Is there software that will help you isolate parts to pick out tabs?
 

Just what it says above. All I've ever tried to do when listening for a part is to use the iTunes equalizer to bring up the bass part. It occurred to me there might very well be software out there that isolates the various parts even better. Does anyone know of anything?

Aha - I thought I'd searched for a thread on this already before I posted but it seems I didn't try hard enough. After I posted I found a previous thread with a lot of good tips on picking out parts, some software-based and some not. If anyone has any updates on the software front (this is a now-nearly-3-year-old post I'm linking to and technology moves like the wind), feel free to add any breakthroughs you know about. ;)

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/te...-lines-630959/

I use audacity. You can slow it down without changing the pitch. You can also play around with the spectrum analyzer, sometimes it can help you pick out individual notes. You highlight the part of the wave containing the note you want and go to Analyze -> Plot Spectrum, and if you are really lucky, there will be a big peak somewhere and when you put your cursor on it, you should see the note down below the graph. There's probably better ways to do that, but it has worked for me a few times.

I use "Transcribe!" http://www.seventhstring.com/

It's got a lot of great tools for trying to isolate parts. Doubling the pitch is often helpful for me if the bass is buried in the mix.

+1 for Transcribe.

Amazing Slow Downer!

Celemony software has Direct Note Access. Some users have success.

http://www.celemony.com/cms/index.php?id=dna

All awesome responses! :hyper: Thanks so much! In the meantime I tried out Audacity just for slowing down a part while I learned it and immediately loved that aspect of it. I'm going to check out the other stuff that was recommended. Keep any tips coming if you got 'em!

+2 for Song Surgeon
Free, time limited fully working demo. Saves/exports/converts CD,.mp3, .wav, internet audio,etc. for learning purposes.

+1 for Amazing Slow Downer. Not only can you slow down a song without changing the pitch, but you can also maintain the same tempo and change the pitch. If I find it difficult to hear the bass part, I'll raise the pitch several tones. I find the bass more audible at a higher pitch. Then you just transpose the part.

I use transcribe as well. Transpose the pitch up an octave and slow it down for the fast parts, this makes the bassline really stand out. I find it very easy to pick out the bassline using that tool, but I'm sure any tool that can slow down the track (Without changing the pitch), and change the pitch is just as good.

Amazing Slow Downer
 

I agree with ASD. Although the software costs 50.00 you can use the EQ to back off the mids and highs to help minimize the other instruments. What I like about it is when you open it you also open your iTunes song list and simply grab any song and drag it into the ASD song box and you're good to go. Very simple.