REQ: Toontrack Acoustic EBX
ELECTRIC ACOUSTICS
The absolute staple expansion for singer-songwriters, folk, and acoustic pop.
The Acoustic EBX is an expansion for EZbass featuring a traditional four-string fretted acoustic bass guitar. Captured with both an external condenser microphone as well as an onboard piezo pickup, it offers the absolute best of both worlds in terms of tone. On the one hand, you have the natural, deep and inherent timbre of the acoustic instrument itself and, on the other, a direct and almost electric bass-like flavor. This gives you an EZbass expansion with a sonic breadth that spans the entire range – from timeless acoustic resonance to blunt electric precision.
In addition to the instrument itself, the Acoustic EBX also includes a custom MIDI library as well as a collection of presets covering mix-ready tones tailored for both amped and acoustic scenarios.
If you’re a broad-scope songwriter looking to boost your EZbass with an instrument that can handle anything from backing up just a single acoustic guitar and a voice to holding its ground in dense full band instrumentation, this one’s your winning bet. Simply put: an acoustic bass never sounded so vibrant and electrifyingly good – until now.
FEATURE SPOTLIGHT
1. A meticulously captured acoustic bass
2. Ideal for use in singer-songwriter, acoustic pop, and folk songs
3. Recorded with both an onboard piezo pickup as well as an external condenser microphone
4. Includes a finger playing style option as well as a set of unique percussive articulations
5. Offering a range from D1 to E4
6. Includes a collection of presets covering a broad range of tones – from dark and earthy to vibrant, bright, and electric
7. Comes with a custom MIDI library tailored for the instrument
THE INSTRUMENT
Small in size. Big in tone.
With its compact body and mere 23-1/2-inch scale length, the Taylor* GS Mini Bass is undeniably small in stature. But with its deep resonance, distinct attack, and dark, earthy timbre, this instrument is dauntingly huge in any and all respects when it comes to tone.
“When looking for a bass for this project, we had our minds set on one that didn’t just have great acoustic qualities, it also needed a solid electric tone. This bass really ticked all the boxes and outperformed a lot of basses we tried on every level. This is simply a remarkably versatile and great-sounding instrument.” comments Ulf Edlund, EZbass lead sound designer.
THE SOUNDS & ARTICULATIONS
Seeing as the traditional ‘finger’ playing style is predominant for this type of instrument, the Acoustic EBX hones in solely on this as its main striking “tool.” In addition, it also includes a set of unique percussive options: striking with fingers on the top and with the thumb on the side of the body of the bass. Using these classic “unplugged” and troubadour-like traits will allow you to add that extra bit of “acoustic” flair to your performances.
To offer minimal ambient saturation and to ensure the most genuine reproduction of the instrument’s resonance, it was recorded in a small room with carefully measured acoustic treatments. This, in combination with the onboard pickup, will give you a genuinely warm and vivid sampled instrument that brings out the most of the acoustic and electronic aspects of this bass.
THE PRESETS
The included presets primarily hone in on the round, warm and mid-centric settings, giving you a perfect palette of tones that can be traced back to anything from the rocking sound of Tom Petty and Neil Young to the more bare bones-type approach heard in songs by the likes of Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch. To further give you the option of easy external processing, clean direct input (DI) presets for both the ‘Finger’ and ‘Thumb Muted’ options are of course included.