In this post, we’ll dive into the low-pitched world of double-basses with some unique Kontakt libraries.
In a nutshell, here are the best double bass plugins in 2023:
- 1. VSL Synchron Upright Bass (Plugin)
- 2. Ample Sound – Ample Bass Upright III (Plugin)
- 3. UJAM – Virtual Bassist MELLOW 2 (Plugin)
- 4. Fluffy Audio – Simple Jazz Bass (Kontakt Library)
- 5. XPERIMENTA Project – PREPARATO Double Bass (Kontakt Library)
- 6. XPERIMENTA Project – Classica Double Bass (Kontakt Library)
- 7. Spectrasonics Trilian (Plugin)
- 8. Westwood Instruments – BASS UNTAMED Double Bass (Kontakt Library)
- 9. Bolder Sounds – Roots Upright Bass (Kontakt Library)
- 10. Adam Monroe’s Upright Bass (Plugin)
The double bass is an instrument often viewed as sophisticated, elegant, and very present in any performance. In more popular uses, it has been a pivot in styles such as jazz and country music, shaping the now widely-celebrated bass sound of modern music.
In orchestral settings, it’s crucial to give the perfect low-end required in a piece or opera play. The lower frequencies brought from its playing are imperative to give body and warmth to a song, creating the perfect rhythm and dictating the harmony to any other instrument accompanying the band.
Top 10 Double Bass Plugins & Kontakt Libraries 2023
1. VSL Synchron Upright Bass (Plugin)
The Vienna Symphonic Library has expanded its library collection to include the upright bass and all the associated dynamics.
Bernd Konzett, a well-known jazz bassist from the Austrian province of Vorarlberg, played on these recordings. He equipped his 4-string, three-quarter bass with a 113 cm scale, smaller E and A strings, and thicker D and G strings.
After multiple test recordings, Bernd understood how difficult it may be to capture this instrument’s essence and how hard it can be for most musicians to do it.
A glissandi recording session, as compared to a multi-hour play in a jazz club, can be excruciating, leaving the artist with real burns on the fingertips.
To spare any fingers from heavy physical abuse, the VSL Synchron Upright Bass library brings the best tones, all the articulations, and even some specific noises right into your track.
Key Features:
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- Articulations
Upright Bass features six different articulations to your notes: “Short notes,” “Sustain,” “Noises & Effects,” “Legato,” “Repetitions,” and “Upbeats.” Each articulation features another plethora of options, such as different subtle variations within “Short notes” (staccato, snap, muted, etc.) or “Noises & Effects” (slide up and down, legato, body noises, etc.), for example. - Mixer Preset
Some presets are on the right side of the screen, entirely dedicated to replicating the true feel of capturing a double bass sounding in a room. They are divided into three different sections: “Orchestra,” “Solo,” and “FX.” In the first section, you’ll find “Close” or “Distant” options, while in the third section, there are options such as “Distortion” and “Autogain.” Navigating between these options can make your instrument sound as if it were in a real recording studio room. - Perform
On this menu, you’ll find anything needed to adjust the overall sound of each sample better. There are specific controls like “Expression,” “Attack,” and “Filter,” but other options as “Humanize Tuning” and “Slide Noise Amount” can be imperative to make the double bass sound as natural as possible, just as if a real musician would be playing it.
- Articulations
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Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.10.5 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 8.1 or 10 (64-bit only). It requires a VIENNA KEY licenser to be activated.
Summary:
This Kontakt library is intended to optimize any productions that require a double bass. Developed to be intuitive and easy to use, the Upright Bass from Vienna Symphonic Library is a neat option with undeniable sound quality and many opportunities to tweak a very natural playing of this delicate instrument without any demanding physical effort.
The simple interface helps achieve that since all commands and options are organized and concisely displayed.
Related Reading:
Top 12 Orchestral VST Plugins & Kontakt Libraries (+ FREE Plugins)
2. Ample Sound – Ample Bass Upright III (Plugin)
A virtual double bass library with high-quality samples and all the good dynamic options to make it unique-sounding.
It’s highly important to reproduce acoustic instruments such as the double bass in the best way possible since they rely on acoustics and dynamics to sound so unique. To have this captured within the software is challenging but not impossible for Ample Sound’s team of developers and producers.
ABU employs additional microphones to capture every element of the upright bass, including the neck, body, and ambiance and gives two stereo and two mono options on the mixing interface.
In mono modes, ABU can consistently play a key part in a band’s middle-low end. In stereo mode, where ABU has rich expressiveness even for solo, users can alter mic levels and width to acquire more prospects.
