New Basslane Pro and Free - from Tone Projects

[Rune L-H]

Hey everyone,

It's been more than 18 years since the first version of the free Basslane plugin was released here on KVR. Time for an update and then some



Introducing the all-new Basslane Pro and Free

Basslane Pro is the definitive tool for controlling low-end stereo width and crafting impactful bass that translates across formats and playback systems.

Built in collaboration with Flotown Mastering, Basslane Pro combines transparent manipulation of stereo width with novel solutions to preserve musical content that would otherwise be lost when summed to mono. With uses far beyond mono'ing, Basslane Pro offers refined ways to enhance width, punch, and low-end richness.

The unique Stereo Harmonics feature allows you to inject upper bass harmonics to add definition and controlled low-end width without problematic stereo information in the subs. The easy-to-use multiband dynamics, powered by our acclaimed Unisum compressor, makes it effortless to tame unruly transients or enhance low-end punch and tightness.


Features

• Variable width manipulation of low- or bandpassed frequency areas
• Transparent linear phase or zero latency mode
• Mono Recovery feature to dynamically recover anti-phase signals that would otherwise be lost when summed to mono
• Unique Stereo Harmonics for adding upper bass harmonics in stereo based on the filtered low-end with full control over width and character
• Dynamic width compression or expansion with a Unisum-powered multiband dynamics processor tailored for transient sensitive control of the side channel
• Unisum-powered dynamic EQ capable of compression or expansion for gorgeous low-end punch and weight
• Flexible Pre/Post filtering of sub frequencies, including an analog inspired resonant highpass filter for a tight bass boost
• Bass focussed output limiter to keep peaks in range
• Flexible monitoring and multi-band stereo balance/correlation metering
• Native support for both Intel and Apple Silicon processors

Available now!
Format: VST3, AU, AAX for Mac and Windows.
Intro Price: $99 (reg. price $129 from Dec 1)
Owners of Kelvin or Unisum will receive an additional discount via email.

More info & free trial: https://www.toneprojects.com/basslane-pro.html

Updated free version
Together with Basslane Pro we have also released an updated version of our classic freebie Basslane. The updated version adds support for both Mac and Windows, and introduces a new user interface along with new features.

A huge thanks to all beta testers who helped Basslane Pro grow from a specialized utility to a comprehensive and uniquely creative mixing tool.

Cheers,
Rune

[Halonmusic]

thanks!

[plexuss]

I extensively demoed this on a mastering project. I decided against it because I am not into big bottom end and distoriton. I do prefer to mono the bottom end to some degree. After comparing to my go-to monoizer tool, Nugen Monofilter, I did not find Basslane offered anything over Monofilter so for me it's a pass. But, I can totally see using this for larger fatter bottom end if that's something that would benefit you. Just not for me. Otherwise I do use Unisum on the master and tracking all the time. Sometimes I use Kelvin but like I said I typically stay away from adding distortion to tracks. Basslane is definitely worth looking at for all your big bottom talk about mud flaps my girls got em, needs.

[pekbro]

I like it, still trying to decide if I need it. I don't even have a subwoofer. I have monofilter and also liking the RJ studios SideminderZL2 quite a lot, though not exactly the same type of thing. The free version of this is also very nice. *shrug

Still quite cool and interesting...

[plexuss]

Yes. It's a nice tool and very well thought out. I do use Monofilter if/when it sounds better than not using it. usually it sounds better. However I don't monoize a very wide band, pretty much <80Hz and usually a steeper LPF sounds better for the music I do. But sometime monoizing doesnt sound better. Sometimes using it in minimal phase sounds better than linear. I tweek and compare and go with what sounds best to me.

With Basslane I feel that the monoizer (middle section) sounds pretty much like Monofilter. Monofilter has a very adjustable filter and width as well so it's quiet versatile even to widen the low end, however that's not it's strong point. Basslane has all those other tools for messing with the soundstage using distortion. That's just not my kind of thing. I find it's too easy to add too much distortion across all the signal paths and it just robs the dynamic range, transients swimming in audio soup. It's akin to the Loudness War. That's why I dont use the word "saturation". For me that big chunk of Basslane is pointless. the dynamics sections is nice but I do use Unisum so I can get that sound. That's it, otherwise it is well designed and sounds nice even though in my opinion it adds too much audio soup. I use other methods to bolster my bottom end. But, I get it if you love it and especially if you don't have a linear phase monoizer.

I am a serious soundstage junkie. My mastering chain includes: Monofilter, Centerstage, Stageone, DrMS and Sideminder. ISoundstage is an importat dimension to my music so I tend to gravitate to these kinds of tools.

