Creating Custom Kick Drums and Sub Basses with Retrolog

In this video, the presenter demonstrates how to create custom kick drums, 808-style kick drums, and sub basses using Retrolog without relying on samples. The focus is on showcasing the power of Retrolog as a synthesizer for sound design.

Getting Started with Retrolog

• Selecting a sine wave for creating 808-style sounds.

• Choosing the waveform in oscillator 1.

• Adjusting the pitch by lowering one octave for a deeper tone.

Enhancing Sound Quality

• Adding distortion to create a heavier sound.

• Demonstrating the impact of distortion on harmonics.

• Implementing mono mode and glide for smoother transitions.

• Enabling mono mode and glide functionality.

Utilizing Envelopes for Attack

• Exploring legato mode for fluid basslines.

• Showcasing legato's effect on bassline programming.

• Leveraging pitch envelope using filter envelope as a workaround in Retrolog.

• Unveiling the hidden pitch envelope functionality in Retrolog.

Fine-Tuning Attack and Decay

• Adjusting sustain and decay settings for desired attack characteristics.

• Setting sustain to retain original pitch while controlling decay time.

• Modulating depth to enhance attack intensity effectively.

• Demonstrating modulation depth's impact on attack strength.

Creating Diverse Sounds with Ease

• Showcasing versatility in sound creation beyond kick drums using Retrolog's features efficiently.

Music Exploration and Processing Techniques

In this section, the speaker explores different waveforms for music production and discusses processing techniques for kick drums and sub-bass.

Trying Different Waveforms

• The speaker suggests trying a triangle waveform for experimentation.

Waveform Selection for Kick Drum

• Sine wave is considered the best choice for kick drum synthesis due to its characteristics.

Processing Kick Drum and Sub Bass

• Demonstrates total control over sound by choosing between sub bass or kick drum qualities.

• Introduces the use of plugins like squasher for processing kick drums effectively.

Enhancing Sound with Plugins

This part focuses on utilizing plugins such as squasher, destroyer, quadro fuzz, and parallel aggressor to enhance sound quality in music production.

Squasher Plugin Application

• Adjusting parameters like attack and drive in squasher plugin to achieve desired compression levels.

Destroyer Plugin Usage

• Integrating destroyer plugin after squasher to enhance sound quality further.

Quadro Fuzz Demonstration

• Showcasing quadro fuzz plugin as a multi-band saturation tool for creating impactful sounds.

Utilizing Parallel Aggressor Plugin

Exploring the capabilities of the parallel aggressor plugin from Baby Audio to add aggression and punchiness to music tracks.

Introduction to Parallel Aggressor Plugin

• Highlighting the benefits of using third-party plugins like parallel aggressor from Baby Audio.

Features of Parallel Aggressor Plugin

• Discussing controls like spank and heat in parallel aggressor plugin for adding punch and saturation harmonics.

Creating Custom Kick Drums with Retrolog

Encouraging viewers to explore custom kick drum creation using Retrolog within Cubase software.

Importance of Processor Plugins

• Emphasizing the role of processor plugins in enhancing clarity and pitch identification in sub-bass sounds.

Inspiration for Music Production

• Inspiring viewers to experiment with Retrolog in Cubase software for creating unique kick drums and sub-bass lines.