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bass synth from “this is america” by childish gambino | ToneDB

this is america

childish gambino

bass synth

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

A deep and resonant synth bass, providing a dark and driving foundation. The sound has a subtly distorted character, lending a slight edge to the sub-bass frequencies.

Gear

Moog Minimooginstrument
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

The bass synth in 'This Is America' was produced by Ludwig Goransson and uses a deep, resonant analog synthesizer tone with subtle harmonic distortion. While a Moog Minimoog has been mentioned in online discussions as the likely source, the exact synthesizer used has not been officially confirmed by the production team.

Production Credits

Producer: Ludwig Goransson

Engineer: Donald Glover

Signal Chain

Instrument: Moog Minimoog

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Moog Minimoog or a similar analog synth known for its powerful bass.
  • Use an initial sine wave with a saw wave mixed in.
  • Experiment with slight overdrive or saturation to add subtle harmonic distortion.
  • EQ the low end to make sure you retain the sub frequencies.
  • Compress subtly to keep the sound consistent.

Original Gear

  • Moog Minimoog(synth)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Moog Subsequent 25$800-$900

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog analog synthesizer

Provides the classic Moog bass character with powerful oscillators and ladder filter, perfect for deep sub-bass tones

ReverbSweetwater
Arturia MiniBrute 2$400-$500

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog analog synthesizer

Budget analog option with aggressive filter and built-in overdrive circuit for adding subtle harmonic distortion

ReverbSweetwater
Arturia Mini V3$100-$200

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog analog synthesizer

Accurate software emulation of the Minimoog Model D with precise oscillator modeling for authentic bass tones

ReverbSweetwater
Elysia karacter$200-$300

Alternative to: Analog saturation/overdrive processing

Adds controlled harmonic saturation to synth bass without losing low-end clarity

ReverbSweetwater
Behringer Model D$250-$350

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog analog synthesizer

Direct Minimoog clone offering the classic Moog bass sound at an accessible price point

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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