Isolating Bass Tracks

[Gilmourisgod]

Not sure where to post this, if there is a better forum, Moderators please move:

Old dog seeking to learn some new tricks, or maybe old tricks using new tech. After a long hiatus from actively playing bass, in favor of building them, I'm trying to re-learn the bass. I find these kind of isolated bass and drum tracks on YT a real eye-opener, revealing things I missed back in the Day, learning tunes by endlessly lifting and dropping the needle on an LP (dating myself here). Is there a reasonbly priced software out there, without a lot of extra bells and whistles I'll never use, for isolating and/or slowing down bass and drum parts? I bought a Tascam Bass Trainer years ago, when it was still running a CD, which still works, but the sound quality gets terrible when it's slowed down. Almost sounds like it's being put through some kind of bad phaser. I assume this is an artifact of hearing the sample rate of a digital signal vs. an analog one. There is an MP3 version of the same device now, but it doesn't seem to sound any better. In general MP3's sound worse than CD's IME.



I've also heard some talk about The Amazing Slow-Downer? Does that have similar functions for isolating bass tracks?

 

[wintremute]

I have used Moises App: The Musician's App | Vocal Remover & much more , and it has worked pretty well. I have only used the free version, as I didn't have a need to do more.

For free, you can process 5 songs per month, with files up to 5 minutes long.

 

[GaDawg78644]

2nd vote for Moises. I'm new to playing bass and it helps me tremendously. I record via microphone or upload an itunes song and it separates the tracks. I then play it through my Fender Rumble 100 and play to it.

 

[DanAleks]

I use Transcribe! software. It adjusts the playback speed and can filter out frequencies to somewhat isolate the bass.
It's $39.00.

Download link

 

[SoulReflection]

Not sure where to post this, if there is a better forum, Moderators please move:

Old dog seeking to learn some new tricks, or maybe old tricks using new tech. After a long hiatus from actively playing bass, in favor of building them, I'm trying to re-learn the bass. I find these kind of isolated bass and drum tracks on YT a real eye-opener, revealing things I missed back in the Day, learning tunes by endlessly lifting and dropping the needle on an LP (dating myself here). Is there a reasonbly priced software out there, without a lot of extra bells and whistles I'll never use, for isolating and/or slowing down bass and drum parts? I bought a Tascam Bass Trainer years ago, when it was still running a CD, which still works, but the sound quality gets terrible when it's slowed down. Almost sounds like it's being put through some kind of bad phaser. I assume this is an artifact of hearing the sample rate of a digital signal vs. an analog one. There is an MP3 version of the same device now, but it doesn't seem to sound any better. In general MP3's sound worse than CD's IME.



I've also heard some talk about The Amazing Slow-Downer? Does that have similar functions for isolating bass tracks?

The Moises App combined with my Scarlett into a DAW like Reaper does everything you would want, IMHO. And, yes, I was a '60s needle dropper as well

 

[GaDawg78644]

The Moises App combined with my Scarlett into a DAW like Reaper does everything you would want, IMHO. And, yes, I was a '60s needle dropper as well

I should have added Scarlett in my comments earlier. Right now I use Moises on an iPad or iPhone into my Scarlett 2i2 along with my bass and listen to it on headphones for silent practicing.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I loathe iTunes, find it cumbersome and needlessly complex. Most of my old music collection is still on CD’s, so I’d ideally like to rip MP3’s to my PC rather than struggle with iTunes.

 

[SoulReflection]

I should have added Scarlett in my comments earlier. Right now I use Moises on an iPad or iPhone into my Scarlett 2i2 along with my bass and listen to it on headphones for silent practicing.

I run mine into my laptop PC connected to a 32" monitor because my old eyes ain't what they used to be !

 

[SoulReflection]

I loathe iTunes, find it cumbersome and needlessly complex. Most of my old music collection is still on CD's, so I'd ideally like to rip MP3's to my PC rather than struggle with iTunes.

With Moises you have the option of taking MP3s from YT (with a converter) or directly from your own CD collection on your PC. I dislike iTunes as well.

 

[nickpc]

I bought a Tascam Bass Trainer years ago, when it was still running a CD, which still works, but the sound quality gets terrible when it's slowed down.

You know YouTube has a built-in playback speed change feature, so you can use them on these isolated bass tracks. Gear menu then Playback Speed. Only in 25% increments (and it can get wonky at 50%) but it's right there to use.

 

[Clark W]

Not sure where to post this, if there is a better forum, Moderators please move:

Old dog seeking to learn some new tricks, or maybe old tricks using new tech. After a long hiatus from actively playing bass, in favor of building them, I'm trying to re-learn the bass. I find these kind of isolated bass and drum tracks on YT a real eye-opener, revealing things I missed back in the Day, learning tunes by endlessly lifting and dropping the needle on an LP (dating myself here). Is there a reasonbly priced software out there, without a lot of extra bells and whistles I'll never use, for isolating and/or slowing down bass and drum parts? I bought a Tascam Bass Trainer years ago, when it was still running a CD, which still works, but the sound quality gets terrible when it's slowed down. Almost sounds like it's being put through some kind of bad phaser. I assume this is an artifact of hearing the sample rate of a digital signal vs. an analog one. There is an MP3 version of the same device now, but it doesn't seem to sound any better. In general MP3's sound worse than CD's IME.



I've also heard some talk about The Amazing Slow-Downer? Does that have similar functions for isolating bass tracks?

Here, this guy has already done all the work for you. With over 6000 videos, there's a lot of "No Bass" tracks to play along to

Bass

www.youtube.com

 

[gidbass]

I have used Moises App: The Musician's App | Vocal Remover & much more , and it has worked pretty well. I have only used the free version, as I didn't have a need to do more.

For free, you can process 5 songs per month, with files up to 5 minutes long.

I'll 3rd this.

I like Moises so much and was so impressed with it that I actually paid the subscription fee, and I normally just use the free version...

Good Luck!

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I use Amazing Slow Downer. You can adjust speed and pitch. I often adjust a song up one octave and the bass line really pops out. Pretty damn annoying. But it works.

 

[birminghambass]

Moises. Worth the subscription.

 

[Hankenstein]

I use Transcribe. A tip from The Bass Whisperer - If you are having trouble hearing a part, use the software to transcribe it up an octave!! Works like a charm.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I listen to isolated bass tracks. .... mostly on YouTube.
I don't study them, I don't dissect them.
But I listen to them.
They most likely influence me. But I don't try to replicate them.
They inspire me.

 

[wintremute]

Here, this guy has already done all the work for you. With over 6000 videos, there's a lot of "No Bass" tracks to play along to

Bass

www.youtube.com

I need to check that out! Thank you!!

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I once had a Tascam Bass Phaser, but now it’s primarily Anytune, secondarily Amazing Slow Downer. I’ve tried Moises, but I haven’t used it lately. Maybe it’s better now, what with AI being the hot new thing.

 

[VicDiesel]

Everyone is missing the obvious one: Logic version 11 has "stem splitter". They claim it uses "AI" but let's take that with a grain of salt.
Anyway, give it a mixed track and it gives you 4 tracks: vocal, drum, bass, rest. It is completely amazing. The bass is about 99 percent isolated.

 

[Shenron]

A couple of years ago I used Spleeter which was released for free by Deezer. The standalone version was very processing-intensive and required a long time on my PC, and eventually it was superseded by an option to upload files and let their servers do the processing. I don't know if the online version is still free but the standalone should, as it was actually open source. It used to be very good for vocals, fairly good with drums and bass, hit-or-miss with piano, and otherwise not able to separate guitar, keys or other instruments. It might be less good than Moises however as it is older.