How do you isolate bass tracks?

[Spectre Gunner]

I need to be able to isolate bass tracks to songs in order to more clearly hear what is going on with the bass guitar so I can more easily learn and hear the bass guitar part. Bass is not always clear on recordings even though I have a fine audiophile system. However, my system has no EQ controls. It plays a recording just as it was recorded which typically sounds good but it doesn't really help for separating the instruments.

A software solution that would enable me to isolate the bass track for a recorded commercial (or amateur) song is primarily what I'm looking for. ProTools seems the leading music software and is the standard for studios but I don't need a pro recording studio.

1. ProTools might be a little pricy to use mainly for this function but can it even do this?
2. Is there a more affordable alternative?
3. What is the learning curve for using Protools? (I'm competent enough to learn new software and I'm willing to put in the time to go through video tutorials or manuals).
4. What are other advantages is there for using ProTools to learn a new song?
5. If ProTools is what it takes then I may invest in it. But I'd like to see if there are less expensive alternatives just to isolate bass before I buy the Cadillac of music software.
6. Aren't there different levels of ProTools? i.e. Basic to Pro levels? If so what level would I need to isolate bass from songs that don't have separate/individual tracks?

Even just one answer could be helpful. I'm not expecting everyone to have an answer for all 5.

I appreciate any advice or recommendations but keep in mind I'm primarily just looking to isolate bass tracks at this point. If it matters I use Mac OS. If ProTools is what it takes, then so be it.

 

[MartinB]

Pretty much any DAW software will have EQ functions that enable you to pick out the bass. Graphic or parametric equalisers should both work well to boost the frequencies you want, and cut the others.
If you're using a Mac, you can probably get Apple's GarageBand DAW without spending any money.

 

[revd]

Iztotope RX using the Music Rebalance feature. Way better than just eq'ing and much more specialised than a DAW. Like magic!

To be clear, you won't get perfectly isolated bass but it really can pick apart tunes. There is online SW available that can deconstruct even better but I cannot recall the name.

Failing all that, selective eq'ing will help you focus on bass.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

So if you import a prerecorded commercial song, will ProTools allow you to isolate or mute the other instruments so that you could hear only the bass part? Obviously, this would be easy to do if you used it to record a live band with separate channels but what about importing a finished commercial song and trying the isolate the bass from that?

 

[jdh3000]

Use the force...

All of the above suggestions are good for what you are wanting to do. It is a bit of a crutch that you will outgrow eventually.

The more you force yourself to listen for only the bass parts as they are, instead of eq'ing, your brain will begin to isolate that part on it own.

Those are handy tools for getting started, but try first to learn the song without it, then isolate the bass part and see how close you were. It forces your ear to do its job and the brain to sort it out.

 

[revd]

The DAWs I use no, they can't deconstruct like that if it's a complete song (not individual tracks) you need specialised tools. They can apply EQ but cannot 'unmake the omelette' like that.

I am no PT expert so I'll let others chime in for the exact specific answer, but Logic or Live cannot do so.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

The DAWs I use no, they can't deconstruct like that if it's a complete song (not individual tracks) you need specialised tools. They can apply EQ but cannot 'unmake the omelette' like that.

I am no PT expert so I'll let others chime in for the exact specific answer, but Logic or Live cannot do so.

I had a feeling that most software wasn't capable of deconstructing something that was already mixed as opposed to having individual tracks already available. I suppose the close as you could get was to just try and EQ most everything else out.

Use the force...
Those are handy tools for getting started, but try first to learn the song without it, then isolate the bass part and see how close you were. It forces your ear to do its job and the brain to sort it out.

. I was basically hoping that if I could isolate the track then it would sort of speed up the process. Sometimes, it's just hard to hear what the bass is actually doing on some recordings.

 

[revd]

Izotope RX really does it, although it's better at removing (e.g. making an instrumental) rather than isolating (e.g. making an a capella). That said, when I played back a Taylor Swift tune to our kid and isolated the voice, she was most impressed. I tried it last night to solo the bass on a few songs, the result didn't sound like a quality bass recoding but really helped to pick out their notes.

Trouble with RX is that it's expensive but lucky me got it for work!

 

[JRA]

will ProTools allow you to isolate or mute the other instruments so that you could hear only the bass part?

no, there is no software that will 'isolate' individual tracks of a completed, commercial, two-track/mono master. but it would be cool if it was possible, right?

listen harder! good luck!

 

[jdh3000]

I had a feeling that most software wasn't capable of deconstructing something that was already mixed as opposed to having individual tracks already available. I suppose the close as you could get was to just try and EQ most everything else out.

. I was basically hoping that if I could isolate the track then it would sort of speed up the process. Sometimes, it's just hard to hear what the bass is actually doing on some recordings.

There used to be some programs that touted being able to separate tracks, but that's impossible. The best they could've done is have some kind of preset that pads down some frequencies and boost others.

If you are wanting to hear how the bass line goes try find YouTube bass covers. There us usually a good bass player on there who has worked it out with 90% accuracy. Some better than others, just depends on your chosen genre. Just type in (song) bass cover.

It is difficult to begin with because most ears don't go straight to the bass. Human hearing is natural focused on a certain spectrum, namely anything around the level of human speech. Our ancestors only needed to hear sounds or predators and prey that pretty much didn't fall into the lower range. You'll get used to it.