Key Features:
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- Riffer
This is a fantastic feature that will let you stretch your imagination even more. You can change eight-note properties with the “String Roll Editor”: “Pitch,” “Velocity,” “Length,” “Off Velocity,” “Articulation,” “Legato,” “Vibrato,” and “Bend.” The “Dice” symbol is a riff generator that works with a mouse click and can open up new creative possibilities, all thanks to an algorithm that analyzes several music scores and quickly generates a new musical idea for you. - Sample engine
ABU was built to be the most versatile bass virtual instrument on the market today, with an unprecedented level of expressiveness. ABU not only sounds great as an acoustic instrument when played with mic samples, but it also sounds great as an electric instrument when played with DI samples, giving you a more dynamic and subtle playing experience. Users can also mix and process the microphone and DI samples individually for various sounds. - Fretless slide system
Unlike any other Ample Sound product, ABU’s slide mechanism is specifically built for fretless instruments and can imitate the smoothness of fretless legato with any duration, speed, pitch, or polyphony. This brings more authenticity to the samples as if a professional musician played them.
- Riffer
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats and standalone host.
Summary:
As expected, Ample Bass Upright III delivers what it promises with plenty of configurations and quality. Ample Sound has a few plugin options that showcase their abilities to reproduce with great precision iconic acoustic instruments in a good-looking sample library.
The special attention to details such as a sliding movement on a fretless scale and the exquisite algorithm that creates unique riffs are nice to assist every modern producer in finding the best low-end thump for any kind of track.
Related Reading:
Top 5 Strings VST Plugins (AND 4 Best Free Instruments)
3. UJAM – Virtual Bassist MELLOW 2 (Plugin)
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
The acoustic bass as it should be: organic and elegant fingered sounds right at your fingertips.
A precisely recorded acoustic double bass, played with soul and feel, is implanted in this library to add realism, behavior, and the feeling of a knowledgeable player right into your tracks. Smooth, graceful, with a smidgeon of noise thrown in for good measure, can do wonders to make your production stand out from the rest.
As a subtle foundation in a jazz trio or a forceful second voice in Hip Hop, MELLOW will bring you the authenticity of this instrument in an elegantly designed interface.
It’s also a great tool for singer-songwriters, R&B, and other modern styles, providing smooth, soulful, and acoustic authenticity to every note you play.
Key Features:
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- Player and instrument mode
Virtual Bassist MELLOW has two distinct modes: first, “Player Mode,” which gives you quick access to UJAM’s traditional fail-safe GUI and control set; simply select the musical key and chords for the song, and MELLOW takes care of the rest, even intelligently selecting the most appropriate articulations to augment your basslines. Secondly, the brand-new “Instrument Mode” allows you to access the whole MELLOW fretboard using your MIDI controller, complete with dead notes, full stops, and satisfying slides, for those who want more control and are familiar with playing the keyboard. - Shape your sound
MELLOW’s tone sculpting settings are simple yet powerful, with discrete parameters for a variety of essential sound and performance-enhancing features. Experiment with amp selection, quick character changes, note vibrato, room reverb, octave effects, dynamics, and EQ, to name a few. - PreSonus chord and key track
Studio One users running version 4.6.2 or later will get an exclusive PreSonus chord and key track functionality with the new Virtual Bassist 2.1 release. The new chord track feature automatically follows the chords and instantly alters the MIDI notes for you, so you can focus on your best ideas and waste no more time. On the piano roll, descriptions of styles and phrases are shown to assist you in identifying the proper styles and phrases for your music in a faster and simpler way.
- Player and instrument mode
Compatibility:
This library runs in OSX 10.11 and macOS 10.12 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 8 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST, AU2, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
Like every other UJAM product, MELLOW benefits from a clean design interface, which means that anyone, regardless of their level of music production experience, can use it to compose music faster, better, and easier.
You can use the interface’s basic controls to quickly select from over 60 styles and 1380 phrases to use in your tracks right away. This can be a good time-saver while not retaining high-quality from the sample files or having limited articulations at all.
Related Reading:
Top 20 UJAM Plugins For Music Production
4. Fluffy Audio – Simple Jazz Bass (Kontakt Library)
Simple and ready-to-play samples brought to you by the playing of a great musician.
Fluffy Audio sought to portray that characteristic semi-darkness vibe and the appearance of something flowing naturally from the player’s body to the listener’s ears within this library. They aimed for that circular pizzicato sound with the peculiar defined fingers’ attack on the acoustic side. If you enjoy jazz, you’ll understand what this is all about.
These characteristics are difficult to find in most musicians, and this is why the help of Nicola Ziliani was crucial. With a delicate touch of a professional musician, every single aspect of dynamics and playability was enhanced just by setting up Nicola’s instrument with some great-quality microphones and letting him do the rest.
Key Features:
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- Intuitive interface
The graphical user interface contains only two windows: the first window includes articulations such as “Polyphonic,” “Legato,” “Glissando,” and “FX,” as well as a mixer with two microphone viewpoints and a Reverb adjustment, according to Fluffy Audio. The second pane contains the “under-the-hood” type parameters, such as engine accuracy (which saves computer resources), neighbor-note round-robin, attack, release volume, legato velocity, smart legato, and compression. - Microphone adjustments
Under the “Articulations” section, two faders are dedicated to controlling two separate microphones. By adjusting each fader, you’ll vary how present each mic is on your final sound and rightfully craft a unique ambiance to your double bass. The higher the value set on each fader, the closer each mic will be to the instrument’s body.
