Best Bass Guitar VST Reviews

Bass guitar VST is a great alternative to a physical instrument. If you are a composer and you need those deep and epic basslines, you would need a real bass guitar to record the sound. However, good guitars can cost a lot of money and will require skills to perform. That is where the best bass guitar plugins come in – they save you time, space, and money. You simply install bass guitar VST, and that’s it; you can create basslines on your computer or laptop or learn how to do it in no time. Professionals make bass guitar plugins to meet any user’s requirements – whether you have never played bass guitar before or you are a top-notch musician.

Best bass guitar VST reviews

Spectrasonics Trilian – best overall

This is a Spectrasonics Trilian review, where we will tell you about all features and advantages of this plugin. Trilian is one of the most versatile digital bass guitars on the market, which is considered to be an industry standard. A high-resolution UI, customizable controls, authentic sound, advanced arpeggiator, the possibility to integrate it with Omnisphere, 33 FX Units, and many more features are hidden inside this plugin. Here, we will talk about all of the above and tell you how exactly this bass guitar emulator sounds in practice.

Main features

The interface can be adjusted to any display and even to a size comfortable to you personally. It also supports HiDPI displays. Trillian Bass guitar emulator has a vast library of 34GB of different acoustic, electric, and synth basses and more than 60 electric guitars with 4, 5, 6, or 8 strings. In addition, there are numerous playing techniques available, such as fingered, picked, fretless, slapped, tapped, and muted.

On top of that, the interface is not simply user-friendly but also supports customizable controls. It grants an outstanding versatility not only in making your working space as comfortable as you want it to be but also allows you to create music more effectively. Developers of the Trillian VST sampled a huge number of bass lines and other instruments to create its vast samples library that sounds incredibly authentic, just like physical instruments.

Among other features is that this plugin supports touch screens and a live mode that has 8 dynamic bass articulations loaded at once. It supports instant key-switching, so you can work faster. The advanced arpeggiator has Groove Lock that allows users to sync bass lines to an RMX groove or MIDI Files. And the Stack mode will help a user to map customizable key/velocity/controller articulation. This is only about half of all features it has, so as you can see, this plugin hides many opportunities for a musician.

How does It sound?

This plugin is capable of creating incredible bass tracks. It's no big deal to come up with ground-shaking music by using its vast library of juicy acoustic, electric, and synth basses filled with life. Also, it is important to highlight the versatility and adjustability of this bass guitar emulator, which makes it stand out among other plugins like this one. Amazing sounding, super realistic bass lines, a selection from acoustic to synth basses - this music creation toolkit is a vast field for experiments with music in general and bass sounds in particular.

Summary

Trilian Bass Virtual Instrument software is a great example of a high-quality complex product aimed at experienced musicians. But in case you want to learn how to create music, it will be easy to figure everything out. You can utilize a full package of its functions and features to create fascinating music and separate audio tracks, like its huge library of samples and patches, or an impressive list of features, like expressive multi-sampled dynamic slides, edit page with Flex Mod, Timbre Shifting, FM, Modultable FX, and other sound manipulation features, 8-part multitimbrality, and many others.

Tech specifications

Heavyocity Scoring Bass – budget solution

Our Heavyocity Scoring Bass review will tell you about the world's finest bass lines sampled, processed, and gathered in this plugin. It is an incredible bass VI with 4GB of pads, instruments with numerous samples, pulses, pedals, etc. All settings and options were designed to produce good instrumental lines that meet all standards.

Main features

Scoring Bass by Heavyocity is a plugin able to emulate epic instrument sound with high-quality characteristics like grit or low end that will make your soundtrack sound amazing. It works on the Kontakt 5 Engine or Kontakt 5 Player. All sounds were recorded, processed, and approved by professional sound designers from Heavyocity. In addition, an impressive collection of ready bass samples is stored here, waiting for you to use it.

You have access to numerous pads: a dozen complex pads, two pad element menus, and 60 short and ambient pad elements. Also, you will get wonderful instruments with a wide range of samples and tempo-synced pulses, particularly eight pulse groove menus. In addition, you will get 48 FX rhythmic pedals, eight rhythmic pedal menus, 48 pedal blend NKIs, etc.

