The Best Free Bass VST Instrument Plugins

We’re pretty addicted to VST software in general, but when it comes to bass plugins, it can get quite costly if you want to invest in one that actually sound decent enough to add to our songs. We’ve continued to survey through hundreds of free VST plugins, so today we’ll continue our saga when it comes to that low-end bass sound we all need in our toolbox. Below is our own collection of the best free bass VST in the market.

Ample Bass P Lite II

Ample Bass P Lite II (ABPL) is a pretty reputable VST in general, let alone unpaid plugin. Do any search on Reddit or DAW forums and this one is pretty much always the top comment! It’s available for Mac and PC VST, RTAS, AAX, and standalone use. The bass VST offers 443 samples offering sustain, hammer on and pull off, and accent articulations. You can utilize a maximum of two sampling cycles when integrating Ample Bass P Lite II into a track. The manual vibrato wheel has been designed for string instruments, enabling high-quality, pitch-perfect sound. We can also utilize the auto-buzz toggle depending on the frequency and select an auto-articulation noise frequency setting. Choose between a start time with a 50ms delay, or a 0ms delay for real-time play.

The interface is pretty easy to understand, and by hovering the cursor over the different features, the user gets a quick explanation of what the control does. By including several effects, the Ample Bass P Lite II creators give the operator a variety of extras to add to a track, making it even more unique. Users have rated it highly for ease of use, presets, sound quality, and features. The versatility and most importantly, genuine sound of the bass tones has made it popular and arguably one of the best free bass plug-in options for those looking to add a little extra low-end to their grooves. Run it through a few FX plugins like Guitar Rig or simply compress and EQ it a bit and you have a beauty here.

4front Bass

A small, single-sound device program, 4Front Bass features not many tweakable settings but offers the user access to a pretty rich sound of a bass guitar. Suitable for use as an AudioUnit as well as VSTi for Windows, RTAS and VSTi for Mac, the plugin doesn’t consume too much memory and is low of CPU usage. For a person looking for a plug-and-play bass guitar module, 4Front Bass is one of the best free bass VST software products on the market as recommended by many. The use of 4Front Bass also doesn’t require a MIDI keyboard, although it is recommended for optimal use of its features (just draw it!).

Although not as user-friendly as other VST bass plug-ins due to the need to integrate it with hosting software, 4Front Bass nevertheless offers a powerful sound addition to any music mix. While professional users will understand its basics without much tuition, newer users might need a little extra time to experiment with 4Front Bass to see just how much depth it can offer a track. It’s well worth the time however as this one is usually listed with Ample Bass as a great free bass plugin to simply have at your fingertips.

TAL-BassLine

Let’s talk some synth bass, shall we? TAL-BassLine is available as a Windows or OS download and offers the user a virtual analog bass synthesizer with a low pass filter, which introduces the warm, classically vintage analog sound your track might be missing with a high degree of accuracy. This one by TAL (if you haven’t checked out their other free plugins, it’s worth downloading them all, trust me) is packed with features, making it one of the best free base VST available to users. Among them are the modulator source, which allows for the adjustment of the low-frequency oscillator (LFO) to clock rate, in addition to the waveform. The VC facilitates the adjustment of modulation and range, while the source mixer enables the inclusion of white noise.

The VCF lets the user adjust and control the frequency and resolution, and can be controlled using the modulator, envelope, or keyboard. The VCA is controlled from the envelope or gate, according to the user’s preference. The envelope features the standard attack, decay, sustain, and release functions any good VST contains. In the master box, you can adjust the volume and portamento. Pitch and velocity settings allow for additional manipulation of the track. In the arpeggiator and sequencer, you can adjust the length and velocity of notes, reset, record your sequence, load a sequence, or go into edit mode. Way too much customization here, let alone for free? We love it.

u-he TyrellN6

This one may not be considered “just bass” but we can’t help but recommend this as much as we can. It was in our free synth plugins article as well. It is downloadable for Mac OS, Windows, or Linux, but does not work as a standalone product. The Linux version is still considered to be beta, and there is not the same level of support as a Windows and download OS offers. u-he TyrellN6 also works as a VST and AU plug-in. One of the product’s best features is its comprehensive library of presets that offer a variety of sounds that is bound to suit any user’s need, and there are some fat bass synths in here.

