Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
syntorial
Tech New to synthesis? This free synth plugin can help you learn how it works
Plugins
Plugins How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
halogen fm
Tech GForce Software makes FM synthesis simple with Halogen FM
Full Bucket Music FB-3300
Software & Apps Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Full Bucket FB-3300
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
Software & Apps "This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
Fors Pivot
Synths Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Marshall Jefferson
Samples SampleRadar: 267 free deep house samples
  1. Tech
  2. Synths

Get the Sub Focus sound using freeware synths

Tuition
By Future Music ( Future Music ) published 24 February 2012

D'n'b for free

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Intro

Intro

The first Sub Focus album is a genre-blending heavyweight classic, demonstrating that Nick Douwma has the experience to use the precisely right sounds at the precisely the right time.

We've chosen the driving Drum 'n' Bass chart topping epic: Time Warp We want to encourage the vast abundance of freeware for this track so we are going to usesynths fromTAL (Togu Audio Line) made by Patrick Kunz. The combination of these synths and Ableton Live will equip us with enough music-making tools to tackle the recreation of the sub, bass and synths to emulate the more dominant elements of this tune and riff.

As always with these tutorials, we want you to use this newly-created sound as a starting point for your own fresh and new productions.

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Silky Sub

Silky Sub

We will start with the TAL ELEK7RO using a single sine wave oscillator.This is a great free synth and is ideal for producing silky smooth rounded sub.

We added a bit of warmth and control from the PSP Vintage Warmer, this will help to fill out the low end sonic spectrum, and will even out plus flatten any peaks. If you don’t have Vintage Warmer, and are using Ableton, then try the Dynamic Tube and the Saturator as inserts to drive the sound a bit. Speaking of peaks, the useful compressor from Ableton is in place here to further flatten any spikes, but the compressor will also raise any hollows in the sub spectrum too. The Auto Filter placed here is the last chance saloon to ensure full control of where the ‘low’ is at.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Square bass

Square bass

I have used the TAL U-NO-62 synth for the bass here. The unit is in square wave mode with the chorus and noise switched off so take care with the VCF settings as they are very powerful on this synth.

Don’t be put off by the slider/fader-based interface, I find them more visually accurate than rotary controllers – you can really see where they are set, especially when shaping an envelope.

The Ableton Compressor is employed next for boosting duties here and for bringing the sound nearer to the listener. Again used to liven up the U-NO quite a bit, the compressor brings out all of the frequencies – the PSP then warms all of these elements combined.

This has been placed after the compressor so it’s processing a consistent signal and if you don’t have one at hand find something similar in your plug-in collection as mentioned above.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Shaping

Shaping

It’s all about the band-pass filtering and filterenvelope shaping using pulse waves on the TAL-ELEK7RO for the synth sound, plus the added noise and all three oscillators working together to make this Rave-stab-esque filtered synth sound.

Use that combination of contour and cutoff on the filter section to work the sound design here. The two opposing delay speeds on the Simple Delay used here enhance the stereo field in which this sound sits, but easy with that wet/dry mix, then after the delay we have reverb which is set to a large room setting. The Warmer has been put at the end of the line of inserts here to warm up the synth, but it brings the delay and reverb forward in the mix as well.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Basic beats

Basic beats

I used sounds from the brilliant Loopmasters to get the basic beats down, I have used a bit of tube distortion on the snare plus extensive high pass filtering on the hi-hat and ride cymbals to get that high wash.

Under the beats is some basic detail of the notation used for the Bass synth. Please note that the sub notation is the same, but the sub synth (TAL ELEK7RO) is set to operate an octave lower. To control the filter automation on the TAL ELEK7RO you will need to select the master pitch parameter in the control lane (slightly confusing).This will then control the VCF (Voltage Control Filter)

With the synth set up as it is, the slightest automated change really mangles the filter’s sounds with dramatic effect.Mess around with your MIDI controller to really get the best out of this and hit record while you’re at it!

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Future Music
Future Music

Future Music is the number one magazine for today's producers. Packed with technique and technology we'll help you make great new music. All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. Every marvellous monthly edition features reliable reviews of the latest and greatest hardware and software technology and techniques, unparalleled advice, in-depth interviews, sensational free samples and so much more to improve the experience and outcome of your music-making.

Read more
syntorial
New to synthesis? This free synth plugin can help you learn how it works
Plugins
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
halogen fm
GForce Software makes FM synthesis simple with Halogen FM
Full Bucket Music FB-3300
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Full Bucket FB-3300
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
"This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
Fors Pivot
Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Latest in Synths
AlphaTheta Chordcat
"Inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look
microbrute
"The same pocket-sized powerhouse that earned a cult following, recast for deep-space missions": Arturia's MicroBrute returns from the cosmos in limited-edition UFO version
Forever89 Visco 2
Visco 2.0 turns Forever89's boundary-pushing drum machine into a polysynth – hands-on
Fors Pivot
Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Odin 2
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
Excite Audio Bloom KSHMR
Excite Audio collaborates with KSHMR to create a new Bloom instrument that brings the sound of Indian music to any DAW, and you can grab the Lite version for just $5
Latest in Tuition
Plugins
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
Plugin Chains
How to emulate a classic analogue recording system entirely with plugins
Odin 2
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
ableton
8 things you can do with Ableton Live's updated Auto Filter device
Native Instruments Raum
How to use reverb to build impressive-sounding filters, reverses, risers and pads
mixing desk
“Learning how to mix is almost as important as hitting on your original musical idea”: New to the mixing process? Start here

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...