If you own another Scoring Guitars software pack from Heavyocity, you will get a great addition to this ecosystem since they were created in tandem to support each other and bring the composer experience to the next level. On top of that, this bass guitar VST can work as a virtual instrument or as an addition to Gravity. Along with all of the above, you will be getting one three-channel "Playable Basses" NKI with three multi-sampled guitars to get the sound you want in your soundtrack.

How does It sound?

Since this plugin has more than 100 tempo-synced grooves and rhythmic pedals, it allowed me to create amazing lines for my soundtrack. Low-end cinematic bass lines generated by this little software sound so amazing I couldn't believe my ears. It was so realistic, almost as if I were playing the real instrument but without owning a physical version of it. I could, with ease, make driving melodies or complex textures by using Scoring Bass dynamic instruments and versatile settings available to both professional and beginning musicians.

Summary

This plugin has proved to be an amazing bass guitar simulator and even more. A wide range of settings, customization, and optimization allows you to create astonishing bass lines to complement your soundtrack. On top of that, if you combine this plugin with another Heavyocity product – Scoring Guitars – you will get a wonderful result. The possibility to create whole soundtracks with this ecosystem is quite promising.

Tech specifications

IK Multimedia MODO Bass 2 – also a great choice

This plugin was created for those who want to have a bass guitar experience without buying a physical instrument.

With this plugin, you can get access to 22 bass guitars as of 2022, with various adjustments and changes that can be made to make the sound the way it suits your goal. In this MODO Bass 2 review, we will scrutinize this top-notch bassline synthesis plugin that allows you to get a realistic virtual instrument sound.

Main features

One of this plugin’s key features is innovative real-time modal synthesis software. Thanks to this technology you can enjoy the physical instrument response which simulates the same sound as with a real instrument. MODO Bass 2 VST grants access to 22 bass guitars, like Fretless Jazz, Rockabilly, Horn Bass, Fusion J-Bass, etc.

By using up-to-date performance algorithms, they ensure an amazing realism of the sound. With physical instruments, the way to make them sound better is pretty clear. You need to tune them. For some, like the guitar, it’s possible to do yourself, while others, like the piano, require calling a professional.

Similar simplicity of the guitar is present in the MODO Bass 2 VST and even more since here you can not only tune your software instrument but also adjust it to your style and even hand position. As for new additions, you can now use the patterns section, where you can search for patterns by various criteria. You can browse the library by the required genre or a particular song section.

Sometimes the length or time signature may be more important so there are options for that as well. As of 2022, there are three versions available in their shop: a free MODO Bass 2 CS with 1 model, MODO Bass 2 SE with 4 models, and MODO Bass 2 with full access to 22 models.

An intuitive interface is a must-have when we talk about such complex software, and it sure is presented here. MODO Bass plugin will cover up for its worth many times due to its quality, variability, and convenience.

How does It sound?

In short, it sounds extremely authentic and realistic. Before I stumbled upon this plugin, I was trying to record my Ibanez 500 bass guitar. But it was troublesome to get the exact sound I wanted. With MODO Bass 2 I recorded everything I wanted after I understood how it works. Here you can completely change the signal path - 7 bass effect stompbox effects and two classic bass amplifiers will help you with that. On top of that, vibrato is incredible here!

Tech specifications

Summary

As I said earlier, this plugin is a masterpiece from the bass world. With great flexibility, it easily takes the place of one of the greatest plugins simulating bass guitars. It was also very easy to get into since it is well designed, so both amateurs and professionals will find their way with it.

That is why I would choose MODO Bass 2 among all other plugins - the extreme professionalism of its creators as well as their passionate love of music and bass, in particular, is embedded in this VST plugin.

Toontrack EZbass

Toontrack EZbass is a plugin that simulates the great sound of a real bass guitar. But it doesn't stop there - EZbass offers astounding sound quality and essential features which can be used to create realistic bass tracks to make your songs even better. The top priority of this plugin is creativity, and we will prove it to you in this EZbass review.

Main features

EZbass VST has many features and advantages when compared to its counterparts on the market. For example, it uses the revolutionary new bass software instrument, which is easy to use and that generates amazing sound. This is because EZbass was built on the Toontrack EZ Line framework, which has proved to be a success in this market.

Bass tones like Vintage and Modern allow you to fit your song whatever the genre is. With EZbass you can transfer pre-recorded drums, piano, or guitar to MIDI, or even input your bass line with a keyboard controller.

