Mr Oizo - Flat Beat | Bass Synth Patch Remake

Remaking the bass synth from the 1999 song "Flat Beat" by Mr Oizo can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Flat Beat" bass patch and play this iconic sound on most hardware or software subtractive synthesizers (Serum, Vital, Pigments, Prophet, Korg, Moog, etc). We've included the preset download directly for your convenience, but we strongly recommend you use our programming tutorial to recreate it yourself.

Original Audio

Mr. Oizo’s 1999 hit ‘Flat Beat’ features a memorable bassline that starts at 0:26, characterized by its deep, resonant, and slightly filtered sound. The bass is generated by a Korg MS-20 monophonic synthesizer, which is known for its rich and warm tones. The sound is achieved through the use of a low-pass filter with significant resonance and an LFO creating the distinctive ‘whoww’ effect.

Original Performing Instrument

Korg MS-20

Our Remake of The Bass Synth sound

This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the bass synth from the song "Flat Beat" by Mr Oizo, giving you a reference point as you design your own synthesizer preset. Play it as often as you need to familiarize yourself with the nuances of the sound.

Synth Patch Programming Recipe

Getting Started

• Start by initializing your synthesizer to a plain saw with no filter, modulation or effects. For soft synths use the "init"/"default" preset or the the button to reset allx parameters to their default factory values.
• No two synths are exactly alike, so treat the values below as approximate, and use your ear.
• Percentage values (e.g. 50%) represent the relative position of a knob or slider within its full range. The full range of each parameter may differ from synth to synth, so use your ear.

Voices

• Voice Mode: Mono

Oscillator Setup

Oscillator 1

• Mix: 17%
• Wavetable: Basic Shapes
• Wave Frame: Square (position 155)
• Routing: Filter 1
• Random Phase: 0%
• Transpose: -12 st
• Modulations:
• Lfo 1 → Level

Filter Settings

Filter 1

• Model: Analog
• Style: 24dB Slope
• Blend: Low Pass (0)
• Cutoff: 37% (128.869 Hz)
• Resonance: 42%
• Keytrack: 100%
• Modulations:
• Lfo 1 → Cutoff

Envelope Settings

Envelope 1 (Amp)

• Attack: 0 ms
• Sustain: 100%
• Release: 16 ms

LFO Settings

LFO 1

• Mode: Trigger
• Sync: Tempo
• Tempo: 1/2
• Shape: Triangle (custom)
• Destinations:
• Filter 1 Cutoff (amount 79%)
• Osc 1 Level (amount 64%)

Effects Processing (Ordered)

Compressor

• Mode: Single Band
• Mix: Default (100%)
• Attack: 100%
• Release: Default (50%)
• Band Values
• Band Gain: 12 dB
• Band Upper Ratio: 86%

Modulation Matrix

• LFO 1 → Filter 1 Cutoff 79%
• Mod Wheel → Lfo 1 Tempo 19%
• LFO 1 → Osc 1 Level 64%

Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.

Explore More

• Flat Beat by Mr Oizo – what synth is it? (KVR Audio Forum)
• Mr. Oizo’s Gear (Equipboard)
• mr oizo bass line (Ableton Forum)
• Ask the Experts: Mr. Oizo (XLR8R)

Preset Downloads

Don't want to learn synth programming now? Use our synth preset as your starting point and tweak it from there. Register an account with Audible Genius and download the presets for free for the following synths:

• Vital