How to make a sound: BASS examples

Bass 01

Bass 02

How to make a sound: BASS

We will offer you a basic "recipe" for developing bass sounds with the JU-06. There are tons of textures out there; so please note these are only some starting points; it's up to you to create unique bass sounds for your music.

DCO:  

SQUARE/PULSE or SAW or both combined

Add some SUB (even up to max.) and sometimes NOISE

RANGE: 8 or 16

You could modulate the PWM with the LFO.

FILTER: 

HPF - most of the times at 0

VCF - adjust FREQ to taste; add some RES if needed

ENV, LFO, KYBD - adjust to taste

ENV: 

Attack 0; Delay (1-6); Sustain (0-7); Release (0-5)

LFO:

According to taste

CHORUS: 

None or to according to taste (mostly chorus I)

The JU-06 explained: 4. ENV + LFO

In this section we discuss about the modulators of the JU-06: the envelope (ENV) and the low frequency oscillator (LFO).

The four sliders in the ENV section control the following parameters: attack (A), decay (D), sustain (S) and release (R). The envelope can be used to modulate the VCA amplitude and the VCF cutoff filter.

The LFO (low frequency oscillator) is a singled delayed triangle modulator. It has a frequency range from 0.1 to 30 Hz. The LFO has 3 destinations: DCO pitch, VCF cutoff and DCO pulse width.

The RATE slider controls the speed of the LFO. 

The DELAY TIME slider controls the time required for the LFO modulation to start.

The JU-06 explained: 3. VCA

Let's talk a bit about the VCA section.

The VCA (Voltage controlled amplifier) slider controls the volume level.

The switch controls if the volume is controlled by the envelope (ENV) or by the GATE.

The JU-06 explained: 2. HPF + VCF

Now let's study the filters of the JU-06.

The HPF is a high-pass filter; it allows for cutting the low frequencies. The original Juno 106 had 4 steps while this one is a continuous filter. By adjusting the FREQ slider, frequencies below the cutoff frequency will be cut. Just as the Juno 106, on its lowest setting it acts as a bass boost and will be neutral at 25%.

The VCF (voltage controlled filter) is a low pass filter. This one lets the low frequencies pass and cuts the highers frequencies.

The FREQ slider set the cutoff frequency point. Anything above the cutoff frequency will be cut.

The RES slider controls the filter resonance, which amplifies frequencies around the cutoff frequency, leading to a more "nasal" sound. At very high resonance settings, the filter starts to self-oscillate, i.e. you will hear the cutoff frequency as a discrete, whistling tone. This is particularly interesting when the cutoff frequency is being modulated, which can lead to effects like the typical "laser gun" sound.

The polarity switch allows you to reverse the ADSR pattern.

The ENV slider permits the adjustment of the depth by which the envelope controls the cutoff frequency. This helps you achieve the "filter sweep" effect used for brass and strings.

The LFO slider allows the use of the LFO to variate the cutoff frequency. This will help generate the "wah-wah" sound.

The KYBD slider permits the cutoff frequency to be controlled by the keyboard. When a positive amount is applied, the higher keyboard notes will result in brighter notes.

The JU-06 explained: 1. DCO

Here we will cover the DCO section of the JU-06.

Just like the original Juno 106, the JU-06 has only one DCO (digitally controlled oscillator). Instead of having 2 or 3 oscillators, the JU-06 uses its chorus to fatten the sound.

The DCO provides square/pulse and sawtooth waveforms; which can be played each solo or simultaneously. Sawtooth waveforms are great for bass or brass sounds, while square/pulse waveforms are very good for bass or pads (pulse modulated by LFO: PWM). The square wave is also great for flute-like sounds.

In addition there is also a SUB-oscillator and a NOISE generator. The SUB is a square-wave pitched one octave beneath the core oscillator. It adds extra low end; can fatten up the sounds and it's often used for bass sounds. NOISE adds noise to the sound. It can also be used solo by turning both square and sawtooth wave off. Noise can be used for wind and water sounds, percussion and special effects.

The RANGE (16, 8, 4) specifies the octave of the oscillator: 8 is the fundamental; 16 is one octave lower and 4 one octave higher. The numbers 16, 8 and 4 for the octaves historically originate from the lengths of organ pipes (measured in feet).

PWM stands for pulse width modulation, which changes the symmetrical square wave (50% pulse width) to an asymmetrical pulse wave. The LFO/MAN switch provides two modes: In manual mode (MAN), the PWM slider adjusts the value of the pulse width - in its lowest setting we have a square wave; in LFO mode, the LFO modulates the pulse width, and the PWM slider determines the modulation depth.

The LFO slider allows the LFO to modulate the pitch. It creates a vibrato effect.

Juno 106 Factory Patches

If you are just starting or if you want to have access to the factory patches of the original Juno 106 please see the link below; the Juno 106 Librarian is a free software in Java format. There are also bonus patches available, search for "Orion".

Watch the sound settings and try to reproduce them on your Ju-06! Amazing fun ;)

http://www.jarvik7.net/juno-106/