How to Make a Psytrance Full-On Bass in Serum 2
Watch the full breakdown
A strong psytrance bass is not about one magic knob. It is oscillator choice, filter movement, and then the boring but decisive part: tuning it to the kick so the low end actually sums.
Get the synthesis right, layer it properly, and lock it to the kick. Load the free patch from the video and reverse-engineer how it is built.
Key takeaways
- Do not layer a single bass sound. Separate the sub from the rest of the spectrum so the low end and the mids are controlled on their own.
- Use different LFOs for the click and for the lows and mids. Driving each part with its own LFO gives you much finer control over the sound.
- For extra grit, run a randomized saw through Serum's downsampling (around 40 drive) for a vowel-like, almost-FM texture.
- Spend 90% of your effort on synthesis, 10% on the MIDI. Weak sound design is the real killer, not a simple pattern.
- Avoid the key of C. Cycle through D, D#, E, F#, G, G#. Higher keys are easier for beginners to hear, and they forgive an untreated room and cheaper monitors. Lower keys need more careful tuning.
- Sidechain only the sub, below about 120 Hz, with a smooth shape, and only where the kick lands on an overlapping bass note. Ducking the whole bass hollows it out.
- Use the kick as your timing reference. Bass often lags it by around 10 ms: nudge the bass earlier and check phase on a correlation meter around 60 to 70 Hz.
Psytrance production FAQ
How do I make a full-on psytrance bass in Serum 2?
Start from a saw init, set the phase to always start at zero, and use a 24 dB ladder filter driven by an envelope for the click and body. Separate the sub from the rest of the spectrum so you can control the low end and the mids on their own, and drive the click and the lows and mids with different LFOs for finer control. For extra grit, push a randomized saw through Serum's downsampling. Keep the MIDI simple and put your effort into the sound.
What is the best key for psytrance bass?
Vary it track to track and do not repeat the same key twice in a row. D, D#, E, F#, G and G# all work well and each has a character. Avoid C, it is awkward for the low end. Higher keys are easier for beginners to hear and forgive an untreated room and cheaper monitors, while lower keys like D and E need more careful tuning.
How do I tune the bass to the kick?
Treat the kick as the source of truth, it is always on time. Bass frequently sits about 10 ms late, so slide the bass forward until it locks. Check phase with a correlation meter and aim for the strongest positive summing around 60 to 70 Hz. If flipping the phase 180 degrees sums better, use it.
How should I sidechain the bass in psytrance?
Duck only the low band, below roughly 120 Hz, and only where the kick lands on an overlapping bass note, using a volume shaper rather than a hard gate. That gives the kick its transient punch while the mid-range of the bass keeps breathing. Use a smooth curve that matches the kick shape, and trust your ears on monitors over the meter.
Should I synthesize bass or use samples?
Synthesize it. Samples are fine for drums and FX, but the bass defines the track and you want full control of it. Keep your best basses saved by key in your library, and keep a reference list of finished tracks by key and BPM so you can pull a strong starting point instead of building from zero every time.