- Intuitive interface
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.5 or higher and Windows XP, Vista, or 7. It runs in Kontakt Player 5.5 and higher. Free Kontakt Player is not supported.
Summary:
This is undoubtedly one of the most accurate-sounding libraries available today. Hardly one can beat a double bass’s amazing texture, and quality like Simple Jazz Bass does. Most libraries tend to compress the lower frequencies a bit, and this is not the case here: all notes can sound very natural, especially when they are fading away in volume.
This brings unmatched personality and a human-like feel to your samples and tracks. However, instead of using round-robin samples – playing a different sample when you retrigger the same note – Fluffy Audio chose to adopt “neighbor-note RR,” in which they tune neighboring notes rather than use a true round-robin.
This might appear in a soloed track, but it may not be as noticeable within a mix.
Related Reading:
Top 13 Jazz & Swing Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
5. XPERIMENTA Project – PREPARATO Double Bass (Kontakt Library)
The second installment of the Preparato series brings an innovative approach to a double bass sample library.
The project’s creators, Flavio and Filippo, pursued discovering new sounds from the most intriguing acoustic sources. This is why Preparato Double Bass includes 24 unique preparations recorded at Rocchi Scoring Stage Recording Studios, in Rome, with only top-of-the-line equipment.
PREPARATO is more than just an inspiring library; thanks to the new version of the “Acoustic Modular Instrument” engine, which is based on a multi-layering system, PREPARATO gives you incredible control over the acoustic source, with endless possibilities for combination, making it useful in all types of music.
Key Features:
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- Powerful engine
This library is fully controllable via “Control Changes,” which enables you to insert the 24 articulations on 04 different levels at the same time with independent controls, such as “Filters,” “Distortion,” “3 LFO and 2 Step Sequencer,” and “ADSR.” A strong Arpeggiator, more than 25 Space IR and 20 Special FX, a selection of 10 effects, and an integrated Preset Manager are also included in the engine. - Excellent recording process
All samples were recorded at 96kHz at Rome’s Rocchi Recording Studios 110mq scoring stage, using only top-of-the-line gear such as tube and ribbon microphones for a deep and warm sound and an Italian handcrafted 4/4 Double Bass with Pirastro Strings played with a signed Pernambuco bow. - Different microphone settings
There are four microphone positions available in the library: “Close,” “Middle,” “Room,” and “Mix.” The double bass was recorded with up to four round robins and several dynamic layers, which means that every sample should get the best dynamic nuances that only an acoustic instrument can provide with its unique resonation.
- Powerful engine
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11, and 12 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit only). It runs in Kontakt Player 6.4.2 and higher. Free Kontakt Player is not supported.
Summary:
The extremely high level of quality regarding the recording process brings PREPARATO Double Bass to the table with the most out-of-the-box tools to help you tweak your samples to infinity and beyond.
The acoustic properties of the double bass can be altered with filters and envelope controls, so more modern genres can benefit from a deep drone or a nice bassline that will make the track’s atmosphere truly unique-sounding. Even a more common usage of the double bass samples is welcome due to the special gear used in recording.
Related Reading:
Top 12 Brass Plugins & KONTAKT Libraries (+ Best FREE Plugins)
6. XPERIMENTA Project – Classica Double Bass (Kontakt Library)
Classica Double Bass is a primed Double Bass library featuring legato variations and mic configurations.
Recorded with basically the same equipment used in the previous library on this list, Classica Double Bass delivers the same richness, variety, and easy usage as its twin brother, all in a very elegant user interface and straightforward controls.
The main difference between the two libraries is that Classica focuses more on being a reliable double bass library, without the many sound-shaping tools present on PREPARATO Double Bass. It’s a solid double bass library that will fit perfectly in your orchestral track or film score, with many articulations and some simple effects to enhance its beauty.
Key Features:
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- Legato script
The Classica Double Bass has an adaptive legato script that adjusts its behavior in response to the musical phrase’s speed. With this algorithm, you can hear the difference between a slow or speedy phrase as it would’ve been played by a musician, respecting the natural dynamics and harmonics that should come out of each string, besides dictating how the notes are going to be linked to one another. This adds the perfect amount of reality to any bassline. - Control options
The ready-to-use interface includes all the controls you’ll need for complete and quick sound control. The articulations can be selected on the left, while on the opposite side, you’ll find “Reverb,” “Tone,” and “S. Start” controls that allow for the perfect ambiance. At the center, the three mic positions – “Close,” “Mix,” and “Room” are displayed as three separate knobs. Going even further, every articulation can have its own control window, with filter, envelope, and more configurations at your disposal.
- Legato script
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11, and 12 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit only). It runs in Kontakt Player 6.4.2 and higher. Free Kontakt Player is not supported.
Summary:
A more straightforward version of the previous library in this list, Classica Double Bass, might be more appealing to producers searching for the perfect classic double bass library, quite literary.
