Tau Bassline Mk2

The only 303 emulation I like to use. No frills and authentic sound. I also have transistor bass, but prefer to use the Tau bassline.

INTRO
Tau Bassline MkII by Muon Software Ltd. is a fantastic synth bass VSTi.

TB-303
The Roland TB-303 was a "transistor bass" synth with a built-in sequencer. It was produced from 1982 to 1984. This synth is often credited for launching several EDM genres, i.e., house, acid, etc. It's interesting to note that the original launch of this product was a failure. It became famous and heavily sought after much later. The unit featured a single envelop gen, osc with only two waveforms — saw and square. Probably the most noteworthy feature was the lowpass filter, which was lively and wet. This, combined with the built-in sequencer (accented notes, portamento, etc.) made this a legendary synth workstation.

EMULATION
Many online ads and reviews claim this plugin to be the ultimate acid bassline synth and/or excellent TB-303 emulation. Well, I rarely drop acid or do acid house, and I've never owned or used a TB-303, but I am a bass player, songwriter, producer, and educator. I know the difference between a good bass and a not so good bass — Tau Bassline MkII is a great bass plugin that is capable of all kinds of wet sounds as well as deep sub rumbles. It can also produce wonderful leads.

TEST OF TIME
Software, in general, comes and goes at a faster rate than hardware; yet, with a 64-bit upgrade and a little TLC, Tau could continue to hold its own into the future.

FEATURES I DIG
• Straightforward GUI that doesn't get in the way
• Easy to program
• Juicy resonant filter
• CPU efficient
• Responsive, supportive developer
• Price.

SUMMARY
It's fair to say this plugin is a one trick pony, but it does that trick really, really well! To put things into perspective, the sound is still more versatile than a "real" bass. I highly recommend Tau Bassline MkII to any eMusician, songwriter, producer, DJ, etc., who wants to add a sweet acid or sub flavor to a track. I give Tau two meaty thumbs up. Thank you Muon for creating such an amazing, timeless plugin. .. assuming it will be updated with 64-bit, of course. ;-)