In Synth Bass for Bass Players, Part 1, we talked about how doubling on synth bass can increase your opportunities to land more work in today’s music scene. We also outlined some of the important features to look for when choosing a keyboard for playing synth bass. This time, we’ll take a closer look at some Roland synths that are ideal for the job.
Teaching and studying synthesis builds sonic awareness and essential skills for players and producers.
As a professor who teaches music production at Berklee College of Music and Berklee Online, I have grown more and more sure that an understanding of synthesis is essential for keyboardists and producers alike. Synthesizers are a constant presence in contemporary music, and even when we hear organic or acoustic sounds, they’re often performed within software that uses synthesizer parameters to control or modify them. Most importantly, though, learning synthesis gives us a language for timbre and a way to understand sound.
Bassist Robert “Bubby” Lewis with the Roland GAIA SH-01 synth.
In today’s music world, the vast influence of EDM and other electronic styles has crept into the fabric of nearly every popular genre. The core of EDM is a driving rhythm groove, with the low end held down by synthesizer bass. To cover this essential sound, traditional bass players are now called upon more and more to double on keyboard both live and in the studio. If you’re a bassist who’s looking to increase your musical versatility and gigging opportunities, read on to find out the things you should know when getting into synth bass.
Music education online is more accessible than ever via Berklee College of Music’s online extension school.
When you think of music education, you may envision private teachers giving lessons in their homes or a rehearsal room full of students. These learning models are time tested and effective, but unfortunately are not available to all students. However, the dream of the virtual classroom is now a reality and online learning has come of age. According to SkilledUp’s E-learning blog, 46% of college students took at least one online class in the past year. It is predicted that by 2018, half of all classes will be taught online. Music education online is intriguing but also a bit of a mystery, especially for music students. Can you really get the same experience online as you can in a classroom?
Five winners will have their remixes of the song ‘Misgiving’ from BY MAKER (Featuring Geno Lenardo and Daniel Davies) chosen to be part of an upcoming I, Frankenstein remix E.P. to be released on Lakeshore Records. Register for the contest at Loopport and get full details on how to submit a remix and all the tools you’ll need to get started. Submissions end Tuesday, February 4 at 12:00 PM PST.
Image: V-Synth GT sound design parameters
Do you experiment with sound design? One common misconception about programming synthesizers is that it’s easier to modify an existing patch (tone) than to start from scratch. You’ve probably sat with your favorite synth, found a patch that you like, and went to town tweaking the parameters. Suddenly, you begin to find that your knob and slider adjustments are getting you further and further away from the original sound. This is the main problem with modifying existing patches. You often have to search for and remove unwanted parameters (which may be affecting the tone quite drastically) only to end up with something far from the original and a lot of frustration. More
Axial – Roland Synthesizer Sound Libraries
Today is the debut of Axial, our official sound library for Roland synthesizers. Now, more than ever, musical styles and tastes seem to change by the minute, and it was only yesterday that Dubstep and Electro were on every TV commercial and hot remix (only to be replaced by Moombahton and Trap). Roland’s top programmers are now giving you access to this fresh new stream of creative tools that will keep you ahead of the curve!
In this edition of Synth Basics with Ed, Ed describes how to program a lead on the GAIA SH-01. This knowledge could be applied to any synthesizer regardless of make or model by using basic synth components and effects.
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Roland’s new JUPITER-50 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Musikmesse last year, and though it sits at the cutting-edge of new technology, it’s a synth that sits firmly in line with Roland’s synth philosophy and history.
The JUPITER-50 is a streamlined version of the flagship JUPITER-80, and both instruments fit neatly into Roland’s 40-year story of pioneering synthesizer development. As the JUPITER name suggests, these new synths are related to one of the most iconic synth lines ever created—the genre-defining JUPITER-8.
Using the most innovative analog technologies of the time, the JUPITER-8 was released in 1981 and provided musicians with a rich palette of synth textures. Its reliability and ease of use on stage made it a go-to instrument for the electro crowd of the time. Its built-in arpeggiator and deep sonic potential satisfied the synth elite and awed countless Duran Duran fans. More
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