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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.

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The Story

Stevie Wonder recorded the iconic synth bass on "Higher Ground" using a Moog Minimoog synthesizer. The track was recorded at Record Plant in Los Angeles, with Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff engineering. The Minimoog was played through direct injection to capture its raw analog character, with the oscillators set to generate the fundamental sawtooth/square wave that defines the punchy, rhythmic bass tone.

Production Credits

Producer: Stevie Wonder

Engineer: Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff

Recorded at: Record Plant, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Moog MinimoogShop on Reverb

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.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Moog Subsequent 37Shop on Reverb$1,400-$1,600

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog synthesizer

Modern Moog with the same analog circuits and oscillator character as the original Minimoog, perfect for nailing that punchy sawtooth bass tone

Behringer Model DShop on Reverb$300-$400

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog synthesizer

Budget-friendly analog clone of the Minimoog circuitry that captures the essential sawtooth wave and filter characteristics needed for this funk bass sound

Arturia Mini VPlugin Boutique$100-$200

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog synthesizer

Detailed software emulation of the Minimoog with authentic oscillator modeling and filter behavior for the classic analog synth bass character

Moog MinitaurShop on Reverb$500-$600

Alternative to: Moog Minimoog synthesizer

Dedicated analog bass synthesizer with authentic Moog oscillators and filter, specifically designed for the type of punchy bass lines heard on Higher Ground

Sources

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