Bass plays a vital role in music composition. Technology has brought significant changes in the way music producers add bass lines to their music. VST (Virtual Studio Technology) is an audio plugin that one can install in one’s digital audio workstation and produce music with the help of this. Bass Station plug-in is only available in VST and AudioUnit format (Mac only), if you're using a DAW like Pro Tools that does not support these plug-in types, you will not be able to use the Bass Station plug-in. VST 4 FREE - Free Audio Plug-ins and Archives. Free VST downloads: FabBass (Hofner violin bass by Samsara Cycle Audio) - Digital Nylon (Nylon guitar by TED) - Classic.Gtr (Spanish guitar by Quiet Music) - SuperRiff Bass (Bass. Available in VST and AU plugin formats, the Bass Station synth is on sale for £7.95 GBP / $10 USD until August 17th, 2020. The bass guitar VST happens to be one of my favorite plugins. In fact, I would argue that a lot of bass guitars you hear in pop music today, have some sort of bass guitar VST blended in the mix. Today we are going to be taking an in-depth look at the current best bass guitar VSTs available.
If you feel that your music lacks energy and power, a simple solution can bridge the gap. It’s probably bass that it is missing. Bass can infuse vigor into your music. Without it, your songs might sound empty. Using the right plugins can add the missing soul to your track.
Yes, the best bass instrument can set elevate the level of your song. Today, you’ll find a wide range of bass tools in the market in variations. Here’s the best sounding bass list compiled for music lovers who want to give their passion a facelift.
Spectrasonics Trillian
Ranked as one of the best VST plugins in the market, this virtual instrument is comprehensively designed with different basses assembled as cutting-edge technology. A balanced instrument, Trillian offers a 34 GB library with an extensive selection of basses designed to offer musicians a state-of-the-art experience. You can enjoy both acoustic as well as electric basses. The Spectrasonics Trillian bass VST is engineered with an “Omnispehere” synth that powers superior splits and better sound.
For bass enthusiasts, Spectrasonics features a plethora of iconic tracks. From John Patitucci and Marcus Miller to Laboriel Abraham, you can tune to immersive music. For newbies, it could take some time to get familiarized to the interface but once you get a hang of it, you’ll enjoy the controls and intriguing features of the device.
Scarbee Rickenbacker
Looking for an instrument that sounds real? The Scarbee Rickenbacker is designed with solid features that live up to its reputation. Powered by a balanced tonal response, the instrument is reminiscent of the “legend”. It offers a crisp and powerful bass. This model offers a special chain effect that provides the comfort of additional tweaking.
As a top-rated bass VST, Rickenbacker features a rich library that includes palm-muted and open articulations from NKI that offer a realistic sound. The sound mix series compressor, tape saturator, the guitar’s amp and more, Scarbee Rickenbacker is the next-gen VST plugin you wouldn’t want to miss. Catch a glimpse of the Scarbee Rickenbacker at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZMLBqZ3wN8
IK Modo Bass
Offering a state-of-the-art platform, IK Modo Bass is one classic electric bass you can lay your hands on. This prominent model epitomizes precision to produce unmatched sound. A pioneer in the music industry, the makers have added a few exciting features into its latest version.
Its responsive sound engine, modal synthesis technology and an interface that can be tweaked to suit your preference are worth mentioning. The non-linear resonator provides with a real-time fusion.
Output Substance
A powerful bass engine that is sure to catch the attention of bass lovers, the Output Substance is one of the best on our list of bass VST plugins. This new-age bass producing instrument features a blend of live brass sets and outsized poly-synths. You can’t miss the acoustic basses that have been exclusively processed to generate amplified electric bass and overall improved sound design. If you are a music enthusiast and want to gain insights about these amazing VST plugins, do consider reading this article.
The engine is one of the key features of the Output Substance and integrates up to three layers of the sound source. These are blended with a range of tweaks that include flux control, FX, modulation, filters for that solid and superior bass quality. All these features put together to produce the thunderous sound you scout for in a bass VST plugin device.
