpful to know how to use LFOs and the modulation matrix so you can get specific effects (such as the dubstep wobble that is described very well in the Maartian's post) with different programs (I'll often add vibrato effects to existing programs using the mod matrix and LFOs).  Cryophonik's program is very nice, and it might work well in your scenario, but it's nice to know how to apply the same effects to other programs, so you can preserve the awesome sounds found in Z3ta's presets while only changing the wobble effect.  A disclaimer, though, is that a lot of the Z3ta presets come with LFOs, filters, and mod matrix programming already assigned, so you have to try and avoid LFOs and filters that are currently in use, otherwise you might alter the sound of the program to a point where it's no longer desirable to you.  If  you find a bass sound in Z3ta that you want to add a wobble to, I could try and alter the program for you could automate the LFO sync to different durations.  My general strategy in doing this (depends on the complexity of the program, though) is:
1. Find an LFO that isn't being used already (the light next to the number won't be lit), select a waveform next to the Wave1 field (sine is usually fine)
2. Find a Filter (1 or 2) that isn't being used and set the type to low pass filter (LPF).  One or both are probably being used in the program already, so this is the step that can really change how your program sounds overall.  If both are being used, I'd probably go with one that is already using a LPF.
3. Find an unused slot in the modulation matrix, assign the source to whichever LFO you used in step 1, set the range all the way up, then set the output to the filter-filter cutoff that you chose in step 2.
4. While playing a note, or previewing a bassline, mess with the speed for the LFO you chose in step 1.  If the effect sounds right, you can set the LFO's sync to some value, then automate that value in the automation lanes.  If you prefer the manual mod wheel feel, set the control in the mod matrix to "Mod Wheel" so you can adjust the speed of the LFO with the mod wheel.
5. If the effect doesn't sound right in step 4, you might need to change the routing of the oscillators to the filters.  Each oscillator can be routed to either filter, or a mix of both, so to get the most of the bass wobble effect, it's probably best to route each oscillator to the filter you're using, that way every component of the sound is being filtered rhythmically by the LFO.
 
Hope that helps.  It probably sounds like a lot of mumbo jumbo if you're not familiar with poking around in Z3ta, but watching that video will help a lot, I swear.  If you watch the portions in the video about adding vibrato with the mod matrix, then re-read the steps above, it should hopefully make sense.
2015/06/04 04:08:40
kevmsmith81
Thanks all for the help.  Hopefully close to nailing this so I can actually get the project properly underway.
2015/06/04 09:31:35
kevmsmith81
cryophonik
Here you go.  I threw together a very "bass-ic" wobble sound in Z3TA.
 
http://www.cryophonik.com/files/bass-ic_wobble.rar
 
Save/unzip the .fxp file somewhere and load it into Z3TA from the "VST2" dropdown in the top window using the "Load Preset" command and navigating to wherever you unzipped the .fxp file.  Basically, it's just a sine-based LFO that is rapidly modulating (increasing/decreasing) the filter cutoff frequency.  You can use the mod wheel on your MIDI controller/keyboard to change the wobble speed.  You should know that it really pains me to help anybody make something as atrocious as dubstep, though, so you owe me big-time for this.  




Thanks for this, I will try this as soon as I'm able.  If it makes you feel any better, my "Dubstep" will probably not be much like actual Dubstep at all, as I'm not exactly a student of the genre.  I'm more at home listening to the likes of Iron Maiden, so it'll just be my own interpretation.  But I do like the wobble effect, and I have an idea in mind as to how I want to use it. :p
 
I don't have a physical midi controller, will I be able to control the wobble speed using the automation lanes?
 
Thanks for taking the time to do this for me, I do appreciate it.
2015/06/04 11:55:29
cryophonik
kevmsmith81
 
If it makes you feel any better, my "Dubstep" will probably not be much like actual Dubstep at all, as I'm not exactly a student of the genre.  I'm more at home listening to the likes of Iron Maiden, so it'll just be my own interpretation.  But I do like the wobble effect, and I have an idea in mind as to how I want to use it. :p

 
Yeah, I was just messing with you.  I'm not a fan of dubstep, but the wobble bass can be cool for other styles.
 
kevmsmith81
I don't have a physical midi controller, will I be able to control the wobble speed using the automation lanes?
 



Yeah, automating MIDI CC#1 (mod wheel) will do the job.  Also, the mod wheel is just assigned to the "time" parameter for LFO1, so you could automate that parameter directly if you wanted to instead.
2015/06/04 14:02:40
kevmsmith81
Thanks for the preset.  Sounds great from what I've heard so far.  The only thing is I can't get the variations in the wobble.  I've attached a screenshot to show what I've done.  Can you see exactly what I'm doing wrong?  Thanks.  I couldn't find a MIDI CC#1 control, so I tried the other route.
 

2015/06/04 14:10:46
dubdisciple
Wobble bass was actually popularized in drum 'n bass before dubstep was invented. http://xenossoundworks.com/z3ta.html has some nice wobble presets to start you off for dirt cheap. Not particularly hard to make the simple form of wobnle bass in z3ta and I'm a novice synth programmer. The more growling/squelching FM type variations (Skrillex) are a little more challenging. Closest that can be found in presets readily availa le for z3ta are the encanti mutant expansions found in cake store.
2015/06/04 14:13:11
danholobow
Hey Kev,
 
Want wobble then check out Sugar Bytes Cyclop plugin on YouTube that is made for just that purpose.
 
Threes
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