Getting a good bass sound

[jamie_drum]

I am using Sonar 2 and am having difficultly getting a good bass sound using synths and samplers. I don't own a bass guitar but I want a straight ahead rock and roll electric bass. The problem is, all my synth basses sound to electronic. When I use samples, I have trouble with the ADSR envelope and the samples either cut out too soon or go on too long--they sound unrealistic.

Any suggestions?

[moskus]

Maybe you can find a good soundfont?

www.hammersound.net

[dachay2tnr]

I actually find basses one of the easier instruments to work with via MIDI. Usually, however, I have to try a lot of different samples within each mix, to see which works best in that mix.

Assuming you are using a DXi, what I find helpful sometimes is using volume envelopes on the audio track to get a note fade to sound more natural. Also, eq can help sometimes as well; particularly to get the bass to work with the kick.

You might want to try the Edirol VSC DXi, particularly the GS set, which has a lot more samples included. Also, sound fonts as moskus suggested (assuming you have something you can play them with). I believe there were a couple of decent ones from Sonic Implants included with Sonar.

Don't expect to find one bass sample that you can use in all your mixes. Each one is an adventure unto itself.

Good luck.

[James Argo]

Originally posted by dachay2tnr
You might want to try the Edirol VSC DXi, particularly the GS set, which has a lot more samples included.

Agree! I always tried to play bass part myself with Fender Jazz Bass. When the part is too difficult (or I'm too lazzzzzzy), I tend to sequence MIDI and use Edirol VSC DXi. IMHO, it has better sound than any soundfonts I ever used for "Rock n' roll" bass part...


Jaymz

[Bulls Hit]

You could try using a little distortion from an amp sim like Revalver

[tombuur]

I have recently started duplicating the bass track. Wanting a rock bass, I put a fingered bass in one track. Then in the other duplicate track I put a fretless bass, usually at sligtly lower volume, something like 100 and 90 or 110 and 100 for the two tracks. I also pan them slightly to two different sides by about 4%. Somehow this makes the bass sound more real.

The results are so good I would bother to record the bass myself using the bass guitar I have. That's for downloaded midi stuff. Having to play the bass myself, however, I would rather grab the bass guitar than using a keyboard.

[mallcore pop]

Originally posted by Bulls Hit
You could try using a little distortion from an amp sim like Revalver

Bingo!!

(except the Revalver part, it's gritty, and not a good gritty)

Get as close as you can with the patch itself. Take some time and select/tweak a good one, and then work from there, run it through a speaker/cabinet sim.

Good luck!

[jamie_drum]

Thanks for the ideas. The soundfonts sound like a good plan, although I have not used soundfonts before. I use an audiophile 2496 sound card, but I do have a SBLive as a backup. Alternatively, I know that the freeware synth Crystal can use soundfonts. How would I be able to load the soundfont files to trigger them via MIDI in Sonar? They aren't like regular wav samples, right?
I will also try the Edriol VSC and the double track idea--that double tracking is an excellent thought.
One question about the amp simulator. I am using a Fender electric guitar--I don't have a bass. Would the amp simulators be able to transpose the input from the electric down an octave or two to put it in the bass range? If so, sign me up.

[wfaraoni]

try using the tape simulator fx. I like it for bass and drums
But
Too much and its MUD