Top tip

[Timo]

Something I've found recently to enhance patches nicely when mixing, to give them some real punch when played on their own, is to combine a Virus lead sound with another really nice fat finger- or slap-bass patch (with more sub freqs than higher freqs) from another synth (whether S&S or virtual analogue) placed an octave or two lower than the Virus lead.

Slap/finger bass is naturally punchy as fuck, and although it's cheesy on its own, it really gels with Virus lead sounds for some reason. It goes far beyond the Virus' own sub-osc. Sounds better if the HFs of the slapbass are tamed until you really hit the keys hard (ie. having a lowpass envelope modulated moderately by velocity), and this way it sounds more dynamic when combined with the Virus lead.

Often adding a one-shot tom drum an octave below a patch sometimes works well as an alternative, too.

I guess it's both the attack portions and the heavy LFs of the tom or slap bass which enhance the overall sound when combined with other lead parts, giving better transients and real punchy LFs (the human ear is generally more sensitive to transients and dynamic levels than static volumes). During a mix, though, the separate sub bass part would be better taking the place of the finger/slapbass so they don't conflict. The finger/slapbass tip was moreso for solo leads.

Just a thought.

[Khazul]

Good tip.

I use my KS-Rack as a sub bass as you can use its drum waveforms tuned.

There a really good preset called "Thud bass" thats perfect for the job (and incidently reminds me of the deep allmost tuned kick drum bass used on various Faithless tracks).