TONEDB

bass synth from “block rockin' beats” by the chemical brothers | ToneDB

block rockin' beats

the chemical brothers

bass synth

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Aggressive and distorted analog synth bass, with a gritty, driving quality. It's a raw and powerful sound that forms the backbone of the track.

Gear

Roland TB-303instrument
Reverb$130Sweetwater
Proco Ratprocessing
ReverbSweetwater
Roland Dimension Dprocessing
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

The aggressive bass synth in 'Block Rockin' Beats' was built around a Roland TB-303 run through a Proco RAT distortion pedal for harsh saturation, then processed through a Roland Dimension D for spatial widening. The Chemical Brothers used this chain to transform the TB-303's characteristic acid house sound into something more raw and driving for their big beat style.

Production Credits

Producer: The Chemical Brothers

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland TB-303

Processing: Proco Rat, Roland Dimension D

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Roland TB-303 or a similar analog bass synthesizer.
  • Dial in a square wave or saw wave to get a similar starting point.
  • Use a Proco Rat or a similar distortion pedal to add a layer of overdrive and grit.
  • Experiment with the Rat's filter and distortion knobs to find the sweet spot.
  • Add subtle chorus or spatial widening using a Roland Dimension D or similar effect.
  • Adjust the mix to taste, ensuring the bass remains punchy and defined.

Original Gear

  • Roland TB-303(synth)
  • Proco Rat(pedal)
  • Roland Dimension D(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Behringer TD-3$150-200

Alternative to: Roland TB-303

Faithful clone of the TB-303 circuit with the same squelchy filter and oscillator character needed for this aggressive bass tone

ReverbSweetwater
Roland TB-03$350-400

Alternative to: Roland TB-303

Official Roland recreation using ACB modeling of the original TB-303, providing authentic acid bass sounds

ReverbSweetwater
Proco RAT 2$70-90

Alternative to: Proco RAT

Current production version of the same RAT circuit used on the original track, delivers identical harsh distortion and filtering

ReverbSweetwater
Boss DC-2W Dimension C Waza Craft$200-250

Alternative to: Roland Dimension D

Faithful recreation of Roland's Dimension D chorus/spatializer circuit, providing the same stereo widening effect

ReverbSweetwater
Arturia Acid V$100-150

Alternative to: Complete signal chain

Software emulation of TB-303 with built-in distortion and effects that can recreate this processed acid bass sound

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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