Whether a solo or ensemble, any situation can showcase Classica’s ability to deliver a great-quality audio sample with basic yet very configurable articulations. Classical pieces and film scores can sound better than ever with this library, which convenes modern software with beautiful acoustic sounds in the very same window.
Related Reading:
Top 12 Violin Plugins With Authentic Sound
7. Spectrasonics Trilian (Plugin)
Trillian is the successor to Spectrasonics’ Trilogy bass instrument, which provides more musical expression and sound-shaping freedom.
The Trilian Total Bass Module combines several distinct types of bass into one incredible-sounding virtual instrument, thanks to its extensive design. It has long been regarded as one of the most versatile bass virtual instruments available, and it is now established as a reliable tool for your basslines.
This 34GB library contains an entirely new variety of bass models, with fingered, picked, fretless, slapped, tapped, and muted technique variations. Many of Omnisphere’s strong synthesis functions have also been introduced to version 1.5.
This library is the perfect bass collection for serious producers, whether you require production-ready sounds or prefer to construct your tones carefully.
Key Features:
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- Customized adjustments
The “Custom Controls” can help you to shape the sample sound. The user-friendly interface provides controls related to performance and amazing effects processing tailored to each specific patch. Thousands of them are offered, demonstrating the incredible adaptability and capacity to personalize these inspirational sounds to your music significantly. - Ultimate expression
Deep sampling has been used to capture details like legato or glide techniques, articulation noises, and overtones present on the release, bringing such samples to a new degree of authenticity. Trilian’s Acoustic Bass is one of Spectrasonics‘ most realistic works yet, with four channels and almost 21,000 samples used to reproduce a single bass instrument. All of this gives performances a level of reality that is extremely remarkable and necessary for an acoustic instrument. - Many FX units
Thirty-three effects are waiting to be explored and tweaked into your bass sounds. Among them, compressors, graphic and parametric EQs, filters, delays, reverbs, and even phasers are available, with vintage and modern options to choose from.
- Customized adjustments
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.13 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2.4, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats and standalone host.
Summary:
Focusing not only on double bass, Trillian’s exquisite library brings one of our list’s most complete instrument collections. Even as the other bass sounds are awesome, it’s incredible how good the acoustic double bass samples are here.
The variety in both instruments and controls is remarkable and should get your perfect bass tone dialed right within minutes. It’s nice to know that every possible adjustment you’ll need is resting at the same window, and with a somewhat common-designed interface, you’ll surely feel at home.
Related Reading:
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8. Westwood Instruments – BASS UNTAMED Double Bass (Kontakt Library)
BASS UNTAMED is part of Westwood Instruments’ SOLO STRINGS UNTAMED series, composed of stringed instrument samples.
SOLO STRINGS UNTAMED is a natural, raw, and expressive collection of solo string instruments. All of them were recorded in improvisational performances, so you can have a natural feel by pressing the keys harder or softer on your MIDI controller. From delicate and sensitive murmurs to fervent and furious yells, they got you covered.
The BASS UNTAMED deals with all the low-end bliss involving double basses, with all the harmonics and appropriate ambiance required to make it sound huge. And as it’s habitual for Westwood software, it all comes in a neat, logical, and clear package, with everything to hand.
Key Features:
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- Glue
Sine waves are used in this library, a method the team of developers has been employing with strings for a long time. The natural sound of strings is thickened by adding a simple sine wave. This is referred to as “Glue” because it fills in the gaps and binds the mixture together. To give it a Westwood feel, we used 1′′ reel-to-reel tape to sample every pitch of a sine wave across the whole range of each string instrument. This softens the sterility of a pure sine wave and gives it a more organic feel. There are two versions to use: a conventional pitch version and an “8vb” version, which pitches the wave down an entire octave. - Improvisations
A succession of extended notes that were completely improvised is included in this library. Each one lasts about 20-30 seconds. These notes are constantly changing and demonstrate BASS UNTAMED’s true potential. Every note in the three-octave range contains three special differing intensities that may be accessed by switching between three different velocity ranges. There are two distinct sets of improvisations totaling 222 particular samples. - Storms
Storms uses all of the improvisations to mix from a single performance to twelve on every note you play. Each of the improvisation layers is applied one by one as the value of your mod wheel increases. Begin with a single calm layer and work your way up to all four, then add the lively performances, and finally, the wild performances. You’ll hear more performances, and it’ll sound more dramatic the more keys you play. For example, if you hold down two keys, you will listen to two performances, eventually increasing to 24. The team recommends only using 1-2 mic placements to keep your system resources happy.
- Glue
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit only). It runs in Kontakt Player 5.6.8 and higher. Free Kontakt Player is not supported.
Summary:
Aside from getting amazing sounds from stringed instruments, Westwood Instruments hits the ceiling with an innovative and unique-sounding library in BASS UNTAMED. The possibilities are increased exponentially with the amazing “Glue” and “Strom” technologies, which bring this instrument’s sound even closer to reality.