One thing to keep in mind when boosting bass lines is to experiment with with eq on the mid frequencies, low mid to mid, cutting the actual bass a bit. Boost those mud frequencies a bit more, then add in a touch of bass just to fill out what you are listening to. You'll most likely render a cleaner representation of the bass lines.

 

[mark286]

An effective trick that I learned here right on TB is to raise the pitch of the song by an octave. That really makes the bass line pop and easy to hear.

I use Transcribe! for Windows which is a great tool -- it can independently change pitch and speed of the song so you can speed up and slow down without effecting pitch and vice versa. It isn't free, but I love it and use it all the time when learning new material, practicing in transposed keys, creating looped sections, etc.

I believe The Amazing Slow Downer software is similar, but I haven't tried it.

 

[Thumper]

Amazing Slowdowner does have a custom EQ you can apply, it does help, but slowing down helps most.

 

[seamonkey]

If you can, Buy the TAB/Music
The folks that create the TAB/Music have all these tricks down.
It's worth it to pay them for their time.
Sometimes they have request forms for songs if it's not on their site.

 

[kevindahl]

Transcribe
Izotope RX7
Youtube Bass covers
I wish I had these when I was 14. You ever tried to learn a Rush song by a LP? Drop the needle, wait, pick up the needle, drop the needle....repeat a 1000 times lol

 

[Spectre Gunner]

There used to be some programs that touted being able to separate tracks, but that's impossible. The best they could've done is have some kind of preset that pads down some frequencies and boost others.

If you are wanting to hear how the bass line goes try find YouTube bass covers. There us usually a good bass player on there who has worked it out with 90% accuracy. Some better than others, just depends on your chosen genre. Just type in (song) bass cover.

It is difficult to begin with because most ears don't go straight to the bass. Human hearing is natural focused on a certain spectrum, namely anything around the level of human speech. Our ancestors only needed to hear sounds or predators and prey that pretty much didn't fall into the lower range. You'll get used to it.

One thing to keep in mind when boosting bass lines is to experiment with with eq on the mid frequencies, low mid to mid, cutting the actual bass a bit. Boost those mud frequencies a bit more, then add in a touch of bass just to fill out what you are listening to. You'll most likely render a cleaner representation of the bass lines.

Good tips and you get what I’m talking about trying to separate the electric bass from everything else. Especially keyboards playing down low.

If you can, Buy the TAB/Music
The folks that create the TAB/Music have all these tricks down.
It's worth it to pay them for their time.
Sometimes they have request forms for songs if it's not on their site.

I pay $10a month for Songster and while it’s very helpful and they have a lot of music. There is also a lot they don’t have. The sound is always cheesy midi music but they do show what’s going on with the bass in most cases.

Transcribe
Izotope RX7
Youtube Bass covers
I wish I had these when I was 14. You ever tried to learn a Rush song by a LP? Drop the needle, wait, pick up the needle, drop the needle....repeat a 1000 times lol

I used to have a record player with a speed adjustment. I’d slow it down which helped even though the pitch would drop accordingly. Or slow it down a little and tune the bass down to match the record speed. I learned to practice slowly. Speed will come later with familiarity.
.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

I already have Garbage Band since it came with my Mac. I’ll try that as soon as I can find the EQ function. Never used it before.

 

[revd]

Good luck!

My final response to an earlier post above:

It is no longer true to say that there is no technology to extract stems from complete songs. As I mentioned, Izotope RX can isolate 4 elements. For voice it's pretty much nailed it. For bass extraction it works well. For bass isolation it struggles more but can still do it (good for working out basslines and lowering the bass in a completed track but you wouldn't use it on its own as a bass solo!). And the tech is only going to get better so watch this space. Demo is free to try I believe.

There's also XTRAX STEMS - Audionamix which I have not tried but have heard good things about.

Exciting times. The tech is better than before and improving at a fair pace.

 

[DirkP]

So if you import a prerecorded commercial song, will ProTools allow you to isolate or mute the other instruments so that you could hear only the bass part? Obviously, this would be easy to do if you used it to record a live band with separate channels but what about importing a finished commercial song and trying the isolate the bass from that?

I think you lack the basic understanding of what a DAW is. It is there to record single tracks and then mix them. There is no way to seperate single tracks after they were mixed. There are some approaches with AI etc. to do so, but it is all done with dynamic EQs, masking etc. There is no way to really separate tracks after they were mixed together.

The only way to go is to manipulate the recorded commercial song with EQ and other tools to let certain frequencies determine the mix or be less audible. DAWs like protools might have some tools to do this, but this is not their goal.

 

[TomB]

I already have Garbage Band since it came with my Mac. I’ll try that as soon as I can find the EQ function. Never used it before.

Yes, GarageBand will allow you to import a song into a track, then change tempo and eq that track - and even add your own version of it!

It takes patience to find the good ones, but there lots of GB tutorials on YouTube these days. I like this one by Dan Baker as an overview, but there are lots of others too, long and short, good and bad. Have fun!

 

[TomB]

Yes, GarageBand will allow you to import a song into a track, then change tempo and eq that track - and even add your own version of it!

It takes patience to find the good ones, but there lots of GB tutorials on YouTube these days. I like this one by Dan Baker as an overview, but there are lots of others too, long and short, good and bad. Have fun!

PS - One thing that tutorial does not show is how to import your song into a track, but there’s a YouTube for that too - just ask your search engine that question. Also, I've never tried changing the parameters of an imported file, so I don't know how the normal track EQ & tempo functions will effect it. Please let us know what you discover.