Bass inspiration with LFOs and randomisation

We’ve used Max For Live’s MIDI devices’ to create an inspiring, randomised bass Rack

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Our Instrument Rack starts with an instance of analogue-style Max synth Bass. We’ve increased the filter resonance and drive a little to get a vaguely acid-style sound. Rather than sequence the synth with MIDI, we’ve added the Melodic Steps sequencer.

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Melodic Steps can randomise pattern ideas. Pressing the ‘dice’ will generate random Octave, Pitch, Length and Velocity sequences. The Chance lane lets us add a further touch of unpredictablity. We’ve set this so that every third step only triggers 50% of the time.

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A couple of LFO devices can add more movement. First we’ve added a classic slow sine LFO and routed it to Bass’s filter cutoff. We’ve turned the Depth down so we’re just achieving gentle filter modulation.

04 > We’ve coupled our second LFO with the Rack’s Macros for some more creative modulation. We’ve started by routing Bass’s Square and Saw wave amounts to Macro 1 by inverse amounts, meaning that turning the Macro simultaneously increases the level of one and decreases the other. We’ve also routed Pulse Width to this Macro. 05

Finally, we’ve got our second LFO device modulating this Macro. We’ve set the LFO wave to random, but synced it to the project tempo. This means the oscillator tone of our bass synth is randomised, changing sporadically in time with the track’s tempo.