The lower frequencies of a note are referred to as sub-bass. The sub-bass frequency range is typically 20-60Hz, which is the lowest frequency that the human ear can detect. So, sub-bass is the component of the bass that gives a dance record punch; it’s the booming, shaking sensation you get in a nightclub inside your chest.
When producers gained access to equipment like the Roland TR-808, a drum machine with booming kicks, and samplers like the Akai S612, sub-bass became a key part of dance music in the 1980s. It’s now one of the most important aspects of music production, with the ability to make or break a record.
Do you want to achieve the perfect sub bass in your music? Low, deep, and forceful, but with a strong sense of control. In any kind of music, a solid sub bass synth or VST plugin is a must-have.
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FAW SubLab
FAW’s SubLab is a synthesizer plugin that focuses on subbass. The vst plugins has hybrid technology, which allows users to combine analog-style synth layers with sub bass sounds imported via the built-in sampler. SubLab was created by FAW for hip hop, future bass, and trap music, and its main selling point is the ability to instantly create thick and punchy 808 bass sounds and bass lines. The sampler is where you should put your kickdrums for the 808’s punch, while the synth layer is where you should develop the 808’s tail. The groundbreaking X-Sub technology, which is only available in SubLab, ensures that your sub is audible on all sound systems.
SubLab comes with three sound engines: synth, sampler, and x-sub, as well as a mixer to mix them all together. There are four waveforms in the synth engine: sine, saw, triangle, and square, as well as an ADSR envelope that may be mapped to volume, pitch, and filter. You can use the sampler to select from SubLab’s kick sounds or drag and drop any sound you wish to use in your bass sound. The third sound engine, X-Sub, is a brand-new technology developed by SubLab’s creators with the sole objective of preserving the integrity of your sub-bass regardless of the notes you play. If you want to play a higher note through SubLab, X-algorithm Sub’s will double the note’s low frequencies, so you don’t have to compromise bass punch.
While SubLab only has two effects, distortion and compression, they have a huge impact on the sound and make generating decent 808s simple and intuitive. You may deepen the sound with the built-in distortion filter for a more analog feel. Only the synth and sampler engines can be distorted, and there are four different modes to choose from: overdrive, tube, grunger, and darkdrive. A highly helpful sidechain mode is included with the compressor. It allows you to sidechain the synth to the sampler, which means that anytime the sampler is activated, the synth engine will drop in volume. This comes in handy for creating 808 sounds with kickdrums put into the sampler.
The stereo width adjustments and built-in maximizer are the icing on the cake. They’re excellent for fine-tuning your sub and bass tones without the use of other plugins. The maximizer will thicken your sound, while the stereo width adjustment will widen it in a nice way. It can become a little chaotic, so play around with these controls to see what works best for you.
SubLab is the synth to use if you’re a trap producer who prefers to work with 808s sub basses. The user interface is simple and appealing, with a clear approach to synthesis. The sound engines sound fantastic, and the X-Sub engine alone is a big draw for this synth sub frequencies. This is the synth to use if you’re looking for deep low-end 808 tones. This is the Best Sub Bass Plugin in 2023.
Loopmasters Bass Master
Bassmaster is a synthesizer dedicated solely to bass synthesizing. It has a simple structure, a well-thought-out settings menu, and, most significantly, incredible sonic capabilities that can go as low as any other bass sound. Bassmaster, created by Loopmasters in the United Kingdom, is designed to handle any bass sound you can think of, from analog, vintage bass sounds to growly, wobble current bass sounds.
Bassmaster’s two oscillators, dubbed top layer and sub-layer, giving you a total of 217 waveforms to pick from when creating your bass. High, Low, Mid, Percussive, Simple, and Sub are the six waveform categories. The top layer has a full ADSR amp control panel, while the sub-layer has an octave control for extra control over your sub’s tone and attack and release settings. Bassmaster’s waveforms were derived from both traditional analog and modern digital synthesizers. Bassmaster is a great synth for current, digital bass sounds like those heard in EDM, as well as smooth and still bottom heaving tones like those prevalent in hip hop, RnB, and indie music.
