808 Kick Bass starting points on three different softsynths: Serum, Phase Plant, and Operator.
[Note: Very low frequency content. Headphones or monitors required.]
Level: Beginner
Platform: Xfer Serum
Description: The core elements for synthesizing the 90s “West Coast” hip-hop lead popularized by Dr. Dre and others in the mid-90s. The “PORTA” parameter is the key to making it fit your track. Further adjustments can be applied via changing filters, and adding effects like delay and reverb.
Download Link to Preset: Watch+Learn_SerumPreset_WestCoastLead
Level: Beginner
Platform: Xfer Serum
Description: Iconic lead sound, based on the interval of a Fifth (+7 semitones), reinforced by a sub-bass element. Great as a starting point for original variations.
Download Link to Preset: Watch+Learn_SerumPreset_BigFifth
Level: Beginner
Platform: Xfer Serum
Description: Classic pluck/arp sound used in multiple electronic genres. Based on supersaw and filter with enveloping. Easy adjustments include Env 2 decay, cutoff, and resonance.
Download Link: Watch+Learn_SerumPreset_Superpluck
Supersaw starting points on four different softsynths: Serum, Phase Plant, Operator, and Wavetable.
Same sound, two different softsynths
Level: Beginner
Platform: Ableton Operator, Kilohearts Phase Plant
Description: The basic format for emulating tonewheel organs like the Hammond B3. Adjustments can be made by changing the volume of the first eight harmonics.
Download Operator Preset: Watch+Learn_AbletonPreset_B3
Download Phase Plant Preset: Watch+Learn_PhasePlant_B3
Level: Beginner
Platform: Phase Plant
Description: Classic pad consisting of Piano layered with filtered sawtooth. Long releases with reverb added for fullness. Experiment with the sawtooth filter and envelope times.
Download Preset: Watch+Learn_PP_PianoPad
Learn more about this series…
Level: Beginner
Platform: Ableton Operator
Description: Iconic analog string sound used in many R&B, new wave, synthwave, funk, soul, and disco tracks.
Download Preset: Watch+Learn_AbletonPreset_AnalogStrings