EZ Bass Sounds Out of Tune to me. Anyone else?

[Yargro]

Running EZ Bass 1.1.4 in latest version of Logic on...

Running EZ Bass 1.1.4 in latest version of Logic on Macbook Pro  M1 Max, Monterey.

I love EZ Bass features, it’s an amazing product,  but it consistently sounds out of tune to me. Depends on the key, and where the note is on the bass. Some keys and bass parts are better than others. I’ve tried all the different tuning options, read the Toontrack explanations about tuning etc. The other tracks in the sequences are stock virtual instruments, no live instruments. The stock basses in Logic don’t have this problem. Maybe it’s the way EZ Bass is sampled, and stretched across the bass? I’ve got a fair amount of experience recording and performing with live as well as sequenced bass parts so I’m aware of the tendencies to perceive pitch one way or the other in relation to bass. But I’ve always found a way to lock it in. I haven’t found that yet with this product. I must be missing something. Like maybe there’s a way to flatten out some of the expressions that affect pitch. Any one else having this issue?

EZbass version: 1.1.4
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

Running EZ Bass 1.1.4 in latest version of Logic on Macbook Pro  M1 Max, Monterey.

I love EZ Bass features, it’s an amazing product,  but it consistently sounds out of tune to me. Depends on the key, and where the note is on the bass. Some keys and bass parts are better than others. I’ve tried all the different tuning options, read the Toontrack explanations about tuning etc. The other tracks in the sequences are stock virtual instruments, no live instruments. The stock basses in Logic don’t have this problem. Maybe it’s the way EZ Bass is sampled, and stretched across the bass? I’ve got a fair amount of experience recording and performing with live as well as sequenced bass parts so I’m aware of the tendencies to perceive pitch one way or the other in relation to bass. But I’ve always found a way to lock it in. I haven’t found that yet with this product. I must be missing something. Like maybe there’s a way to flatten out some of the expressions that affect pitch. Any one else having this issue?

EZbass version: 1.1.4
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

Topic

[Yargro]

Hey Juergen,

thanks for sharing this. I’ll check it out. The problem notes for me tend to be sharp, but this may help those too. Good work! Toontrack must be aware of it, hopefully this will encourage some review of intonation in EZ Bass

best to you!

EZbass version: 1.1.4
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

[andy carney]

Just read this thread as I was having the same issue with tuning

Just discovered that my MOD Wheel was way up on my controller keyboard which was the problem

Sorted !

2

Thanked by: Daniel Cairney and vidco-21

[vidco-21]

Ive been having the same issues with EZKeys and EZBass but not with Kontakt or any other plugin.

I disabled the Pitch Bend, Controllers and Program Change in External Devices for my Midi Keyboard and it appears to have fixed the issue. I spent hours looking at clock inputs and reinstalled Studio One but thanks to Andy Carney (above), disbled the inputs in case I accidently move the wheel in the future.

The weird thing is this issue only started happening recently.

I hope this helps.

Simon

EZbass version: 1.1.4
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

1

Thanked by: Daniel Cairney

[Daniel Cairney]

I think i found it. The settings/general/auto adjust transitions is on. Turn it off. It’s been driving me crazy for about a year. The out of tune appears and disappears when changing chords. Seems to wander all over the place in FL studio. Went through EVERYTHING. suggestions, FL tuning, Resonance, different amps, 6 different tuners, Melodyne and did this and now it seems to be fixed.

EZbass version: 1.1.8
Operating system: Windows 11

• This post was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Daniel Cairney.

[Yargro]

Thanks for the tip Daniel, on improving the EZ Bass tuning. I’ll try it out. Much appreciated!  Will need to test over a period of time.

Speaking of time…when “printing” EZ Bass tracks to audio, in Logic, I have also noticed a lot of small but noticeable timing issues. Even when the MIDI is quantized to 100% the tracks don’t line up with the grid after they’re bounced. Some notes could be 20ms or more late or ahead. It seems random. and this is after the tracks are stripped of all controllers, or any other extra MIDI data except notes. Tried all the different methods and settings for the “printing” process , no plug ins, inserts, different buffer settings etc with the same results. Wasted a lot of time trying to fix it.

Given the tuning and timing issues, I work with EZ Bass only in the compositional phase of a project. EZ Bass is a fantastic, inspirational compositional tool and fun to jam with. But if I end up creating a bass line I want to use for a professional project, and want to have a good drummer play with it and with a click, or have other musicians play with it and tune to it, I get away from EZ Bass. I export the MIDI from EZ Bass and use that MIDI to trigger another instrument, usually in Pro Tools which solves both the tuning and the timing problems.

EZ Drummer on the other hand is pretty solid. It doesn’t exhibit the same timing problems for me.

[Sean Holland]

This is quite a while after the original post, but I’ve been having this problem. In my case, EZBass was out of tune a half step. Exported to MIDI file and then tried that bass track with Logic Pro’s bass sample. Same thing. But then I had the idea of unplugging my MPK225. Problem solved, although I’m not sure why. Maybe the pitch mod wheel. Anyhow, maybe this is relevant to other people.

Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

2

Thanked by: Daniel Cairney and Brad

[Brad]

Sean Holland wrote:

This is quite a while after the original post, but I’ve been having this problem. In my case, EZBass was out of tune a half step. Exported to MIDI file and then tried that bass track with Logic Pro’s bass sample. Same thing. But then I had the idea of unplugging my MPK225. Problem solved, although I’m not sure why. Maybe the pitch mod wheel. Anyhow, maybe this is relevant to other people.

Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

I had the same issue with a M-Audio controller. I ended up filtering out the mod wheel data until I could replace the controller.

good find 👍

EZbass version: 1.2.0
Operating system: macOS Sequoia (15)

Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One Pro (always up to date)
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)

2

Thanked by: Daniel Cairney and Juergen Urig

[Yargro]

Hi, I’m the OP and thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I tried all of them. Yes, it does seem as if certain controllers spit out problematic data, although most of that seems to be handled by an occasional flick of the mod or pitch wheel. But even with all controllers unplugged, I still had the tuning problems in Logic with EZ Bass and, unfortunately, problems with timing as well.  Even with everything quantized 100% there were significant timing variations with EZ Bass. Many people might not notice these problems–with casual listening, it actually sounds kind of realistic. But when you bounce tracks for export into Pro Tools for use with a click and a pro musician, 20ms or more random variation can be a problem, and then there are the tuning problems. I wasted a huge amount of time trying to troubleshoot these things. My ultimate solution was to use EZ Bass as an inspirational composition tool, export the MIDI from EZ bass into Pro Tools, use Pro Tools instruments as a reference bass since the timing and tuning was far better and then replace that with a real bass player. A lot harder and more expensive, I know. I guess if things seem too EZ, then maybe they are? EZ Bass is really an inspirational composition tool, I love it for that. I haven’t heard any official news about addressing these issues so I assume TT’s position is it’s our issue and not theirs. And maybe they’re right. But I’d rather spend time making music than troubleshooting. side note: The timing in EZ drummer is solid, so that’s good. I’m on an M1 Macbook Pro.

EZbass version: 1.2.0
Operating system: macOS Ventura (13)

• This post was modified 6 months ago by Yargro.

1

Thanked by: Daniel Cairney

[Mark Morton]

Yes, I am having the same issue. Mostly in the higher and mid register. I just wrote Toontrack about this . But it is definitely noticeable to the point of maddening. I am a guitarist and a bassist and I definitely hear pitch things. I’m hearing a waivering flutter in some notes that sound like an ultra fast tremolo

 

Mark

EZbass version: 1.2.0
Operating system: Windows 11

[Author]

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