TONEDB

bass synth from “thriller” by michael jackson | ToneDB

thriller

michael jackson

bass synth

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A deep and resonant synth bass that provides the rhythmic foundation for the song. It has a slightly metallic and subtly distorted quality that cuts through the mix.

The Story

The distinctive bass synth on "Thriller" was recorded using a Yamaha CS-80 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with Quincy Jones producing and Bruce Swedien engineering. The synth was processed through an SSL 4000 G+ console, with layering techniques used to create the deep, metallic texture that anchors the track's groove. Swedien's engineering approach included EQ shaping and compression to help the bass cut through the dense mix.

Production Credits

Producer: Quincy Jones

Engineer: Bruce Swedien

Recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Yamaha CS-80

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Yamaha CS-80 or a software emulation of it.
  • Use an EQ to shape the tone, focusing on the low frequencies.
  • Use a compressor to add punch and sustain to the sound.
  • Slightly overdrive the signal for a subtle distortion.
  • Experiment with layering different synth patches to create a more complex sound.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia CS-80 V4$199

Alternative to: Yamaha CS-80

Faithful software recreation of the CS-80 with the same oscillator behavior and filter characteristics needed for that rich, analog bass tone

Sequential Prophet-5 Rev4$4199

Alternative to: Yamaha CS-80

Modern analog synth with similar vintage character and the ability to create layered, punchy bass sounds with metallic overtones

SSL Native Channel Strip 2$249

Alternative to: SSL 4000 G+ Console

Official SSL plugin version of the 4000 series EQ and compressor used to shape and punch up the original bass sound

Warm Audio EQP-WA$449

Alternative to: SSL 4000 G+ Console

Hardware tube EQ that can add similar warmth and low-end shaping to recreate the console processing character

Behringer CS-80 Clone (when released)$800-1200

Alternative to: Yamaha CS-80

Upcoming budget hardware clone promising authentic CS-80 sound architecture at a fraction of the original cost

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!