Example using this chain:

https://plexus.bandcamp.com/track/spirit

[Rune L-H]

Yes. It's a nice tool and very well thought out. I do use Monofilter if/when it sounds better than not using it. usually it sounds better. However I don't monoize a very wide band, pretty much <80Hz and usually a steeper LPF sounds better for the music I do. But sometime monoizing doesnt sound better. Sometimes using it in minimal phase sounds better than linear. I tweek and compare and go with what sounds best to me.

With Basslane I feel that the monoizer (middle section) sounds pretty much like Monofilter. Monofilter has a very adjustable filter and width as well so it's quiet versatile even to widen the low end, however that's not it's strong point. Basslane has all those other tools for messing with the soundstage using distortion. That's just not my kind of thing. I find it's too easy to add too much distortion across all the signal paths and it just robs the dynamic range, transients swimming in audio soup. It's akin to the Loudness War. That's why I dont use the word "saturation". For me that big chunk of Basslane is pointless. the dynamics sections is nice but I do use Unisum so I can get that sound. That's it, otherwise it is well designed and sounds nice even though in my opinion it adds too much audio soup. I use other methods to bolster my bottom end. But, I get it if you love it and especially if you don't have a linear phase monoizer.

I am a serious soundstage junkie. My mastering chain includes: Monofilter, Centerstage, Stageone, DrMS and Sideminder. ISoundstage is an importat dimension to my music so I tend to gravitate to these kinds of tools.

Example using this chain:

https://plexus.bandcamp.com/track/spirit

Thanks for trying it out! If it's not for you then it's not for you, but I'd like to point out a few things for others that might be reading this thread.

The low-end monoizing capabilities of Basslane Pro does differ from other tools available today. First of all in the way the Mono Recovery feature works, and the fact that it can be used in combination with the Dynamics section. You can narrow/expand dynamically, which can be quite useful when trying to control low-end width without killing the vibe all together.

You can also target more specific frequency ranges with the bandpass filter instead of the lowpass.

The Dynamics are driven by Unisum but unlike Unisum it's processing just the selected frequency range, i.e. similar to the low or mid band on multiband dynamics processor.

Finally, the Stereo Harmonics are added in parallel which means that transients are preserved. By being able to control their Mid->Side placement you have control over the width and how the harmonics blend with the existing material. I'd like to think it offers enough control to avoid creating a soup of things

Cheers,
Rune

[zvenx]

i still haven't tried it out yet, but what I am most interested in is how well it allows low end sounds/instruments to translate to smaller speakers, that is will it help my projects played on a phone or cheap headphones to not perceive to have lost as much low end as a bigger speaker.

Hope that makes sense.
If it does that well I am in.
rsp

[markbsurd]

Try -> Instabuy. Great tool for an EDM huge bass.

[Rickskii]

Tried and bought. A multi-bass tool for modern times. Thanks.

[gondii]

Same. Very impressive.

[andymcbain]

For the stuff i'm usually working on (bass heavy electronic music) this is giving me some very impressive results and the comprehensive metering / monitoring section makes it really easy to dial stuff in. Generous discount for Kelvin users too (which I also love) so thank you for that! I suspect I'll be grabbing it before the trial ends

[dionenoid]

Made the mistake of trying it out on a new track that i'm working on. Had to buy it.

One comment tho : It would be better if it had a separate sub cut at/near the end of the chain, because it can cause DC offset.

[yzcoruhT]

Thank you for free version.

[Rune L-H]

Just a quick one to let you know that version 1.0.1 is now available! It fixes several reported stability issues.

If you're an existing owner I highly recommend you to log in to your account and download the update, even if you haven't had any issues so far. The free trial versions are of course also updated.

Tried and bought. A multi-bass tool for modern times. Thanks.

Same. Very impressive.

Made the mistake of trying it out on a new track that i'm working on. Had to buy it.

One comment tho : It would be better if it had a separate sub cut at/near the end of the chain, because it can cause DC offset.

Thanks! Glad you're getting good results from it.
Perhaps not what you mean, but can move the existing HPF to the end of the chain by enabling the "Post" option.

Cheers,
Rune

[dionenoid]

Perhaps not what you mean, but can move the existing HPF to the end of the chain by enabling the "Post" option.

Cheers,
Rune

When you are using 'boost' you cannot use the HPF at the same time. Or when you use the HPF pre (which has a big effect on the rest of the chain) you cannot also put it post.

I'm now using another tool after Basslane Pro to get rid of unwanted effects, like DC offset or L/R offsets, which happen quite a lot, especially when using it more as a creative tool.
And i use another tool for HPF-ing the lows before going into Basslane Pro when i want to use the boost function. Which is kinda weird since Basslane has these functions build-in.

Hope that makes sense. That's why i asked for a separate HPF.