synth from “higher ground” by stevie wonder | ToneDB

higher ground

stevie wonder

synth

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A funky and slightly distorted synth bass sound that provides the rhythmic foundation of the song, characterized by its punchy attack and warm sustain.

Production Credits

Producer: Stevie Wonder

Engineer: Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff

Recorded at: Record Plant, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Moog Minimoog

Recording Notes

  • The Minimoog's oscillators were likely configured to produce a sawtooth or square wave, fundamental to the synth bass tone.
  • Slight overdrive or saturation, either from the console or subtle effects, contributes to the tone's edge.
  • Envelope settings with a quick attack and moderate decay shape the percussive quality of the bass.
  • The recording involved direct injection (DI) to capture the clean, raw signal from the Minimoog, followed by subtle EQ adjustments during mixing to sit well in the mix.

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a sawtooth or square wave on a Minimoog or similar analog synthesizer.
  • Adjust the filter cutoff and resonance to shape the tone, focusing on a balance between warmth and punch.
  • Add a touch of overdrive or saturation to give the bass some grit and character.
  • Use a fast attack and moderate decay on the amplitude envelope to achieve the percussive pluck.
  • Experiment with subtle EQ adjustments to fine-tune the bass's presence in the mix.

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