Bassmaster has a total of 13 filter options. There are lowpass and highpass modes with varied resonance settings, a ladder mode for grittier sounds, and a comb filter for more creative sound production options. The pre-drive knob, which allows you to distort the sound before it enters the filter, is another interesting innovation. The keytrack button adjusts the cutoff frequency to match the pitch of the notes coming in.
There are three effects available in Bassmaster: distortion, stereo chorus, and reverb. While you can never have too many effects on a synth, the limited selection makes developing a distinct bass sound difficult. Bassmaster also has a frequency booster effect that emphasizes the bottom end, as well as an intuitive and inspiring mod wheel feature that allows the user to assign up to three parameters, making it a versatile performance tool.
Bassmaster is one of the greatest because it is entirely dedicated to bass synthesis. Sound design is simple and approachable for everybody thanks to its to-the-point and basic layout. The waveforms chosen are of excellent quality and can provide analog or digital outputs. For some producers, the lack of a matrix and several envelopes and LFO options may be a drawback, but Bassmaster accomplishes its goals admirably. This is the Best Sub Bass VST in 2022.
denise audio Bass XL
With Bass XL, Denise Audio claims to be able to create a tremendously controlled low end for your music. Bass XL is a simple bass enhancement plugin that allows you to increase and drive one specific frequency of your favorite music. While it’s marketed and geared at bass sounds, denise audio claims that it can be used well on a wide range of sounds, including synths, drum buses, and vocalists.
Bass XL allows you to zero in on a single bass frequency. On the far left, you’ll find an input fader that allows you choose how much bass enhancement affects your sound, and on the far right, you’ll find an output fader. With two control knobs: drive and tone, the saturator in Bass XL allows you to color the frequency you choose. You can use it to warm up the sound or you can use it to test the drive knob and get thick, fuzzy bass tones.
The position knob is without a doubt the most intriguing feature of Bass XL. The position knob moves the bass enhancement effect by a maximum of 50ms backwards or forwards in time. This might result in bass sounds that are either tight or loose. Bass XL by Denise Audio is one of the most user-friendly bass enhancement plugins available. It just has one task to accomplish, and it does it well: it boosts and enhances your bass frequencies. Every control is straightforward to comprehend like synthesizer hardware, and the UI is minimalistic and tidy.
DopeSONIX Bass Engine 2
This plugin focuses on a wide, fat, warmer-toned sound for hip-hop and current rap. DopeSONIX Bass Engine is influenced by three distinct periods of hip-hop and is grouped accordingly. The Bass Engine will take you to the early 2000s or the 1990s, depending on your preferences.
The bass engine is built in with the normal Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release parameters, despite the lack of adjustable oscillators. Furthermore, the plugin was created to provide a quick route to desired hip hop sounds. The lack of technical modification is on purpose, and in exchange, you get 300 preprocessed sounds that can be used right away in your project. Furthermore, browsing presets is quick and simple; you won’t have to wait for each patch to load.
Coupled with this, the DopeSONIX uses very little CPU, making it a perfect VST to use even on low-powered laptops and tablets. You also get the extra benefit of being able to program bass sounds from within the plugin, eliminating the need for a midi controller.
Do you require some motivation? To get your mixes started, the DopeSONIX Bass Engine 2 comes with 50 Hip Hop midi bassline patterns that may be altered or exported. The VST contains built-in glide, pan, and drive controls for small changes. Bass Engine 2 features an analog-inspired reverb to add to the retro feel. It is reasonably priced without appearing to be so.
Above all, the DopeSONIX Bass Engine 2 offers a new perspective on sub bass. Its decade-based organization shows genuine respect for the hip-hop genre as a whole, and it has the sound to back it up. Although its lack of personalization and technical options may irritate some, it provides a rapid way to get to a hip hop-specific, high-quality sound without the distraction of often unnecessary controls.