Bass Amp Designer in Logic Pro for iPad

Bass Amp Designer emulates the sound of three famous bass guitar amplifiers and the speaker cabinets used with them. Each preconfigured model combines an amp and cabinet that recreates a well-known bass guitar amplifier sound. The amp and cabinet can be combined with integrated compression and EQ units to alter the tone. You can process signals directly, reproducing the sound of your bass played through these amplification systems. Virtual microphones are used to pick up the signal of the emulated amplifier and cabinet. You can choose from, and position, three different microphone types.

When recording, many bass players use a direct connection to a mixing board or other recording equipment, often using a passive (non powered) or active (powered) Direct Box (Direct Injection or D.I. box). The use of a pre-amp with passive or active EQ and a hardware compressor instead of, or in addition to, a D.I. box is extremely popular too. Bass Amp Designer emulates a professional-level American D.I. box.

Bass Amp Designer has a two channel design—one for the pre-amp and one for the Direct Box. This lets you flexibly change the signal flow for the following playing and recording configurations: pre-amp with passive or active EQ, compressor, a straight power amp, just the sound of the cabinets and microphones, Direct Box alone, bass amp alone, or both in parallel. See Bass Amp Designer signal flow and Bass Amp Designer Pre-amp signal flow.

To add Bass Amp Designer to your project, choose Amps and Pedals > Bass Amp Designer in the Plug-ins area or a channel strip Audio Effect plug-in menu. See Intro to plug-ins. Also see Add, replace, reorder, and remove plug-ins in the Plug-ins area and Work with plug-ins in the Mixer.

Figure. Bass Amp Designer window, showing main interface areas.

The Bass Amp Designer interface is divided into four main parameter sections.

Combo parameters: The Model pop-up menu is used to choose a preconfigured model, consisting of an amplifier, a cabinet, and a microphone type. Individual pop-up menus enable you to independently choose the type of amplifier, cabinet, and microphone. See Build a custom Bass Amp Designer combo.
Amp parameters: These parameters are used to set the input gain, presence, and output level of the amp. See Bass Amp Designer amplifier controls.
Effects parameters: These parameters control the integrated EQ and compressor effects. You can choose either a graphic or parametric EQ. See Bass Amp Designer effects.
Microphone parameters: These parameters set the type and position of the microphone that captures the amplifier and cabinet sound. See Bass Amp Designer microphone parameters.
Output slider: The Output slider is found at the lower-right corner of the interface. It serves as the final level control for Bass Amp Designer output that is fed to ensuing effect slots in the channel strip, or directly to the channel strip output.
Note: This parameter is different from the Master control, which serves the dual purpose of sound design as well as controlling the level of the Amp section.

Choose a Bass Amp Designer model

Model pop-up menu: In Logic Pro, choose a preconfigured model, consisting of an amplifier, a cabinet, and a microphone type.
You can use the Model pop-up menu to choose a preconfigured model, or you can build a customized model using the Amp, Speaker, and Mic Type pop-up menus. See Build a custom Bass Amp Designer combo. Your choices remain visible in the pop-up menus.

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Logic Pro User Guide for iPad

Bass Amp Designer in Logic Pro for iPad

Choose a Bass Amp Designer model