Mac vst plugins to track bass guitar to internal synth

[GGman]

Are there any good plugins that I can use to take my bass guitar input to a Mac computer and have it play a synth module? I guess a pitch tracker that integrates with software synths. I don't want to get into midi pickups that translate. I currently use Logic Pro 8 and have a ton of plugins, like AmpegSVX, etc. I use my bass guitar with a preamp to the line input on my MacBook Pro to run through Logic and AmpegSVX.

[moles]

I'm sure Logic 8 still has the audio-to-midi function - I use version 5 for the PC and it's worked out well.
Unless of course you want to run it live - that's a whole other story...

[GGman]

yeah, run it live. i've been searching thru plugins in logic since i posted hoping to find something. whereabouts is the audio-to-midi function you mention?

[moles]

Oops - just to clarify, it's actually called "Audio to Score". There is something called Audio to Midi, but I think that's related to creating a groove template...(or something - I've never used it).
Again, this is in version 5 - but the Audio to Score shows up in the Factory when you've opened up a waveform (double click on a Region in the Arrange). If they've put it somewhere else now, it should still be easy enough to find in the Help file.

[funky_bass_guy]

Synodia (spelling might be a bit off) does this. Whether you can get a usable result is another matter!

[funky_bass_guy]

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1606.html

[Taylor Livingston]

Originally Posted by funky_bass_guy

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1606.html

Only available for Windows. The OP is looking for Mac plugins (and so am I).

[GGman]

I also found another one, but Windows only. Guitar Controlled Bass Synth
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/882.html

I see the new Line 6 Lowdown 400 pro has a synth setting and it sounded pretty good. I was hoping to duplicate the effect playing live and using software.

[Taylor Livingston]

Well, if you just want a "synthy" sound, you can do a lot with distortion and filters. The typical synth bass sound is a square wave going through a resonant lowpass filter. So, if you boost and then clip the hell out of your signal, you can get something like a square wave, then use any filter plugin, put the resonance somewhere sensible (or not, depends on the sound you're going for), and control the filter cutoff with a midi foot controller.

However, if you want to control specific synths, you will need to go the audio-to-midi route. I have not found anything good for this yet, but I am looking.

[GGman]

I am looking to play synths/samplers with my bass without going the hardware route with special midi pickups. I am seeing most vst's have latency problems and are better used after a track has been recorded. I just found WIDI for Mac, but sucks for realtime in Logic or GarageBand.
http://www.widisoft.com/
I am looking for ways to kick in something extra/ different on my bass during guitar solos in a 3 piece band. Even something that might add a decent guitar sound chord that follows my bass note. I will probably run that thru a separate stereo stage amp system so my bass stays the same. And to play some songs with that typical Moog Bass sound. That's what I heard on the Line 6 amp demo, BTW.

Thanx for the tips. I will explore the filters, etc. like you suggested and try to create some synth sounds.

[warnergt]

Originally Posted by GGman

...I just found WIDI for Mac, but sucks for realtime in Logic or GarageBand.
http://www.widisoft.com/

I agree. I have WIDI for Mac. It's a nice concept but the performance
stinks big time. It hasn't been updated in ages and their forum is a
Russian website.

[Taylor Livingston]

Yeah, I downloaded the Widi demo a while ago and found it useless. I'm surprised there isn't anything available that does this decently. I only have free plugins, but I would be willing to pay a decent sum for an audio-to-midi plugin that really worked.