One of the best in the category, Output Substance covers all that you expected in a modern virtual bass VST plugin instrument. If you are curious, let’s tell you that the presets offered on the Output Substance includes Fuzz Pedal’, ‘Simple Acoustic’, ‘‘Snowy Road’ and ‘Smooth Upright’ among many more.
Novation Bass Station
The Novation’s Bass Station plugin features a collection of bass sounds. The range it offers is simply mind-blowing with high-pitched leads to class fat basses. This creates a warm resonance that isn’t always found in other models of contemporary bass plugins.
The LFOs on the frames and the ladder filter are unique features with sound created at 12/24 dB for low bass. Among the other prominent features are the ADSR envelopes and the oscillator syncs. These allow for an array of presets and extensive plugin support. To read more about VST plugins, click here: https://www.liveabout.com/what-are-vst-plug-ins-1817748
Waves Bass Slapper
Known for its realistic sounding slapping bass, the Waves Bass Slapper replicates the tones of a high-end bass device. The precise articulations provide the user with the comfort of developing realistic sounds without losing control over the notes.
One of the best bass VST plugins you’ll find in the market, Waves Bass Slapper extends a library that comprises everything from legato sounds, dead notes to thumbs, popping, pull-offs and more.
The five-string articulation and consistent AMP simulation, adjustable key switch editor, the low band MIDI-controls, four-band equalizer and a sub-octave are some features that lend this bass VST plugin instrument its depth. Perfect for high-tech supported instrument users, Waves Bass Slapper works best on an Intel Core i5 or AMD Quad-Core processor. Find out more on free VST plugins!
Finding the best VST plugins is no more a challenge
Given all the synth plugins for bass available in the market, we’ve listed out the top instruments and hope that you’ll find the appropriate device that offers perfect usability and sound quality that you have been looking for. This selection includes bass virtual plugin instruments that offer an ultimate harmonic and expressive bass and treble experience.
Novation's V-Station plug-in provided a software version of their hardware K-Station — now there's a software version of their mid-'90s hardware monophonic analogue bass synths, the BassStation and BassStation Rack...
Novation's BassStation Virtual Instrument is the software counterpart to their well-known analogue bass synth of the same name, which were reviewed in SOS, amazingly, back in the mid-'90s. The software emulation behaves so similarly to the original hardware that patches created for the hardware version can be loaded into the software version, if required. All the controls may be automated via any host software that supports MIDI controller automation and 100 factory preset sounds are included, covering most analogue bass genres. The plug-in is also written to be very processor-efficient so that, for example, running on a Pentium 4 1.8GHz machine, it typically takes less than five percent of the available CPU capacity.
Station Platforms
Best Free Bass Vst
BassStation runs in both Mac and PC environments supporting either VST or Audio Units plug-in formats. Note, however, that Mac users can only use the plug-in under OS X, as OS 9 and earlier versions of Mac OS are not supported. Authorisation is via the familiar 'challenge-and-response' system whereby a unique code is generated upon installation. This code has then to be entered at the Novation web site (www.novationmusic.com), along with the product serial number and owner details, in order to generate an unlock code. Each user is entitled to two authorisations allowing the plug-in to be run on two different computers at the same time, and of course if you change your computer, you can reauthorise via the web site.
I checked out the plug-in in Audio Units format running in Logic Audio under Mac OS X, and installation was both automatic and trouble-free. However, there appears to be no grace period, so you need to authorise the plug-in before you can use it. My code was emailed to me within 10 minutes of registering, but I'd recommend copying the unlock code to the clipboard and then pasting it into the authorisation window, as it comprises some 128 characters in groups of four separated by hyphens, and by the time you've typed this in correctly, electronic synths might just have gone out of fashion!
Station Basement
The sound-generating architecture follows the classic analogue paradigm with two tone oscillators (sawtooth or square wave with pulse-width modulation) modelled on those used in the analogue version. Oscillator 2 may be detuned in both fine and semitone steps as well as being switchable over four octaves, and either oscillator can have its pulse-width modulated manually, from Envelope 2 or via the LFO. These oscillators are processed via a resonant low-pass filter (switchable from 12dB-per-octave to 24dB-per-octave responses), before feeding the digital equivalent of a VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier). There are two ADSR envelope shapers with three trigger mode options and these provide independent control over filter cutoff frequency and amplitude, though ADSR 2 may also be used to control pitch and pulse width. There's also portamento, velocity sensitivity and a multi-waveform LFO that can be sync'ed to MIDI for tempo-related mod effects.
