Best Realistic Bass Software Instruments?, And I mean realistic, not cheapo software sounding Options

[rcross73]

Hello everyone.

I was just wondering - does anyone have suggestions on the best (i.e. most realistic-sounding) bass software instruments? Something to stand in for rock acoustic and electric bass guitar that doesn't sound like a software instrument. I've seen the Trilogy Bass Module - is this good? Is there something better or comparable?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

And I realized that I mistyped "instruments" just as I hit "post", but I can't seem to change a thread title. Sorry about that.

[Edit LPM, I edited and expanded ]

This post has been edited by lepetitmartien: Thu 21 Dec 2006, 02:37

[mortalengines]

You may be getting into some of the higher end sampler territory (NI Kontakt) before you are satisfied with the results for a real decent sounding Rock style bass. I was gonna suggest something like Arturia's Moog Modular which has some incredible bass sounds but they sound more synth like than anything else (but they truly ROCK). Any thoughts of buying a used Fender P-bass & a decent D/I box? That would almost get you further than anything virtual.

[Mac Daddy]

rcross73...

You can't go wrong with Trilogy. I think it is one of if not the best sounding Software Bass. I have never heard bad reports about Trilogy and I have heard it on many 'Hit Songs'.

[DANO10]

Yes. Trilogy is very good. I use it often. Also, check out Steinberg's Virtual Bassist. Also very good.

[monkeyboy23]

Yes. Trilogy is very good. I use it often. Also, check out Steinberg's Virtual Bassist. Also very good.

+1 on Trilogy.

[hahaworld]

Spectrasonics Trilogy is really good. I bought it when it was still in PowerPC format, and it's a little convoluted in OSX to install, but I'm sure the install is completely updated and native now. As far as sounds go, it's the bomb. Highly recommended.

[kie42]

Hi everyone,
I lthink this forum is great and I don't contribute much with all you uber mac music people out there but, if I could respond to your search for the perfect bass sound.
There are so many samples and wave forms out there that can mimick a bass of any kind but, as with any instrument, it is the technique you use to play the sound whether from a keyboard or midi guitar or any input device. From my experience with the science of acoustics many waveforms can sound the same ie: a trumpet and a clarinet until, you listen to the attack on each. One last note, if you listen to the Album "Aliens Ate My Buick" by Thomas Dolby and hear the instrumentation, I understand that it is all him playing them on various input devices even the song "Airhead" with that popping bass. Man, did I just date myself. How did I become the old guy? LOL
Anyway, play your ax with your emulated instrument and how it would be played in mind.

Merry Christmas
Kip

This post has been edited by kie42: Fri 22 Dec 2006, 14:56

[aportman]

kie42

Hey man! Time flies when you are having fun! I am a bass player, and I too have not been very happy with what i have heard so far in the world of virtual bass sounds. I will have to agree with the others who posted concerning the trilogy bass sounds. From what I have read and the samples I have heard, they have probably one of the best sounds when it comes to bass. Being an avid bass player I am extremely picky when it comes to bass tonality. I have read nothing but positives about Trilogy's bass sounds. When ever I can replace my old and very CPU exhausted G4 Desktop, I will more than likely purchase the trilogy bass software. Most of the time I do track with live bass and add effects on the back-side, but there are those times when I want to layer live with the synth bass to reach done and hit he sub-haromics in the sound spectrum.

We might get older - but as we ferment so does our value...

Good Luck!

Allen

[rcross73]

Thanks so far, everyone, for your opinions. Keep them coming.

It sounds like there are a lot of Trilogy fans out there. From what I've seen of all the pro reviews, and the demo sounds online, this is a great app. One concern I have, though, is that it doesn't seem to have been updated to universal binary yet, to run on Intel Macs (and it apparently isn't going to be any time soon). What does this mean for performance? I have one of the newest MacBook Pros, with the Intel Core 2 Duo. It's really fast, with plenty of RAM. But is Trilogy something that will work on my MBP, without being UB? Will it totally hog my CPU? Will it even work at all?

And does anyone have any experience in comparing Steinberg's Virtual Bassist with Trilogy? Is Virtual Bassist really that realistic, or is it all synth-y and thin like most of the sounds on M-Audio's Drum & Bass Rig?

Also, one of you mentioned moving on up to Kontakt 2. It turns out that I can get it with my academic discount for quite a bit less than Trilogy even. How good is this for bass - is this a solution for me, do you think?

[mortalengines]

One last note, if you listen to the Album "Aliens Ate My Buick" by Thomas Dolby and hear the instrumentation, I understand that it is all him playing them on various input devices even the song "Airhead" with that popping bass. Man, did I just date myself. How did I become the old guy? LOL


I was just laughing at this quote. Anyone remember Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love"? There are some great fretless bass sounds which were all sampled and played back with a Fairlight sampler with "Pristine 8 bit" playback fidelity. What kills me is how good it sounded. I believe that this is due more to having a good engineer on board than to emulation (James Guthrie....one of Pink Floyd/David Gilmore's engineers) & recording to 2" tape probably didn't hurt. Talk about dating oneself.