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Software for isolating bass lines???

Jools4001

Jools4001

Mar 28, 2008
2,526
1,201
Near enough to London, UK
#1
I don't know if this is the right forum but...I'm looking for some software to help me learn/transcribe tunes.

I use Audacity to slow stuff down (and loop if required) when the bass line is too quick to hear on a single listen through, so that's OK. But, sometimes I find that some bass lines (or parts of bass lines) are a long way back in the mix and it's difficult to hear what's going on - even with EQ favouring the bassline.

There was another thread where someone made reference to an application that helped pull the bassline forward in the mix (without it getting all muddy), but I can't remember which thread it was in or what the application was, and a search hasn't helped.

Anybody heard of such a thing?
 
#2
The only thing that I have or use is I have a list of songs from the Orig. artist that I can separate tracks on.. I can get bass-less or just bass, which helps me learn the song.. It is limited because its off of a list, but let me know if interested in the list, there might be a few songs on there you need or want to learn..
 
#4
I have a bunch of songs that are already separated into individual tracks, just like it would be recorded by artists.. I load it into my program and then it allows me to pick and choose what I want to take out or leave in, then render it down to wav or mp3 and thats it, you got what your looking for.. I use it sometimes to have a ghost player in practice or if the vocalist isn't there, I use the vocal track alone..
 
#5
Basically, if *you* as a bass player cannot hear the bass line, the audience who have heard the song definitely do not know the bass line. So you have my permission to play any bass line you think fits! You don't have to thank me. :p
 
#9
seanm said:
Basically, if *you* as a bass player cannot hear the bass line, the audience who have heard the song definitely do not know the bass line. So you have my permission to play any bass line you think fits! You don't have to thank me. :p
Click to expand...

+1
For cover tunes
I don't expect the singer to imitate the original singer unless it's an Elvis band.

Pick the kicks and riffs from the rest of the band you're playing with. Play with the band and not some memory of the original recording.

I've heard some cover tunes with much better personal renditions of the parts than the originals ever had.
 
#10
So the question is, how much is enough in trying to replicate an existing bass line when playing covers?

IMTUANAAEE* I've tried to nail the bass lines exactly. I believe I have a pretty good ear and can get 90-95% of the way by listening, phrase by phrase, with good headphones and a decent eq setting, but sometimes it's just not possible to catch it by just listening. A bad mix, drop tuned guitars and bass drum overtones can all get in the way of knowing just what's going on.

I've noticed that when I get as far as I can get. Sometimes stepping away and returning another day allows me to notice when what I'm playing deviates from what's going on in the tune. I think it's because as I track through it again, I can better tell when the line moves away from what I'm expecting based on the previous day's attempts.

Live videos (DVD or YouTube) can sometimes help if you can see the player's left hand. Knowing whether or not the bass is extended range or in alternate tuning is always a plus, too.

But since I play a four-banger (with a D-tuner) in standard A-400, sometimes it's not practical to play exactly what the original recording artist played and I have to (read: get to!) adjust accordingly.

I think learning existing bass lines is an excellent tool in developing one's ear, composition skills and exposing one to new ideas, but, as I alluded, that's just my two farthings.



* In my own useless and not at all expert experience
 
#11
I mainly use what I have to hear something that I cant figure out.. or sometimes its pretty cool to take out the bass line of one of your favorite songs completely and insert your bass line to hear how it would sound if you were playing with the band.. but there a lot of uses for these songs that are broken down into separate tracks,..
 
#12
Transcribe!

...from 7th String: http://www.seventhstring.com/

You can slow down, loop, eq (comes with some standard settings for isolating different frequencies), will tell you the most likely notes within a given section, allows you to set sections, transpose keys, etc, etc.

This is my go-to software for transcriptions and I wouldn't be caught dead without it.

No, I'm not associated with 7th String in any way; just a very satisfied customer.

Good luck.
 
#14
Rimshot said:
So the question is, how much is enough in trying to replicate an existing bass line when playing covers?

IMTUANAAEE* I've tried to nail the bass lines exactly. I believe I have a pretty good ear and can get 90-95% of the way by listening, phrase by phrase, with good headphones and a decent eq setting, but sometimes it's just not possible to catch it by just listening. A bad mix, drop tuned guitars and bass drum overtones can all get in the way of knowing just what's going on.

I've noticed that when I get as far as I can get. Sometimes stepping away and returning another day allows me to notice when what I'm playing deviates from what's going on in the tune. I think it's because as I track through it again, I can better tell when the line moves away from what I'm expecting based on the previous day's attempts.

Live videos (DVD or YouTube) can sometimes help if you can see the player's left hand. Knowing whether or not the bass is extended range or in alternate tuning is always a plus, too.

But since I play a four-banger (with a D-tuner) in standard A-400, sometimes it's not practical to play exactly what the original recording artist played and I have to (read: get to!) adjust accordingly.

I think learning existing bass lines is an excellent tool in developing one's ear, composition skills and exposing one to new ideas, but, as I alluded, that's just my two farthings.



* In my own useless and not at all expert experience
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, and everybody who put forward the software suggestions.

I've been playing a loooooong time (started at 14 and I'm 55 now) so when I started there was no option but to use my ears to learn all the Yes, Genesis and Rush basslines I was obsessed with at the time.

I've also played in many originals bands and until relatively recently I've composed all my own basslines. Because they've been my own basslines I've never really had the need to transcribe but I am starting to do it now for various reasons - partly because I want to improve my transcription and reading skills which are very weak, but mainly so that I can nail some more interesting basslines.

I'm in a rock covers band now. Most of the songs that I've had to learn are relatively easy and I've always taken the view that I will learn the main riffs, changes and hooks that are essential to the song but I will also vary the bassline with my own ideas where appropriate. On the other hand we're starting to cover Mr Big's Undertow. I've learned the whole of the bassline that can be heard clearly but there is stuff that Sheehan is doing as fills between changes and underneath the guitar solo that sounds quite cool but is buried in the mix.

I could replace the bits he's doing with something of my own (and probably will to mix it up a bit), but I would also like to learn what is actually being played so I can choose to play that as well. I've got the technique and chops to do it but I can't tune into the bassline as clearly as I want to - admitedly, with creeping age and a lifetime stood next to loud crash cymbals my ears need more help than they used to
 

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