EZbass for macOS

Description

EZbass runs on any Mac that handles macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later. It works natively on both Intel processors and Apple silicon, so newer M-series machines are fine.

Turn a keyboard part into a complete bass arrangement

The software ships with a library of sampled bass instruments and a set of built-in MIDI basslines covering a broad range of styles. You can arrange, compose, change and rearrange parts without leaving the interface. The audio-to-MIDI conversion uses the same technology Toontrack built for Superior Drummer 3. Drop in an audio file and EZbass interprets it as a bass part you can edit or replace.

Sound and expansions

The core sound comes from the included sampled basses. If you need more variety, the plug-in works with Toontrack’s EBX sound expansions, which add more instruments. Version 1.3.3 brought in support for the right-hand mute articulation from the Rock Legend EBX, so that articulation now translates properly when you use that expansion.

Remap shortcuts before you load a single bassline

A few defaults are worth adjusting before you load a single bassline. Open the Settings pane and do this:

1. Keyboard shortcuts. Version 1.3.3 lets you remap several commands. If you already use a DAW shortcut for quantise or undo, change EZbass to match. Saves a lot of wrong-key frustration.
2. Audio-to-MIDI sensitivity. The default threshold works for clean DI tracks. If you feed it a distorted bass or a full mix, drop the sensitivity a notch, otherwise the conversion grabs too many ghost notes.
3. Grid behaviour. The note grid defaults to 1/16. For slower rock or folk parts, switch it to 1/8 straight away. You can always tighten it later.

Dropping a drum loop into Tap2Find before the singer arrives

Picture a songwriter who records a drum loop with a MIDI keyboard and a rough Rhodes part, then needs a bassline that locks in before the singer arrives at four. They drag the keyboard MIDI region onto EZbass’s “Tap2Find” tab. The software suggests six bass grooves that fit the chord changes. They pick one, swap the modern bass for the vintage model, and nudge three notes that clash with the Rhodes. Twenty minutes later they have a bass track that sounds like a player, not a loop pack. The audio-to-MIDI converter also helps when the drummer sends a phone recording of a rehearsal kit part: drop the audio in, pull out a bass MIDI version, and build the arrangement around it.

High-pass the audio at 40 Hz to catch missing low notes

Audio-to-MIDI misses the low notes. This happens when the source audio has a weak fundamental. Run a high-pass filter on the audio before converting—around 40 Hz works—and the detection improves noticeably. If the performance is slap-heavy, switch the detection mode in the grid menu from “Sustain” to “Staccato.”

Timing drifts on export. Version 1.3.3 fixed timing issues at sample rates other than 44.1 kHz, so if you bounce at 48 kHz or 96 kHz make sure you have updated. If you spot drift in older projects, re-export with the current version.

Menus feel sluggish in Logic or other hosts. Also fixed in 1.3.3. If you are on an earlier build, the only workaround was to open the standalone app for heavy editing. With the fix, click response in Apple hosts is back to normal.

Ebass torrent downloads missing the Rock Legend articulation. Some older copies floating around as an ez bass torrent or ezbass torrent predate the 1.3.3 update. The right-hand mute articulation simply will not show up until you get the current build. The same goes for any Toontrack EZbass download that has not been updated—the articulation support was added in this release, so it is absent in earlier versions. A proper ez bass download that includes 1.3.3 will have it working out of the box. If you grabbed an ezbass free download and the mutes sound off, check the version number in the splash screen—you may just need to source a newer build.

What’s new

Adds support for right-hand mute articulation used in Rock Legend EBX. Adds support for changing some keyboard shortcuts in Settings. Updates Mac icons to macOS Tahoe style. Fixes menu click response issues in newer Apple hosts.

Requirements

• macOS 10.15 or later
• Intel or Apple silicon Mac