Parameter Section

This section provides parameters that allow you to shape the sound and control the playing behavior of the bass. You can choose a pickup configuration, select a player, adjust Level and Tone. Here, you can define how your playing on a keyboard is best translated into bass articulations such as legato and slide, for example.

DI–Amp/FX

Allows you to set up the mix between the two busses that are used: DI and Amp/FX.

The DI bus delivers the pure dry signal of the bass.

The Amp/FX bus hosts the effects and bass amplifiers.

Pickup

Allows you to select a pickup configuration. Electric Bass comes with a single coil neck and a Humbucker bridge pickup that can also be used as separate single coil pickups. This flexible setup allows you to emulate the pickup configurations that can be found on well-known classic electric bass models, but also delivers further combinations to expand the sonic possibilities.

  • J-Bass uses two single coil pickups, one in bridge and one in neck position.

  • P-Bass uses one single coil pickup in neck position.

  • MM-Bass uses one Humbucker pickup in bridge position.

  • All Pickup uses all pickups combined.

  • Neck Only uses one single coil pickup in neck position.

    Compared to P-Bass, the behavior of the Tone control is slightly different.

  • Bridge Only uses one single coil in bridge position.

  • StereoRick uses two single coil pickups spread one to the left and one to the right in the stereo signal.

Articulation

Electric Bass provides seven different articulations.

Articulations are saved in the program, that is, if you load a new program, the Articulation setting can change.

  • If the Sustain articulation is selected, the strings are played with fingers.

  • If the Slap articulation is selected, the strings are slapped.

  • If the Sustain Pick articulation is selected, the strings are played with a pick.

  • If the Slap-Pull articulation is selected, the three lower strings (B, E, A) are slapped and the upper two strings (D, G) are pulled.

  • If the Mute articulation is selected, the strings are muted and played with fingers.

  • If the Artificial Harmonics articulation is selected, harmonics are played on pressed strings.

  • If the Natural Harmonics articulation is selected, harmonics are played on open strings.

    Note

    All harmonics of one string are mapped to the corresponding MIDI note and distributed over the velocity range.

Player

Allows you to select a bass player. The available players differ mainly in the strategies used to determine on which string and in which fret position a note is played, either to minimize hand movement across the fret board or to create a more varied playing style.

  • The default Standard player moves to the nearest and best reachable position on the fretboard for the next note.

  • Avoid Open Strings is based on the same algorithm, however, this player avoids playing open strings.

In addition, the following players are available:

  • Blues

  • Country

  • Funk

  • Jazz

  • Metal

  • Octaves

  • Pop

  • Rock

  • R&B

  • Walking Bass

These players are based on musical styles and the playing techniques used by famous bass players of the genre.

Level

Adjusts the output level of the bass.

Tone

Allows you to shape the tone of the bass.

Note

The behavior of the Tone control depends on the Pickup parameter setting.

Ghost Notes

Activate this option to trigger ghost notes for lower velocities. The value field on the right allows you to specify the threshold for the ghost notes.

Note

Ghost notes are not available for the Mute, Natural Harmonics, and Artificial Harmonics articulations.

Options for the Sustain and Sustain Pick Articulations

For the sustain or sustain pick articulations, you can use automatic transitions that are used when applicable.

Auto Legato

Activate this option to use legato transitions between consecutive notes that are played legato.

When playing a real electric bass, legato is achieved not by plucking or picking a string again, but either by placing another finger on the string (hammer on) or by pulling the finger from the string while the note still plays (pull off). Both actions must be distinct enough to trigger the new note. Auto Legato emulates this behavior.

If you play legato notes and the first note is still held when you release the second note, the first legato note is retriggered.

Note

Auto Legato is applied if the second note is within a range of 3 semitones and within the current hand position.

Auto Slide

Activate this option to slide from one note to the next when playing notes legato.

Note

Auto Slide is applied if the second note is more than 3 semitones away and within the current hand position.

Note

To force a slide between two notes, press B -1 on your MIDI keyboard before playing the note. This works if it is physically possible to play a slide, that is, to stay on the same string.