Especially if you’re producing a film score, this might be very useful to deliver strong dynamic moments with equally strong sounds and hits, crafting a very realistic atmosphere that, mostly, only real musicians can get when playing live.
9. Bolder Sounds – Roots Upright Bass (Kontakt Library)
This collection focuses more on popular music styles such as bluegrass and folk, but that doesn’t mean it’s not versatile.
The bass style associated with such rhythms came from playing without drums to generate a strong beat. As a result, the bass player’s task included playing bass lines and creating a powerful rhythmic feel with particular percussion techniques.
This is why Bolder Sounds’ team wanted to work with Eric Thorin of Lyons, Colorado, a master of this style.
Recording took place at Grace Design Studios in Lyons, Colorado. Grace Design produces some of the best microphone preamps and recording equipment on the market today, so, naturally, such delicate recordings should occur there.
Bo Clausen has designed his very adaptable KSP script programmed into this Kontakt instrument for this library.
If you’ve used any of Bolder’s other sample libraries, you’re already familiar with his work.
Key Features:
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- Auto-position
A sophisticated Auto-Position script is used in this library, allowing for idiomatic fingerboard movement (especially useful for non-string musicians, like keyboard players). If desired, this script can also be disabled. For playing up a single string, use the string imposition key switches. All of this favors a final result as close as possible to reality. - Four instruments in one
The basic plucked bass.nki, a bowed bass.nki, a knocks.nki (which turns the bass into a percussion kit), and extra slides.nki are all included within this bundle, which can cover up most common usages of a double bass – including knocking on its surface! - Tweak it your way
Standard plucks, slapped notes, ghost notes, finger flicks, palm hits, harmonics, and slides are among the articulations sampled. In addition, for tonal diversity, velocity levels for each sample layer can be modified, and all key switch locations can be reassigned to the user’s desire.
- Auto-position
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit only). It runs in Kontakt Player 5.5.2 and higher. Free Kontakt Player not supported.
Summary:
It’s just as awesome to treat your virtual instrument as a real one would behave. Larger instruments like a double bass have often been used as rhythmic devices simultaneously with melodic ones, so there are times this can be an important feature to be present in a sample library. With customizable controls, Roots Upright Bass can deliver all the hits and knocks popular in genres like rockabilly and bluegrass just like a real bass would’ve, but this time right into your DAW.
10. Adam Monroe’s Upright Bass (Plugin)
This option is sampled directly from a vintage double bass and gets straight to the point with a very simple-looking interface.
The plucking of a gigging upright bass player was sampled for Adam Monroe’s Upright Bass, while the bass itself was passed down to the performer from his grandfather.
The bass’ actual age is unknown, but it had seen some play and sounded fantastic although being a little beat-up. This is one of the reasons why this library is so genuine.
The bass was sampled using a stereo pair of Shure SM81s, an AKG D112, a Neumann Tlm 102, and a “DI” bridge pickup to create this library. The bass was recorded throughout several 10-hour sessions, during which the bassist performed plucked notes, slap bass, and slides.
During mixing, it was discovered that combining the SM81s with the D112 produced the best overall tone.
Key Features:
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- Lively articulations
The articulations are “pre-recorded” rather than engineered/programmed, as the purpose of this library was to find a balance between a realistic upright bass sound and a usable plugin. Although software simulations provide you with more control over your playing, nothing beats the sound of live articulations. - CPU friendly
High-performance algorithms are included in the plugin versions, which have been increasing with each new virtual instrument published by Adam Monroe Music. The buffering method, for example, is double-buffered and multithreaded, ensuring that buffering performance is high even on slower systems and at lower latencies.
- Lively articulations
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.9 or higher and Windows 7 or higher, both in 32 or 64-bits. It comes in VST, AAX, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
This might have the simplest of all designs previously shown, but it comes for a good reason. If you have a slower machine that cannot handle the larger libraries mentioned earlier, this might be the best choice for you.
Considering it’s cheaper than most similar libraries, Adam Monroe’s Upright Bass can deliver the same tones and dynamics but in easy and simple packaging that should cover most genres and sound profiles.
What’s The Difference Between a Bass And a Double Bass?
The difference between a bass and a double bass is that the bass is plugged through a bass amplifier and struck with a pick or the fingers, aside from being smaller and held perpendicular to the bassist’s body. Double basses are larger, stay upright, and can be played with a bow or fingers.
The double bass is the bigger and older brother of the popularly known bass guitar, derived from the viol family of classical instruments.
Because of its proximity to similar classical instruments, the double bass can also be played with the assistance of a bow, especially because its strings are flat-wound and provide a good resonance. Other than being used in classical music, the double bass can be found in genres such as jazz, country, and blues.
Can a Bassist Play Double Bass?
No, bassists cannot play the double bass just because they know how to play electric bass. The tuning is the same, but the playing position and the note’s placement on the fretboard are different and require focused study. The double bass is more physically demanding and can be hurtful to play without training.
