Sound Design - Deep Reese Bass Tutorial

Learn how to create a versatile and deep-sounding Reese bass from scratch using Serum.

A deep and sinister bass that provides a solid foundation for tracks, working well in full mixes.

This preset is included in the Serum Essentials sound bank, but the tutorial shows step-by-step creation.

The sound demonstrates how to build a professional Reese bass that can be adapted to fit various musical contexts.

Initialize a new preset and select the Ricci Mass wavetable from the Spectral library for Oscillator A.

• Pitch down two octaves to add depth • Switch filter from MG Low 12 Pass to MG Low 24 Pass • Set cutoff around 300-400 Hz to reduce high-end buzz

• Add 5 voices of unison to create width and movement • Set detune to 0.1 for a solid low tone • Fine-tune adjustment between 0-10 for additional width between oscillators

Set oscillator quality to 4x in the Global tab for a much nicer bass sound, even though it uses more CPU.

Enable Oscillator B and ensure both A and B are routed through the filter.

Choose the Sawtooth wavetable from the Analog library to add texture and tone to the upper mid-range of the bass.

• Pitch down one octave (compared to two octaves for Oscillator A) • Adjust wavetable position to add saturation and harmonic content • Apply 5 voices of unison with 0.1 detune, same as Oscillator A

Combining both oscillators creates a full sound with nice contrast between low-end and mid-range frequencies, with the option to pitch Oscillator B down an additional octave for more bass emphasis.

Enable mono voicing to allow only one note at a time, preventing note overlap and clashing.

Set portamento time to the middle range to create smooth note slides between pitches instead of abrupt cuts.

• With portamento on: notes slide smoothly from one pitch to another • With portamento off: notes cut directly without sliding • Choice depends on the song style and desired aggressive or smooth character

Portamento adds expression and musicality, making the bass more playable and responsive to performance choices.

Increase the Drive parameter in the filter section to add saturation and thickness to the bass sound.

Enable the Fat parameter to add more attitude and aggression to complement the clean, versatile foundation.

• Add distortion or saturation plugins in the effect chain inside Serum or externally • Use tube distortion for warm, colored saturation • Apply distortion to the mix bus for cohesive treatment

Distortion may sound like clipping when soloed, but integrates naturally in a full mix, adding character and aggression without harshness.

Route LFO 1 to control the filter cutoff by dragging it to the cutoff parameter, creating dynamic movement.

• Set LFO rate to 1/2 for gentle, musical pulsing • Adjust to 1/4 for slower, wider modulation • Fine-tune amount parameter to control modulation depth

Professional sound patches often appear simple on the front panel but contain subtle matrix connections controlling filter movement, resonance, and voice detune to add polish and evolution.

Serum's manual contains comprehensive information about the mod matrix and other advanced features for deeper sound design exploration.

Increase attack time slightly if the start of notes produces clicks or popping sounds, allowing smoother note onset.

Add a small amount of release to prevent clicks or pops at the end of notes, using minimal adjustment.

• Adjust cutoff frequency to dramatically change the tonal character • Modify resonance to emphasize filter peaks • These two parameters provide the most dramatic sound variation

The same patch can produce completely different tones by adjusting cutoff and resonance, allowing it to fit seamlessly into various song arrangements and mixing scenarios.

Use mid-side EQ to manage wide stereo bass by cutting low frequencies below 100 Hz on side channels while maintaining thickness in the mono center.

There are no absolute rules in mixing—experimentation and listening to professional music reveals diverse approaches to bass placement and stereo treatment.

• Bass can remain mono-centric or embrace width based on mix needs • Listen to reference tracks to understand various mixing techniques • Adapt the patch based on individual song requirements rather than fixed formulas

The joy of sound design and mixing lies in constantly trying new techniques and approaches without predetermined right or wrong answers.