Step 01 / 3
Stack three saw waves #
Load Operator in Live 12 Suite.
Click Operator’s lower-right global area. Choose algorithm 11, the far-right diagram with four oscillators side by side. Each oscillator feeds the output independently. Enable A, B and C and switch D Off.
Select Saw D for each active oscillator, then enter:
| Oscillator | Coarse | Fine, Operator units | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 0 | −9.1 dB |
| B | 2 | 1 | −9.1 dB |
| C | 4 | 0 | −9.1 dB |
Set Transpose −24 st, Tone 100%, Volume −15 dB and Spread 0%. These ratios place the oscillators two octaves below the played note, one octave below it, and at the played pitch. B’s Fine 1 adds a small tuning offset and slow beating; this value is an Operator control value, not one cent.
In the global display, set Voices 1, global Retrig Off, interpolation and antialias On, Pan centered, Pan < Key 0, Pan < Rnd 0, Time 0% and Time < Key 0%. Set the pitch-bend range to 2 st. Keep Glide, Pitch Env, LFO, Filter and Shaper Off.
For A, B and C, keep Fixed Off, frequency quantization On, oscillator Retrigger Off, Phase 0%, Feedback 0%, Level < Velocity 0%, Level < Key 0% and frequency/velocity modulation 0. Set each amplitude envelope to:
| Envelope control | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 2.00 ms |
| Decay | 500 ms |
| Sustain / Peak | 0 dB / 0 dB |
| Release | 44.9 ms |
| Initial / End | −∞ dB / −∞ dB |
| Loop | None |
| Attack / Decay / Release slopes | 0% / 100% / 100% |
| Time and release velocity scaling | 0% |
Peak and sustain are equal, so the amplitude stays steady while a note is held. The short release makes the bass stop quickly when you lift a key. The filter added in step 2 will shape the attack’s brightness.
These screenshots show the finished instrument’s amplitude and global panels. Keep Filter Off for step 1, even though it is enabled in the pictures.
Hear step 1:
Next: Close the filter after the attack →Step 02 / 3
Close the filter after the attack #
Enable Operator’s Filter and click its section to open the central controls.
| Filter control | Value |
|---|---|
| Type / Slope | Lowpass / 24 dB |
| Circuit | PRD |
| Frequency | 1.00 kHz |
| Resonance | 0% |
| Drive | 12 dB |
| Keyboard tracking | 100% |
| Velocity tracking | 15% |
| Envelope amount | 24% |
| LFO modulation | Off |
Keep Transpose −24 st and keyboard tracking 100% together with the displayed 1.00 kHz cutoff: pitch tracking changes the filter’s operating frequency as you play. Higher velocities raise the cutoff slightly.
Set the filter envelope to:
| Envelope control | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 2.00 ms |
| Decay | 2.20 s |
| Sustain | 0% |
| Release | 44.9 ms |
| Initial / Peak / End | 0% / 100% / 0% |
| Loop | None |
| Attack / Decay / Release slopes | 0% / 100% / 100% |
| Release velocity scaling | 0% |
The envelope opens the filter at the beginning of the note, then closes it toward the sustained cutoff. The curved decay concentrates much of the brightness change near the attack. The amplitude envelope still holds its level, leaving a dark body after the brighter opening.
Hear step 2:
Next: Add saturation and play the bass →Step 03 / 3
Add saturation and play the bass #
Add Saturator after Operator and set:
| Saturator control | Value |
|---|---|
| Curve | Analog Clip |
| Drive | +12 dB |
| Output | −11 dB |
| Dry/Wet | 100% |
| Color | Off |
| DC filter | On |
| Output clip mode | No Clip |
| High Quality | On, in the device context menu |
Drive pushes the waveform into the clipping curve, rounding peaks and adding harmonics. The Output control brings the level back down afterward. Keep Color Off so its frequency shaping stays inactive.
Hear step 3:
The final signal order is three parallel Operator saw waves → Operator’s driven lowpass filter → Saturator.
Play C2 / MIDI 48, C3 / MIDI 60 and G3 / MIDI 67, then try C3 at velocity 65 and 100 to vary the brightness. Use short notes for rhythmic bass lines or hold a note to expose the slow oscillator beating. Try overlapping C3 and E3: with one voice enabled, only one note sounds at a time. Keep Glide Off for immediate pitch changes.
Audio & settings ↓