Sounds & Samples

Like many other audio sample purveyors, Loopmasters have gone beyond their original remit and embraced self-contained virtual instruments. One such example is their new Bass Master instrument dedicated to – you’ve guessed it – bass. This is a pretty straightforward sample-based plugin available for both Mac (AU/VST) and Windows (VST) systems. At its core, sounds are created from two layers, which can each make use of the included 217 factory samples. Sadly, there is currently no way to add your own samples to the mix, though this perhaps goes against the ‘keep it simple’ philosophy.

The layers are labelled as ‘Top’ and ‘Sub’, with some subtle differences between the two when it comes to further shaping. The Top layer includes a four-stage amp envelope, whilst the Sub only has control over Attack and Release stage (with fixed Sustain) – though unlooped short samples will obviously not extend beyond their original length. The Sub also has the ability to bypass any further processing by engaging the ‘Direct Out’ button. With this enabled, only the Top layer will route through the Filter section and (three part) Layer FX, or come under control of the Modulation Section. Whatever the setting, the Master FX (comprising of the three-band, compression-based ‘Frequency Booster’) works on the two combined layers.

With 350 factory presets covering a range of styles, Bass Master is a decent sounding and easy-to-use source of very usable bass tones.

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VERDICT 8.0