Meatbass - an improved version of my double bass

[DSmolken]

Edit: now ready and available for download at http://www.karoryfer.com/karoryfer-samp ... a/meatbass or https://audiobombs.com/items/1005/meatbass

I've been lazy about finishing this, but I'm gonna need it for some songs soon, so hopefully it won't take longer than another month. I'm posting this thread so that if I do get lazy, there will be a public record of the fact that I've gotten lazy.

I recorded samples for this months ago, probably back in September, and used 17 of them to make a weird synth library, but I finally got off my ass and started trimming the samples to make a proper bass library out of it today.

Though I've been using the original version without any problems, I've learned more about sampling since and know I could do better. The new version is recorded with a better mic, less fan noise, less room sound, more rosin on the bow, more consistent velocity layers, samples every minor third, and the low C string also sampled tuned down to A for extra rumble. Arco is 5 velocity layers with 2 round robins, pizz 4 velocity layers and 4 round robins, plus there are some percussive noises. No scratchy bow noises, though, because I never actually used them.

So far I cut up the arco recordings into samples and trimmed their start points.

I also have SpaceCoyote's Bass VI to trim and finish (though that might get some additional samples), and those death metal female vocals. I should release those vocals and this bass at the same time, for variety.

And a recent live pic with this bass, just because.

[bigcat1969]

You rocketh!

[DSmolken]

Thanks. Cut up the pizz and percussive noises today. Trimming their start points will be the last lengthy task remaining, after that point it should all be downhill.

Btw it looks like a total of 170 arco samples, 224 pizz, and 40 percussive for 434 total samples.

[DSmolken]

All sample starts and ends trimmed now. Now all that's really left is converting from 32 to 24 bit, SFZ mapping, and coming up with a good name and picture. Or maybe I should reuse the picture from the old one, it is awesome and I picked it for a reason.

I'm thinking of doing arco and pizz mappings in three versions each: one voice, three voices and six, since six is a fairly typical orchestra section size. Not that this is gonna sound anything like a bass section, but as a big wide bass for hip-hop or EDM it should work. All with MIDI CC controls for envelope release and vibrato width and depth, the multi-voice ones also with controls for detune and width.

[thecontrolcentre]

Nice picture. Looking forward to hearing this.

[DSmolken]

The goal is now in sight. Did most of the basic work on the mappings today, still need to map the percussive noises, set up the controls and tweak the ends of the range. But I spent some time playing it, and it really does sound much nicer and warmer than the old version. The six-voice mappings sound enormous, too.

And for the name, I thinking

MEATBASS

A large and meaty bassist's large and meaty bass, recorded with the help of a thin and bony producer.

One of the nice things about doing free samples is that you don't have to worry about convincing people that you're serious enough that you're worth spending their money on, and you don't have to give your libraries Respectable Names and Boring Descriptions.

[DSmolken]

Almost done - just writing the readme file now. I added one more MIDI CC control to the multi-voice mappings which is clever but possibly pointless - it affects the vibrato of each voice slightly differently, which makes it sound more like bunch of real bassists whose vibrato width and speed aren't really synchronized all that well.

I might also try adding another control to start sample playback later than at the very beginning for the arco samples for an unrealistically fast attack, but to be honest that just makes this sound like a really big accordion.

[DSmolken]

Weeeeeeeeeeell, I think I'm done... just gotta wait for our site admin to make the zip file downloadable. And here's a bit of a demo, both pizz and arco, just the one-voice versions. It really sounds much smoother and warmer than my earlier samples of this bass, and the velocities are also a lot more consistent.

https://soundcloud.com/karoryfersamples ... tbass-demo

[DSmolken]

Published and downloadable now! I'll do a better demo.

http://www.karoryfer.com/karoryfer-samp ... a/meatbass or https://audiobombs.com/items/1005/meatbass

Next I'll get to finishing Space Coyote's Bass VI samples and the death metal girl.

[bigcat1969]

Grats and keep up the good work.

[DSmolken]

Thanks. I think I could quit playing, DJing or producing and just do samples for at least a couple of months.

Here's a better demo. I'm also trying to add some better vibrato controls with delay and fade so it's easier to make the vibrato act like we real bassists do, let's see if I can connect those to MIDI CC.

https://soundcloud.com/karoryfersamples ... tbass-demo

[Rah]

Love that demo... I see why you called it Meatbass

[DSmolken]

Thanks. I think I might actually have named it after my diet, LOL.

I just updated the sfz files to add two more controls to the vibrato: delay and fade, so instead of having the vibrato kick in after the note starts you can have it start later and get gradually wider. That makes it easier to make the vibrato behave like a real string player. I also cleaned up two of the highest notes which didn't sound too nice and reminded me why I never play that high in real life.

[DSmolken]

It hit 2000 downloads in less than a month - our only library to do that before was the cello we made together with bigcat.

I guess that means I oughta talk to that violinist from work about doing some samples...