Bass distortion plugin? Tight detailed not mushy

[JohnRick]

Not a amp per se, but what about routing the bass signal via Soundtoys "Decapitator"? It can be brutal (and I use it a lot in other settings): SoundToys - Plug-Ins With Attitude

This one is also good:
Audiffex

[Blast9]

Ah yes Decapitator! Which settings do you like with Decapitator for bass?

I didn't realise there was a GK model out there - I do like the tightness and clarity of the @2001RB through a 4 x 10

I hear nothing but good things about the Ampeg bass plugin

[dibravibra]

CamelCrusher-Free!!

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by Blast9

Hi all,

I'm looking for a distortion plugin/amp sim for bass (Mac - RTAS or VST)

Wish list

Range: Tight crunch >>> smooth saturated but detailed distortion - no vintage Ampeg style flubbiness!

More like Chris Squire >>> Rage Against The Machine vibe

Clean Blend control. < pretty important for me

I have Softube Bass Amp Room which is great for "amp" tones

Softube Metal amp Room can be great sometimes but the transition between clean and crunch is somewhat sudden and lower gain stuff is no tits strong point for me.

The good ol' Sansamp plugin is pretty good if I mult the signal

Having tried every bass amp sim program I could find, and frankly not being too happy, I went to using multiband saturation and distortion.

I was also looking for clean blend options, which this does per band.

MeldaProduction MMultiBandSaturator

I don't use this one as much...

MeldaProduction MMultiBandDistortion

[Matt@Oracle.]

Your best bet in this situation is to mult the signal. What I do if I only have a DI to work with is make 3 separate tracks. The first is low passed so its just low-mid and sub and then limited to hell and back basically just before the point of distortion.

The Second track is my "amp" track for which I'll just use the DI, perhaps using a bass amp sim or not depending on the tone I want.

The third track is the distortion track, you really want to high pass this quite high and well just distort the shit out of it using whatever you want. The amount of distortion depends on the tone you're looking for, but generally you want to make it pretty mid-range heavy and nasty.

Blend the 3 tracks together and then bus them to a mono aux, treat them how you would a regular bass track!

This technique is really cool but you will run into phase / polarity issues so its important to check polarity throughout the process and checking how where you're placing the filters effects the phase. The goal of this process is extremely clear and consistent low end, natural low mids and distorted mid-range.

[Blast9]

Thanks guys -

dibravibra - I could've sworn Camel Crusher was Windows only - that's great news. I used to use it before in my PC rig, and liked it a lot!

Sinner - those plugins look amazing. I just discovered their multiband de-esser yesterday. The bundle pricing is very reasonable.

Matt - that's a brilliant idea - I didn't think of multing x 3


Re hi-passing I've been cutting lows -6db from 200hz down. How high are you going with the HPF?

- what's your fave distortion plugin?

-

EDIT - and what do I have in my inbox just this second? - a freebie! Revalver - courtesy of Addictive Drums

[Matt@Oracle.]

On the distortion track ill go as high as 250Hz usually with an 18dB per octave slope.

As for the distortion plug in I'm using pod farm.

[Jerrick]

Decapitator is my go to and I also like Mokafix, but I dont think you can get those legally anymore. Im glad I got a handful of those plugins before he closed the shop.

Another one I like is a free plug from TSE.
TSE AUDIO by onQel &bull; View topic - TSE B.O.D - Final version

[Blast9]

Thanks Jerrick, will check it out

[Seb RIOU]

Massey THC

[Blast9]

Originally Posted by Matt@Oracle.

On the distortion track ill go as high as 250Hz usually with an 18dB per octave slope.

As for the distortion plug in I'm using pod farm.

Thanks Matt- are you using guitar amp models?

[Matt@Oracle.]

Yeah I am, the default fender blackface works well for clanky, percussive mid range.

[Blast9]

Great thanks Matt - spot-on description... I'm checking out the free version which has that and the JCM800 model plus a few different cabs/mics

Originally Posted by Seb RIOU

Massey THC

ah yes - I totally forgot about that one - I've somehow defaulted to using L2007 and the De:Esser for ages and forgotten about the other Massey plugins.

Actually THC sounds great with filter all the way to the left - smooth gain

[Seb RIOU]

way to go

[jetam]

I don't know much about plugins, but using HPF before distortion in paralel to the original signal usually works on bass.

[Blast9]

Yes I agree

[TREMORS]

Originally Posted by dibravibra

CamelCrusher-Free!!

This is really, really good choice.
Use it on bass all the time

Sent from my SPH-M930BST using Tapatalk

[tommythecat]

High Pass Filter - Amplitube 3 + Custom Shop Model Germain High Gain (modelled on ENGL) + Aphex Aural Exciter (I use as send)

= Best Bass distortion I have found so far

[nedorama]

I've had some pretty good results with URS's Neve-like plugin (they had to change the skins once UAD got the license) with the gain cranked. Why not use multiple aux sends with the sansamp on one, the Neve 1073 on another, and something like Antares TUBE/HEAT on a third? Mix to taste.

[electricity17]

Fabfilter Saturn works pretty well, it's multiband with several different distortion algorithms, very very flexible and sounds good.

[Blast9]

Watching the vid - looks like a very well thought-out pedal