Use the bass amp effects in GarageBand on Mac
Bass Amp Designer provides multiple EQ types to sculpt your tone, and a dedicated compressor optimized for electric bass. In addition to the amp model EQ controls, Bass Amp Designer offers a Graphic or Parametric EQ.
Adjust the bass amp EQ controls
The EQ section contains a larger and more inclusive set of the EQ units found in the three original bass amps emulated by Bass Amp Designer, with the following settings:
EQ on/off switch: Turn the EQ (tone controls) on or off.
Bass, Mids, and Treble knobs: Adjust the frequency ranges of the EQ, similar to the tone knobs on a hardware amplifier.
Low switch: Switch between two positions that affect the tone and behavior of the Bass EQ knob.
1-2-3 switch: Switch between three positions that affect the tone and behavior of the Mids EQ knob.
High switch: Switch between two positions that affect the tone and behavior of the Treble EQ knob.
Adjust the bass amp compressor controls
The compressor features an AutoGain function to compensate for volume reduction that can be caused by compression, and includes the following settings:
Compressor on/off switch: Turn the Compressor on or off.
Hard/Soft switch: Switch between two compressor types.
Hard: Stronger compression, with good control over levels, which makes it easier to fit the bass into an arrangement.
Soft: Compression with a slow attack and longer sustain phase.
Comp(ression) knob: Set the amount of compression intensity applied to the input signal.
Gain knob: Add gain to, or subtract gain from, the gain staging of the internal AutoGain feature.
Note: AutoGain is always active.
Adjust the Graphic EQ controls
Bass Amp Designer offers an additional Graphic or Parametric EQ that you show using the EQ switch above the Master knob. The Graphic EQ includes the following settings:
EQ view switch: Show or hide the Graphic or Parametric EQ.
Type switch: Click the up position to choose the Graphic EQ. Click the down position to choose the Parametric EQ.
Graphic and Parametric EQ parameter settings are retained when switching between EQ types and when the additional EQ is turned off. This allows quick AB comparisons.
Pre/Post switch: Choose whether the additional EQ is inserted before or after—pre or post—the compressor module in the signal path.
Note: This parameter is relevant only if the Compressor is turned on.
Frequency sliders: Set the amount of boost or cut for each frequency band.
Adjust the Parametric EQ controls
After opening the Graphic EQ, you can switch to the Parametric EQ by clicking the Type switch. The Parametric EQ includes the following settings:
Type switch: Click the up position to choose the Graphic EQ. Click the down position to choose the Parametric EQ.
Graphic and Parametric EQ settings are retained when switching between the two types, and when the additional EQ is turned off, so you can quickly make A/B comparisons.
Pre/Post switch: Click to set whether the Parametric EQ is inserted before (pre) or after (post) the compressor section in the signal flow.
Gain knobs: Adjust the amount of cut or boost applied to the frequency range set with the kHz knob.
kHz knobs: Set the frequency range you want to cut or boost with the Gain knob.
Q knobs: Set the width of the band surrounding the frequency set with the kHz knobs.
The lower the Q knob value, the wider the band, which means that more frequencies are affected. The higher the Q knob value, the narrower the band, which means that only the frequencies nearest to the frequency set with the kHz knob are affected.