bass synth from “girls & boys” by blur | ToneDB
girls & boys
blur
bass synth
Tone Profile
The bass synth has a solid, slightly rubbery square wave tone with a resonant filter sweep adding movement and character. It's a driving, melodic bassline that's both punchy and slightly quirky.
The Story
The bass synth on Blur's "Girls & Boys" was created using a Roland SH-101 analog synthesizer. The track was produced by Stephen Street and recorded at Matrix Studios in London. The SH-101's filter envelope was used to create the characteristic resonant sweep that gives the bassline its movement and slightly quirky character.
Production Credits
Producer: Stephen Street
Engineer: John Smith
Recorded at: Matrix Studios (London)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Roland SH-101
Recreation Tips
- Start with a square wave on a Roland SH-101 or similar analog synth.
- Use the filter envelope to create a subtle resonant sweep synced to the song's tempo.
- Add a touch of compression to even out the dynamics and make it punchy.
- Experiment with chorus or flanger effects for subtle width.
Original Gear
- Roland SH-101(synth)
- SSL 4000 G+ Console(channel_strip)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Roland SH-101
Authentic digital recreation of the original SH-101 with identical oscillator character and filter behavior for that rubbery square wave tone
Alternative to: Roland SH-101
Analog mono synth with similar filter envelope capabilities and punchy character for recreating the resonant sweep
Alternative to: Roland SH-101
Software synth capable of the square wave tones and filter modulation needed for this driving bassline
Alternative to: SSL 4000 G+ Console
Official SSL plugin recreation providing the EQ and compression characteristics of the original console used in mixing
Alternative to: SSL 4000 G+ Console
Hardware EQ that can provide similar tonal shaping to enhance the punch and character of the synth bass
Frequently Asked Questions
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