Native Instruments has released "Session Bassist PRIME BASS," the first bass instrument in its "Session" series. It has a rich library of pattern phrases and a MELODY function, letting even users who are not good at programming bass quickly build professional bass tracks. With a high-quality sound sampled from a 1981 American bass, comprehensive effects derived from Guitar Rig, genre-based patterns covering everything from rock to Latin, and detailed groove adjustment, it is drawing attention as a practical instrument that can be used in every music production scenario.
The First Bass Instrument in the Session Series Is Born
"Session Bassist PRIME BASS," a new bass instrument for KONTAKT from Native Instruments, has been released.
Six guitar instruments have been released in the "Session" series so far and have been popular, but this is the first bass instrument.
Here, we first bring you a quick overview.
Product link: Session Bassist PRIME BASS
A Utility Instrument That Covers Everything from Using Patterns to Programming
Carrying on the lineage of the "Session" series, PRIME BASS's selling point is that you can build bass tracks using pattern phrases suited to various genres.
Even if an instrument sounds good, it often goes to waste if you cannot think of good phrases. In that respect, this product lets even those who are not good at programming bass bring professional-sounding playing into their songs right away, so it can be called a very practical instrument.
Of course, besides using the phrases as they are, you can also program while switching playing techniques with the MELODY function. By combining patterns and programming in a hybrid way, you can quickly create a bass track that matches your song.
A Premium, Highly Versatile Bass Sound
PRIME BASS is said to sample a 1981 American-made solid-body bass (probably a Fender Precision Bass), and the high-quality sound common to the Session series is alive and well in this product too.
Finger, pick and slap playing are all full of realism, as if you can feel the vibration of the body and cabinet.
It also has plenty of effects and amps inherited from Guitar Rig, so you can shape the sound extensively within the instrument.
From a little hands-on time, they all worked just as I imagined and felt intuitive to use.
Of course, plenty of presets are also provided, so those with no experience designing bass sounds can rest easy.
A Pattern Library Covering Every Genre
Patterns are available not only for rock, funk, R&B and so on, but also for electronic and Latin. For those who do not mainly produce these genres, it is very convenient when you want to bring their essence into an arrangement.
You can also customize the patterns. Including combining them with programming, the room for originality is quite wide.
You can also drag and drop a pattern to expand it into MIDI, and change fine pitches within it.
Packed with Playing Techniques and Groove Adjustment Features
As seen in the screens so far, in MELODY mode you can program while switching between various playing techniques, such as finger, pick, slap, mute and dead notes.
There are few variations, but slide samples are also provided, along with a function that smoothly connects two notes with a wide interval by sliding.
Also, for patterns, it has a full set of functions for freely adjusting the groove, such as humanize, swing, feel and shifting forward or backward.
With all this, it seems it can be matched to any song.
Seen this way, the Session series concept is perfect for bass. It is almost strange that there wasn't one until now.
We have only just started using it, so we hope to test it thoroughly and explain it in more detail later!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is Session Bassist PRIME BASS best suited for?
It is ideal for DTM users who are not good at programming bass and for creators struggling with ideas for bass phrases. Using the pattern library, you can quickly achieve professional bass tracks suited to the genre.
Q2. What genres of patterns are included?
Patterns for a wide range of genres are provided, including rock, funk, R&B, electronic and Latin. They are also handy when you want to bring the essence of genres other than your main one into an arrangement.
Q3. Can I program and customize patterns?
Yes. Besides programming while switching playing techniques with the MELODY function, it has comprehensive pattern humanize, swing and groove adjustment features, and you can expand patterns into MIDI and change pitches.
Q4. Can beginners shape the sound too?
Plenty of presets are provided, so even those with no experience designing bass sounds can rest easy. It also includes intuitive effects and amp simulation.
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