Anthony Marinelli Launches Bass DNA Synth Bass Course

Oscillator-first synth bass design   01-Sep-26

Anthony Marinelli is well known for his synth work over four decades - programming synths on Michael Jackson's Thriller, scoring more than 90 films, and working with everyone from James Brown to The Crystal Method. His new online course, Bass DNA, turns that history into a nine-lesson method for building musical synth bass sounds from the ground up.

The course is built around a simple premise: great bass starts at the oscillator, not at the EQ or effects stage. Marinelli has distilled the process into five fundamental oscillator configurations that form the "DNA" of any bass patch.

• SINGLE - the basic oscillator voice and its clarity
• SUB - sub oscillators for weight and low-end power
• OVERTONE - harmonic color and character from overtones
• UNISON - detuned unison for width and size
• AUDIO-RATE MODULATION - FM, AM, ring mod and audio-rate filter modulation for complex harmonics

Rather than relying on presets, students will learn to hear what each configuration contributes and combine them deliberately. The nine-lesson Bass DNA CORE covers classic synth signal flow, the five configurations, and how to blend them in an arrangement - including shaping envelopes and filters, modifying presets with purpose, and recreating sounds across different synths.

Marinelli is also clear that programming the patch is only half the job. An optional three-lesson EXPRESSION EXPANSION covers keyboard articulation, pitch bend, glide, aftertouch, LFOs, arpeggiators, sequencers, pedals and effects - the performance side of making a bass line work in a track.

The course comes with a copy of Cherry Audio's Miniverse soft synth so you can follow along immediately, and it's hosted on Teachable with lifetime access. It's aimed at anyone working in hip-hop, house, electronic music, pop or film scoring. Marinelli's method is also being offered for college credit at Youngstown State and UNC Greensboro.

Bass DNA launches September 1, 2026. Presale pricing includes the full CORE plus EXPRESSION EXPANSION for $249, a $100 saving on the regular $299 combined price.

More Info: https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/products/bass-dna