Requesting Advice on Soft Synth Bass

[Greyfin10]

I did find this thread, and it reinforces the decision I already made (impulsive... sorry) to go with a Soft Synth over a regular board or controller and module. So, anyway, I bought a 2006 Mac Book Pro and a Novation Impulse 49, and topped it off with a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP (overkill, but flexible). So... once those arrive...

I've noticed that Mainstage 2 seems to be being pushed hard, but I have two questions that either aren't clear, or I've misread somehow.

1 - Do you need Logic to have Mainstage 2, or can it exist independantly. If the latter, how do you go about finding and installing Virtual Instruments?
2 - Related to above, my hope is for this to be flexible enough that, if I am trying to cop a particular sound, I can find a wide selection of modules to solve my problem. Is there a standard architecture for soft synths that you have to commit to (i.e. how many correct decisions do I have to make ahead of time). I guess what I don't want to do is commit to the wrong maker, drop a lot of money, and realize it was wasted, because what I wanted was the "other guy's stuff".

 

[fokof]

It's available on your App store Application.
I paid mine 19$ but it was a special.


It's basically a AU host , so install AU synth plugins and open them in Mainstage. If the plugin has been written with a lot of control , you will have access to them.

 

[pbass2]

I did find this thread, and it reinforces the decision I already made (impulsive... sorry) to go with a Soft Synth over a regular board or controller and module. So, anyway, I bought a 2006 Mac Book Pro and a Novation Impulse 49, and topped it off with a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP (overkill, but flexible). So... once those arrive...

I've noticed that Mainstage 2 seems to be being pushed hard, but I have two questions that either aren't clear, or I've misread somehow.

1 - Do you need Logic to have Mainstage 2, or can it exist independantly. If the latter, how do you go about finding and installing Virtual Instruments?
2 - Related to above, my hope is for this to be flexible enough that, if I am trying to cop a particular sound, I can find a wide selection of modules to solve my problem. Is there a standard architecture for soft synths that you have to commit to (i.e. how many correct decisions do I have to make ahead of time). I guess what I don't want to do is commit to the wrong maker, drop a lot of money, and realize it was wasted, because what I wanted was the "other guy's stuff".

The nice thing about soft synths is you WON'T back yourself into a corner--you can try all kinds of products in demo mode, sometimes for 30 days until you find things you like.
If you want vintage emulations, there's a ton, if you want modern, there's a ton.
For vintage emulations I highly recommend all the G-Force stuff:
http://www.gforcesoftware.com/

For modern synths I use gobs of Native Instruments and Rob Papen stuff:

http://www.robpapen.com/

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/

There's many many more.

You can buy and download these products from the manufacturer's sites or from sites like Link Removed

Installation is painfully easy--the software downloads/ships with an installer app that is a no-brainer.

You don't need Logic to run Mainstage.

The sky is the limit with soft synths, so don't just limit yourself to things that are advertised as "bass synths".
I get ridiculous bass sounds by using the lower register of all kinds of synths/sampled instruments.

 

[Greyfin10]

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear. Lots of flexibility that way then? Would love to hear there are many many makers vying for that market (i.e. buyer's market).

And I haven't given up on the VB-99 (for others, fokof has been VERY helpful with my VB-99, and is that unit's ambassador on this site imho)... it's actually indispensable, but not for the reason I thought it would be. It makes my bass sound so much more flexible and easy to manage... the synth thing on the other hand, I think just can't be copped properly (by me) with the bass. Thus trying the synth bass thing.

Thanks for the reply!