The interface is also user-friendly and offers accurate adjustments, whether you’re using a mouse or a MIDI controller, allowing for a high degree of fine-tuning capability. Two oscillators offer shape and tune settings. u-he TyrellN6 enables the user to create two envelopes, each with its own attack, decay, sustain, and release settings. The mixer provides the chance to mix the products of the two oscillators while making adjustments, noise, and feedback. Each oscillator has its own low-frequency modulator. By far the best free bass instrument plugin if you needed some synth low-end in your tunes.

Steinberg Model E

Steinberg Model E can be regarded as VST royalty, given that it was one of the first commercially available VST plug-ins made available to users around the world. Today, it is still a user favorite and regarded as one of the best bass VST for free now that it’s available at no cost. Model E works with both Windows and OS, but it is an unsupported release, leaving users to troubleshoot on their own should they encounter difficulties installing or using it. With Model E, the musician can relive the sounds of the 70s and 80s, but that doesn’t mean this VST can’t adapt to modern sounds too.

The program offers 64 preset sounds and allows the user to create and add an additional 64. It has the capacity to work with 16 channels simultaneously while offering up to four stereo outputs. Model E features three oscillators, each with its own range selector and a choice between six different waveforms. The second and third oscillators have the additional feature of detuning settings. The volume of each oscillator is managed separately, and the user can also include some additional noise to the mix. Lastly, the filter offers settings for cut-off, emphasis, attack, decay, and sustain. Another amazing free bass plugin here.

TAL Noisemaker

The TAL-Noisemaker offers a significant number of improvements over its predecessor, TAL-Elec7tro. With a new synth engine and intense endeavors to make it more user-friendly, developers have certainly provided users with one of the best free bass VST products on the market even though it’s essentially it’s own standalone synth. Described as a basic synth plug-in that is straightforward and ideal for beginners, users shouldn’t assume that the TAL-Noisemaker is low on features. The TAL-Noisemaker has two oscillators featuring low-frequency oscillation. Using the master knobs, the user can blend the oscillators and modulate them together.

The second synth panel offers another low-frequency oscillator with basic filter, cutoff, and resolution settings. The envelope editor features a graphical display that allows for a high degree of control and the ability to generate interesting sounds. The control panel has settings for pitch, velocity, and a master section that offers detune settings, vintage noise emulation, and a filter drive. There is an impressive quantity of presets that come with the TAL-Noisemaker, and each is of exceptional quality. The easy-to-use interface gives the user the freedom to explore each of this VST’s functions and how they integrate to create a package that is rivaled by few others.

Daichi Synth1

Last but not least, we have yet another one of our favorite versatile synth plugins that we think can work well with your setup if you needed a synth bass. Or honestly, being able to make any sound that you want. It is suitable for use with Windows and OS and easily downloadable. Users should note that the website is in Japanese but easy to navigate using Google Translate. The VST also adjusts to the language of your device for compatibility purposes. Before starting to use Synth1, the user needs to import the Zipbank for the hundreds of presets it offers, which is one of this VST’s greatest features.

Synth1 has two oscillators, each featuring four waveforms. The amplifier allows the user to adjust attack, decay, sustain, release, gain, and velocity. Filters include settings for attack, decay, sustain, and release, together with frequency and saturation. The low-frequency oscillator allows for manipulation of the tempo and key of the selected music piece. Use the arpeggiator settings for type and range, as well as adjustable beat and gate options. Altogether, Synth1 is jam-packed with settings and options that are bound to satisfy the ear of even the most discerning of music producers and mixers. If you’re shopping for one of the best free bass plug-in options around, Synth1 from the Daichi Laboratory should certainly feature on your shortlist.