Refine the basic bass sound in Sculpture in MainStage

This section covers modifications to the basic bass sound. See Program a picked bass sound in Sculpture, Program a slap bass sound in Sculpture, and Program a fretless bass sound in Sculpture.

Sequentially follow the tasks in this section after reading Program a basic bass sound in Sculpture to learn how different components can be modeled and to gain a fuller understanding of how Sculpture parameters interact.

Use the Resolution parameter to control the timbre, independent of pitch in Sculpture

The Resolution parameter is normally used to set the balance between DSP load and sound quality. It can, however, also be used to shape the sound.

In MainStage, play some notes at the higher end of the bass range (around C2), then drag the Resolution slider all the way to the right and then gradually back toward the left.
You can hear how the sound loses overtones yet simultaneously becomes louder. At low Resolution values, an inharmonic metallic rattling is heard in the sound.
Increase the Resolution value until the metallic rattling disappears. Set the slider to the following position:
Play some notes in the bottom range (around E 0). You’ll note that the sound is quite muffled and vintage-like. Move the green Low Keyscale slider (found below the main Resolution slider) all the way to the right; the low range should now sound a little more wiry.
With most stringed instruments, the overtone content decreases as the pitch becomes higher. Strictly speaking, this is true only of open strings, and even then in a limited sense. If the strings are fingered, the length of the string is shortened, especially in the high register, and the effect becomes more significant.

Use the Inner Loss parameter to scale the overtone content, dependent on pitch in Sculpture

In MainStage, move the Material Pad ball above the words Inner Loss. Try to move the ball solely in a vertical direction to maintain a constant Stiffness value.
Drag the green line next to the ball toward the bottom until the small green diamond is located directly above the word Steel.
When playing, you’ll recognize the smooth transition that takes place between the wiry, overtone-rich sound at the bottom end and the extremely dampened sound in the upper register. This e

MainStage User Guide

Refine the basic bass sound in Sculpture in MainStage

Use the Resolution parameter to control the timbre, independent of pitch in Sculpture

Use the Inner Loss parameter to scale the overtone content, dependent on pitch in Sculpture