Real Bass on Your Track in 48h

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Again, as a professional musician, I’ve had years and years of experience. Like a doctor that needs 5 minutes with a patient to have a diagnosis, I can listen to your song and immediately know what you need. So, my tip is: >>> Be open to ideas! <<< Give me some general directions, I’ll give you the first draft, and then we see where to go from there. Even if you have a very specific, carefully crafted bassline, so good that you just can’t stop listening to it - I’m probably able to make it a little bit better. ;-)

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started playing keyboards when I was about ten years old. I switched to bass when I was 14 - back then, I played in my local school band, and they needed a bassist. Quickly, I became the bass-guy for school bands in my town. I loved what I did, so I decided to study music. I went to a conservatory and studied bass guitar and pop music in the Netherlands. Quickly, I got to know artists and producers, so I started to tour through Europe for a couple of years. In 2015, I made a cut and decided to go back to Germany. I moved to Hamburg and lived there for three years, setting foot in the German music scene. I played national tours, did some tours in other European countries, recorded a couple of albums and further improved my playing. Lastly, I moved to Berlin in the winter of 2018. So far, I’ve been able to make great connections - both professionally and personally - with other musicians, artists and producers. Right now, I’m shifting back to doing more studio work.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: The three genres that I mostly work on are: Indie, Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop. I love those genres and can’t stop listening to them. Every genre has it’s own creative and technical challenges, and I really enjoy doing my best to overcome them.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Most likely, an old vintage fender bass will be plucked right into a state-of-the-art tube-preamp, which adds a nice saturation and subtle compression to it. From there, the signal will split into two routes: The first will go directly into my Apogee Interface (192kHz/24-bit, of course) and straight into Logic Pro. The second will either go into a high-class tube bass amp, a crunchy guitar amp or a Kemper Profiling Amplifier - whatever fits your production best. The result: Silky highs, deep subs, warm bass and a separate, gritty amp-signal that you can blend with the clean bass. That way, you can shape the sound as you like it - increase its presence or let it sit in the low frequencies.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise that you will receive more than you've been looking for in the first place. You just want some bass, but you’ll get a carefully-crafted, authentic bass part that adds so much more to your production than just low frequencies. Even better, you’ll get a couple of ideas to choose from! You can shape the part to your tastes. I promise that you will have nothing but a great time when you import these files into your mix. I’ve seen many producers smile!

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Most people ask me whether I can help them with their music. Rather than answer, I prefer to show them that I can, by letting the bass part speak for itself. :-)

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: Most people think that they don’t need a real bass. They think a programmed midi bass will be enough. I challenge you to get a real bass player. Even if it is synth bass - you’ll be blown away by the difference. See for yourself.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I’m going to ask you if you have a general direction for the bass part. It is helpful to have sound examples, maybe some songs that could serve as an inspiration, and general guidelines for your production - if you need a simple bass as a sense of calm or a wild, shiny bass that grabs the listeners attention. The more general information I have, the better I will be able to help you.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: If you like... >>> Rock steady bass playing -- Timing that is on point with the drums -- Always the right notes, no-questions-asked -- Low end that adds a pleasant warmth to the mix -- Shiny mids, silky highs and a lot of tasty grip in the sound -- Dirty slides, highly melodic fills and authentic string noises -- Either a fat, laid-back or an on-point, pulsating sound -- Powerful dynamics that convey real emotion <<< ... I will be able to help you!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: YES! You need real instruments for your production. People that really play! As a producer, you simply can’t have the experience and knowledge about an instrument that a live musician has. He has spent years and years to improve his playing and to discover every little detail about his craft, perfecting every little detail and BRINGING THAT TO YOUR SONG! Plus, humans add emotion and a certain liveliness to the music. After all, that’s what music is about - to make the listener FEEL something. How are you going to achieve that without real people that express their heartfelt emotions? So, if you want years and years of experience and genuine human emotions in your music, it would be nothing but wise to get some real musicians to play for you!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First, I like to get an idea of your song. I need to listen to it and ask you for the direction that you would like to go in. Then, I go part by part, slowly carving out the best bassline that will fit your drums and your mix. After I have a blueprint of the song’s bass part, I will record one bread & butter take - just basic notes, so you have a straight-forward, no-questions-asked low-end that will already add a lot to your song. Next, I will record the song again and just let my musicality flow. I will add creative ideas to it. Honestly, I might even become a bit adventurous. ;-) Lastly, I will send you the basic part and the best ideas that I came up with. You can then decide for yourself which ones you like best, and which ones you want to put into your mix.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: There are two common requests that I get a lot. Some people are creating their own music and need a real bass to add that certain fire to the track. They need a catchy bassline or that touch of human feel to make their song come alive. Other people have a very specific idea for their bassline, but they don’t know how to make it SOUND good. Often, they don’t know much about what makes a bassline work. So they stumble across tiny details like dead notes, note lengths or dynamics. If you recognize yourself in the above sentences, I will definitely be able to help you. In fact, I’ve been a professional bass player for 10 years, so I was already able to help a lot of people with the same problems that you have.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Yes! Definitely! 
For Drums, check out Alex Hoeffken and Soenke Reich. These two are among the finest drummers you can find in Germany, and they absolutely know what they are doing. For string arrangements, check out Conrad Oleak. He’s the go-to guy in Germany. The real deal. Be quick before these guys are too busy to help you :-) [https://soundbetter.com/profiles/99481-alex-hoeffken] [https://soundbetter.com/profiles/169081-sönke-reich] [https://soundbetter.com/profiles/223989-conrad-oleak]