You usually play the double bass in a standing position, with a very different fretting hand than a regular bass requires. Other than that, a double bass can reach around 180cm of height, with some smaller size options like 1/2 and 3/4 accommodating smaller hands or heights.
This means that, even in smaller and more compact sizes, a double bass can be very big, and this influences how hard you’ll need to play the instrument.
Is a Double Bass Lower Than a Bass Guitar?
No, the double bass is not lower than a bass guitar. Both instruments are tuned standard – E, A, D, and G – and thus share the same notes and scales. But due to its heavier construction, the harmonics on a double bass may be more noticeable, providing a richer tone to the same notes played on electric bass.
The double bass is a much heavier and bulkier instrument than a regular bass guitar, so the notes can resonate and be projected differently than its smaller brother. This can have the same notes played sounding more “bassier” or even richer harmonics, bringing more character and dynamic to its playability.
Related Readings:
Can a 6 String Bass Be Tuned Like A Guitar?
How To Chain Your Guitar Effects Pedals? Ultimate Guide
How Often Does A Guitar Need a Setup? (Acoustic, Electric, Bass)
Conclusion
Instrument libraries can be one of the most important examples of a modern producer’s most trusted tools. You can easily simulate and create sounds that could be impossible to obtain otherwise, simply because someone decided to sample its sonic properties and enhance them with functioning algorithms.
Double basses are somewhat specific when considering sampled instruments, but they should not be forgotten. Especially because they are so unique, it’s awesome that some companies out there dedicated some good hours trying to “digitalize” their distinctive sound so that they could be available at your fingertips.
Among the options shown in this list, one of the complete packages is Ample Sound’s Ample Bass Upright III, a comprehensive library that holds up to its name with high-quality samples and every possible articulation you can imagine, recorded right out of a genuine double bass.
The same applies to Vienna Symphonic Library’s Synchron Upright Bass, which delivers similar results in a different and slightly more elegant interface.
Other options, like Westwood Instruments’ BASS UNTAMED Double Bass and XPERIMENTA Project’s PREPARATO Double Bass, can deal with modern approaches and new sounds from the same instrument source.
Tweak, alter, change, and re-create the iconic timbers heard on double basses with an abundance of effects and controls, perfect for almost any music style – from modern to vintage vibes. And speaking of effects, Spectrasonics’ Trilian has to be the big winner.
Featuring over 30 different effects, you can not only manipulate but simulate the iconic studio gear used on pivotal recordings along the ages.
These options all sport very good quality regarding their samples, but there’s a particular strength about each option in this list that should be considered to be used in your projects. Some contain everything you need, while others are particularly good about a singular aspect.
Either way, be sure to know what you want better to explore the wonderful dynamics of a double bass.
See you next time!
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Top 7 EQ Plugins For Mastering In | And Best FREE Mastering EQs
Top 6 Passive EQ Plugins (Klevgrand, SPL, UAD, Waves, IK Multimedia)
Top 11 Plugins For Making Metal (Best Guitars, Drums & Effects)
Metering:
Top 5 Audio Metering Plugins (LUFS, RMS, LRA, True Peak)
Top 6 Spectrum Analyzer Plugins – Spectral Analysis Tools
Top 6 Oscilloscope Plugins To See The Waveforms
Top 5 Key Detection Plugins & Software (+ Best FREE App)
Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Kontakt Libraries For All Categories (Synths, Drums, Vocals)
Top 7 Drum Libraries For KONTAKT (And 4 Freebies)
Top 7 Trap Music Kontakt Libraries (And Best Lo-Fi Kontakt Library)
Top 7 Metal & Rock Kontakt Libraries (Best Guitars & Drums)
Top 10 Guitar Libraries For Kontakt (Acoustic, Electric, Bass & Freebies)
Top 7 Trailer Scoring Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Free KONTAKT Libraries For Various Instruments
Top 9 Piano Kontakt Sample Libraries (And 5 Best Free Pianos)
Top 10 Percussion KONTAKT Libraries (And 3 Freebies)
Top 7 Kontakt Libraries For Horror & Thriller Scoring (No VSTs)
Audio Restoration, Calibration & Utility:
Top 6 Noise Reduction Plugins (And 3 Best Free Tools)
6 Best Audio Restoration Plugins & Software
Top 7 Phase Alignment Plugins To Fix Your Bass & Drums
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Instrument Plugins:
Top 6 Vocoder Plugins (Effects & Synths + FREE Vocoder)
11 Best Rhodes VST Plugins (AND 5 Free Rhodes Plugins)
Top 12 Randomizer Plugins Including FREE Plugins
Top 6 Kick Drum Plugins (Best Kick Designer Tools)
Top 12 Woodwind Plugins (And KONTAKT Libraries)
Top 10 Double Bass Plugins (Best Upright Basses)
Top 5 Strings VST Plugins (AND 4 Best Free Instruments)
Top 6 Sampler Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Classical Guitar Plugins & Kontakt Libraries (And FREE Guitars)
Top 12 Sub Plugins (Best 808 & Bass Tools For Massive Low End)
