Bass and lead question?

[ninjames]

I'm might sound like a noob, but why on some bass sounds and lead sounds (both in programs and combinations) can you only play one note otherwise it starts to distort/mess up the sound?
Mainly want to know if there is anyway of fixing it?
Thx

[michelkeijzers]

I'm might sound like a noob, but why on some bass sounds and lead sounds (both in programs and combinations) can you only play one note otherwise it starts to distort/mess up the sound?
Mainly want to know if there is anyway of fixing it?
Thx

You could lower the volume of the program (oscs) or combi timbre volumes. Are you sure the output of the synth itself is not too high? (or decreasing the gain on y our mixer if you have one).

[billbaker]

Ninja,

Part of the problem is in the sounds, part in whatever you're using to play 'em back.

Program part: Bass programs, especially those that use sine waves or sub octaves are moving at fairly low speeds (i.w., A = 110 cycles per second) playing a second note simultaneously (say, 150 CPS) can actually set up a 3rd low frequency wave that happens when the two oscillators sync up for just a millisecond and, depending on strength and frequency, can be characterized as "messed up or distorted". At higher frequencies you might call them phasing or possibly hear them as a beat or out of tune element to the sound. At low frequencies they are "garbage" or distortion.

Also, when that distortion also goes through FX like reverb it can cause secondary distortion if the unintended sound is too big and overloads the gain structure.

Sound part: Try and play back that strong very low frequency wave through small speakers and they'll crackle or stop working for a second -- even larger systems may have a hard time with these inadvertent waves.

This is why most bass sounds - especially the simpler (relatively) synth bass and sub-bass sounds - are usually mono-phonic by design; so that you don't get them overlapping.


BB