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KILLER SOUNDS: HUXLEY'S DIRTY BASS

DJ/producer Huxley explains how he uses the Novation Bass Station to get his trademark Killer Sound...

I started using the Bass Station 2 late last summer — I’d heard a new Bass Station was on the way and knew a few people, like Luke Solomon for example, who loved the original Bass Station, so I was intrigued about what Novation would do with it.

One of the things that is tough when using hardware is integrating it into your workflow if you’re heavily DAW-based. But straight out of the box I found the Bass Station 2 really intuitive. 

“Sound wise it’s great — obviously it’s a bass-focused synth, but you can get some really great leads out of it too, particularly as it’s really hands-on and immediate in terms of controls.

“The sound is just a little dirty as a good analog synth should be, but it’s not unwieldy either — there are some brilliant features too, like the fact you can bounce your arpeggio patterns as MIDI files into your DAW and tweak them manually as and when you please.

I’m working on my new album at the moment and the Bass Station 2 is exactly the sort of kit I want — the ability to pick something up and get what I want out of it quickly is so important for keeping a good vibe in the studio, rather than having to sit and painfully programme patches or, worse still, compromise with presets. That’s one of the secrets on how I get my killer sound.”

Sample Tank

CR2 SAMPLE TOOLS 'EDM FESTIVAL KICKS & DROPS'
The world-renowned Cr2 Records are taking the plunge into the uber popular sample library arena with the release of a new sample pack entitled 'EDM Festival Kicks & Drops', the first from what will be an ongoing series of sample packs from Cr2.

What DJs and producers get from Cr2’s new sample label is a look into the world of Cr2 Records and the style of dance music that has been rocking dancefloors worldwide. Cr2 just happen to be the guys who brought to the masses Fedde Le Grand’s 'Put Your Hands Up For Detroit' and Chuckie's 'Let the Bass Kick in Miami Bitch', amongst many other dancefloor smashes.

'Festival Kicks & Drops' is all about those big time peak floor fillers and comes packed to the rafters with top quality hits, loops, fx, MIDI files and patches, which can be used in any of your favourite DAWs.

To make using the new packs even easier Cr2 are also offering handy tips as well as production techniques through the included video tutorials and booklets provided with the pack. A nice way to get up-to-speed with those productions.

'EDM Festival Kicks & Drops' is the first pack that Cr2 have put out and they have been ably assisted by their in-house mixing and mastering engineer Larry Holcombe aka Endemix, who has also produced packs for some of the biggest sample pack companies around, consistently charting in the Beatport Sounds Top 10.

Producers looking to create some main room floor fillers should get ahold of this pack. Who knows — that next summertime smash might just be yours?

7/10