The LFO can generate triangular, sawtooth and random stepped waveforms (the latter useful for creating sample-and-hold style filter and pitch effects) and also has a delay feature to allow it to come in after the note has played for a more 'naturally played' effect. In many ways, then, this is a very simple bass synth, but like its analogue counterparts, its real appeal is its sound.
Bass-ics
The BassStation is strictly monophonic, both in the sense that it's not polyphonic, and also in that it's not stereo, so it's only accessible in Logic Audio from within the Mono plug-in instruments list. The notes trigger on the last-note priority system — in other words, whenever you play a new note, it triggers and the previously sounding note is cut off. Normally, this is exactly what you want a bass synth to do, though there might have been some advantage in offering the traditional analogue high-note priority or low-note priority as options. It's also easy to get decent analogue lead synth sounds out of BassStation, and for programming using your laptop on the train, you can trigger the notes via the on-screen keyboard, which is also velocity sensitive (depending where you click on the keys!).
The Setup screen features most of the same controls as the main screen, but all those on the right of the main screen are replaced with controls relating to the range of the pitch-bend wheel, the mod wheel, aftertouch, and breath control, as well as patch import and export.
The 100 preset sounds can be overwritten or modified, but you can also save your own sounds or banks of sounds according to the method employed by your particular sequencer software. In any event, the current control status is saved when you save the song, so even if you've edited a patch, the song will still load with your version of the sound, not the original preset. Conventional save operations are supported by the Write, Confirm and Compare buttons.
A Setup page allows parameters relating to the mod wheel, bend wheel, aftertouch, and breath control to be set up, some on a per-patch basis and others globally. The import and export routines for moving sounds between software and hardware BassStations are also found here. The manual does a good job of whisking you through the essentials in the minimum of space, but there's also a PDF manual on the install disk that goes into much more depth as well as offering a practical grounding in the principles of analogue synthesis.
The Sound
It's easy to create or edit sounds on BassStation, and it generates the type of bass sounds normally associated with the likes of Roland TB303s and Junos or certain ARP and Moog instruments. Certainly it gets very close to the sound of the analogue BassStation and the digital filter design works very well, even when set near self-resonance, which is where many digital implementations start to sound fake. The level peaks that are generated near resonance can be pretty high though, so you either need to set the channel fader setting in your sequencer mixer carefully to prevent peaking, or place a limiter plug-in after BassStation. Both punchy and drone-like sounds can be achieved with ease, and though I wouldn't go so far as to say the sounds are exactly like any of the commercial analogue models mentioned earlier, you can get very close to these and other classic sounds with relatively little effort. I also found the control automation to work fine within Logic Audio, which isn't always the case with other plug-ins from third-party companies.
Conclusions
If you like the sound of the analogue BassStation but prefer working within a virtual environment, then BassStation is the ideal solution, covering just about every genre of analogue bass sound on offer, as well as being pretty good at basic analogue lead synth sounds. The only users who lose out are Mac OS 9 diehards, but now that most serious software is stable under OS X, perhaps this would be a good time to make the change?
There's little not to like about BassStation, as all its features are straightforward and to the point. It is equally happy spitting out fast-attack bass sounds or fat brassy drones, though my guess is that the dance music composer market will get most excited about the product, as all those de rigeur dance/trance/techno bass sounds are there on a plate. In all, this is a nicely executed product that delivers the goods without unnecessary complexity or frills.
Pros
- Accurate emulation of analogue BassStation.
- Simple control interface.
- Good range of analogue bass sounds.
- Supports both VST and Audio Units.
Summary
A stable, fine-sounding software emulation of the hardware BassStation.
information
£98.99 including VAT.
Bass Station Batesville Arkansas
Novation +44 (0)1628 678520.