A sample engine works perfectly with bass samples, bringing nuance and detail to the next level. Toontrack EZbass plugin opens access to a huge choice of styles, based on amp and cab simulation. The complex network of effects used in this plugin comes from all Toontrack EZ Line products.

All of the above have many details to it that wouldn't fit in one article, so keep in mind that this plugin has many other surprises that can impress you.

How does It sound?

First of all, it is extremely easy to use - thanks to one of its features when I play my guitar it complements the sound with bass parts. Natural-sounding bass lines are easy to create and add to your soundtrack.

The fretless expansion plugin is extremely good, I recommend you to test it for yourself. When I needed a certain rhythm, I used the EZbass feature that can find one from many variations, which made the process much easier. Also, with a broad choice of customization options, I could finetune my soundtrack to the level of unimaginable naturalism I could never rich with other plugins.

Tech specifications

Ujam Virtual Bassist Dandy

Welcome to the Virtual Bassist Dandy review where we will take a look at this peculiar plugin. Modest in terms of settings and options, yet allowing you to adjust bass tones and styles suitable for classic funk, R&B, revival rock, soul, etc. You can change amp, thumbed sounds, direct tones, and neck and bridge pickups as much as required.

You even can add such bass effects as compression, harmonics, and saturation to your soundtrack. Within this plugin, a key-assignable phrase generator and top-notch bass instrument are combined to make top-notch bass guitar software.

Main features

Let's take a closer look at what this plugin can do. First of all, in Virtual Bassist Dandy VST you will find 990 bass phrases, 100 presets, and 30 musical styles. Second of all, here you have fully equipped bass creation software for R&B, funk, soul, and revival rock. There is an option to give modern tracks an old-school vibe. If you often work outside the DAW, the distraction-free workflow feature will help you out.

"Dials in fast" feature decreases the time you need to make changes. With quick access, you can utilize picked/thumbed sounds, amped/direct tones, and neck/bridge pickups wasting no time. You can apply a Finisher knob to experiment with the vibe via 15 polish effects.

There is a particularly interesting feature - Instrument Mode - it allows you to play bass lines, and make adjustments in real-time with key-controlled slides, damps, bends, stops, and mutes. A somewhat similar feature Player Mode gives you a choice of presets and cycles kept within Ujam Virtual Bassist Dandy plugin grooves and fills.

MIDI Drag and Drop feature makes it possible to transfer your bass lines right to the DAW of your choice. To top it all, the AU2 version, which is included in this plugin, is compatible with Logic Pro X or any newer version.

How does It sound?

Thanks to its simple yet ergonomic design I could figure everything out in just a couple of hours and start creating my soundtrack with all this plugin's features. Software of the highest quality creates a sound so natural I could not believe my ears. Meticulously sampled bass guitar with flat-wound strings has a topnotch, warm, and modest vintage sound.

Tech specifications

Best free bass VST reviews

Ample Bass P Lite II

We present our Ample Bass P Lite II review to those of you looking for a simple but professional guitar plugin. With its help, you may create soundtracks with astounding bass guitar lines. For example, the Tab Player feature grants many possibilities, which we will talk about next.

Main features

There are many common features to the software of such kind, but the Ample Bass plugin has an outstanding one – Tab Player. With its help, you can playback, display, and load a particular part within a tablature file. Such features, like looping, articulations, or other common markers, are stored within this file, so you can use them for your tracks. Thanks to advanced software, this plugin can generate a real-like guitar sound. You may also customize playing logic just as you would like it.

How does it sound?

Ample Bass showed me how realistic the string instrument's sound could be. It was incredible how such a simple software plugin created such magnificent lines.

Tech specifications

4Front Bass

4Front Bass is a simple plugin with only one instrument - the bass guitar. It has no complicated settings but still can simulate a realistic guitar sound. In this 4Front Bass review, we will look at some of its advantages compared to other plugins.

Main features

It is something in-between a synthesizer and sample playback. The greatest advantage of the 4Front Bass plugin is how undemanding it is. Low CPU and space requirements are due to the hybrid synthesis technology, which gives you the same quality as other plugins of this type. Due to its simplicity, anyone can start making music, even a beginner musician.

How does It sound?

This small plugin can reproduce top-notch quality bass lines to complement your soundtrack. Even though it is less customizable, it still manages to be on top among other VSTi. After testing out around six other bass VSTi, this one recommended itself as the best in terms of the bass guitar simulation.

Tech specifications

FAQ