Top 10 Plugins On PluginBoutique (And 7 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Plugins On Plugin Alliance
Top 7 Acoustic Guitar Plugins (And 4 Best Kontakt Libraries)
9 Best Bass Guitar Plugins (And 2 Best Freebies)
Top 6 Electric Guitar Plugins (Best PAID & FREE Picks)
Top 10 Arpeggiator VST Plugins (Best Synths, MIDI Effects & Tools)
Top 10 Modular Synth Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Choir Plugins & Sample Libraries (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
11 Best Percussion & Drum VST Plugins (And FREE Plugins)
Top 8 Piano Plugins (Best Sounding Pianos & 5 FREE Piano Plugins)
Top 6 Organ Plugins Ever Made (And 3 Best Free Organs)
Top 14 VST Plugins For Beginners (And 9 FREE Plugins)
Top 9 Drum Machine Plugins (And Groovebox Plugins)
4 Best Banjo Plugins (Best Banjo Instruments)
The 5 Best Ukulele Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
Top 13 Synth Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Synths Plugins)
Top 13 Sequencer Plugins (Synth, MIDI & Step Sequencers)
The 10 Best Multi-Effect Plugins (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 12 Plugin Bundles For Musicians (Synths, Mixing & Mastering)
Processing & Sound Design:
8 Best Lo-Fi Plugins (PAID & FREE)
Top 11 Plugins For Mixing Vocals (For Home Studio)
Top 12 Saturation Plugins (Best Mixing & Mastering Tools)
Top 6 Pitch Shifter Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Pitch Shifters)
Top 6 Chorus VST Plugins For Musicians (And 3 FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Limiter Plugins For Precise Mastering & Mixing
The 8 Best Filter Plugins For Precise Cuts & Boosts (+ 5 Free Filters)
6 Best Autotune Plugins To Improve & Enhance Your Vocals
Top 10 Transient Shaper Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 7 Enhancer Plugins (For Bass, Drums, Vocals & Harmonics)
Top 6 Flanger Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Flanger Emulators)
Top 7 Phaser Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Phasers)
Top 10 Plugins For Mixing Drums (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 7 Bitcrusher Plugins (And 4 Best FREE Bitcrushers + 3 Bonuses)
Top 6 Plugins For Voice-Over & Dialogue Cleaning (Post Production)
Top 10 Stereo Imaging Plugins (Best Old & Modern Picks)
Top 5 Multiband Limiter Plugins
Top 7 De-Esser Plugins For Better Vocals (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 7 Clipper Plugins (Best Limiter Alternatives)
Top 6 Chord Generator Plugins That Inspire Melodies (+ FREE Tools)
7 Best Exciter Plugins For Mixing & Mastering
Top 7 Channel Strip Plugins (And 2 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Distortion Plugins (And 4 Top Free Plugins)
Top 5 Comb Filter & Resonator Plugins | Melda, Kilohearts, Tritik
The 7 Best Vibrato VST Plugins | Audec, Audiority, Melda
The 7 Best Tremolo Plugins | Eventide, Melda, SoundToys, Kuassa…
The 7 Best Harmonizer Plugins | Eventide, Melda, Aegean Music
7 Best Sidechain Plugins (VST, AU, AAX) | Xfer, Cableguys..
Top 10 Noise Gate Plugins (And 6 FREE Free Gate Tools)
The 6 Best Ring Modulator VST Plugins | KiloHearts, Melda
7 Best Autopan VST Plugins | CableGuys, Melda, Waves, Soundtoys
The 6 Best Frequency Shifter VST Plugins
Top 11 Granulizer Plugins For Future Sound Design
29 Best Sound Design VST Plugins
Compressor Plugins
Top 11 Free Compressor Plugins (VCA, Vari-Mu, FET, Digital)
Top 7 Multiband Compressor Plugins (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 5 Diode-Bridge Compressor Plugins
Top 6 Mastering Chain Plugins: Complete VST Solutions
The 7 Best VCA Compressor Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 11 Mastering Compressor Plugins (And 2 FREE Plugins)
Top 10 Opto Compressor Plugins For Transparent Sound
The 7 Best Vari-Mu Compressor Plugins (And 2 Best FREE Tools)
Reverb & Delay Plugins:
Top 12 Reverb Plugins (And 5 FREE Reverb Plugins)
The 6 Best Spring Reverb VST Plugins | AudioThing, GSi, u-he, Eventide
Top 12 Delay Plugins For Music Production In (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 10 FREE Delay Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
The 10 Best Convolution Reverb Plugins
Amps & Preamps:
Top 10 Guitar Amp Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Simulators)
Top 10 Bass Amp Plugins (And 5 Best Free Simulators)
Top 9 Preamp Plugins (For Vocals, Guitars & More!) + Free Preamps
Other Recommended Gear:
Top 12 NearField Studio Monitors On Any Budget
Top 10 Midfield Studio Monitors For Home Recording
Best Biggest Studio Monitors (FarField Monitors)
Top 10 Guitar Pickups for Low Tunings
Top 10 Analog Compressors For Mixing & Mastering (On Any Budget)
Top 12 USB Audio Interfaces Under 150$, 200$, 300$ 400$ (Any Budget)
Top 12 Hardware Equalizers (Analog EQs For Mixing & Mastering)
Top 6 Analog Hardware Limiters
Top 6 Solid State Bass Amps (On Any Budget)
Top 6 Ribbon Mics On Any Budget (For Vocals, Drums & Guitars)
Top 6 Cheap Dynamic Mics For Vocals Under 50$, 100$, 200$ & 300$
Top 6 Chorus Guitar Pedals (On Any Budget)
6 Best 61-Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
9 Best 49-Key MIDI Keyboards Under 100$ & 200$
Top 5 Best 25 Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
Top 12 Acoustic Drums (Best Kits/Sets On Any Budget)
Guitar/Amp Focused:
Can I Put Nylon Strings on a Steel-string Guitar?
Do Electric Guitars Sound Good Unplugged?
Buying Your First Guitar: 2 Things To Know
Are Tube Amps Worth It? (Tube vs Solid-State Amps)
How Often Does A Guitar Need a Setup?
Can I Play Classical Guitar On A Steel-String Guitar?
How often guitar necks need reset?
Can You Play Two Guitars Through One Amp?
Can a 6 String Bass Be Tuned Like A Guitar?
Can I leave My Guitar Tuned Down a Step? Yes, But Is It Safe?
Should I Learn 4, 5 Or 6 String Bass Guitar & Why?
How To Know If your Guitar Amp Is Broken?
How To Fix Distorted Bass Guitar Sound?
Do Fender Guitars Appreciate In Value?
Should You Put Stickers On A Bass Guitar?
How Acoustic And Electric Guitars Are Made?
Is Electric Guitar Too Loud for an Apartment?
Does a Preamp Improve Sound Quality?
If I Learn Acoustic Guitar Can I Play Electric Guitar?
How Many Hours A Day Should You Practice Bass Guitar?
Do I need an AMP/DAC To Run Bookshelf Speakers?
How to Record Electric Guitar Into Logic Pro X?
Do headphones get worse with age?
DAW Related:
Best DAWs For Musicians Available (With FREE DAWs)
What’s The Most CPU Efficient DAW? – 5 DAWs Compared
How To Make Music Without Using A DAW?
Pro Tools Guide: How To Use AutoTune & Pitch Correction?
Ableton Review: Is It Worth The Money? (Cons & Pros)
Logic Pro X Review: Is It Worth It? (Cons & Pros)
How To Use Auto-tune & Pitch Correction In Cubase?
How To Fix Ableton Crackling, Crashing & Freezing? Step By Step
Plugin Related:
What Are Audio Plugins? Different Types of Plugins Explained
What Are The Best Tools To Develop VST Plugins & How Are They Made?
Cost of Developing Audio VST Plugin: Several Factors (With Table)
VST, VST, AU and AAX – What’s The Difference? Plugin Formats Explained
Complete Guide To Noise Gate – What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It?
How To Clip My Drums? Here Is How & Audio Teasers (Before/After)
Complete Guide To Limiter: How To Use It (+ Best Plugins & Analog Limiters)
Mixing With Reverb: How To Add Life To Your Mixes
Linear Phase vs Minimum Phase EQ – Full Guide
Difference Between LUFS, RMS & True Peak Loudness Meters
How And When To Use Algorithmic And Convolution Reverb In Your Mix?
Difference Between Active EQ, Passive EQ and Dynamic EQ
Headphones & Studio Monitors:
Do headphones get worse with age?
Monitors vs Studio Headphones For Mixing & Mastering
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Are Noise-Canceling Headphones Good For Music Production?
Can Headphones Break in Cold Weather?
Why do headphones & cables get sticky?
Can Wearing Headphones Cause Hair Loss?
How Do I know If My Studio Monitor Is Blown?
Side Effects Of Sleeping With Your Headphones On
Do You Need Music Amplifier For Studio Monitors or Studio Headphones?
Do Headphones or Earphones Damage Your Brain?
Can Headphones or Earphones cause Deafness or Toothache?
FarField, MidField & NearField Monitors – Their Uses, Pros & Cons
MIDI & Synths:
Should I Buy A MIDI Keyboard Or Synth? (Are Synths Worth It Anymore?)
Why Is Audio Gear So Expensive? (Especially Synths)
Top 12 Synth Brands – Analog, Digital & Modular Synth Manufacturers
11 Tips How To Choose MIDI Keyboard
Should I Buy MIDI Controller Or Keyboard? Cons, Pros & Tips
Eduardo Cardoso is a musician and audio producer based in São Paulo, Brazil. He studied both music production and theory in college and has successfully launched his career as a solo artist in 2021. With over 10 years of experience with the music business, he currently acts as a session musician, music producer, audio editor, and content creator. Read more..