Forced String Selection

[Sebastian Roth]

Hello Toons, so far EZbass is awesome and makes my...

Hello Toons,

so far EZbass is awesome and makes my day beautiful, but I can’t find any option to force a certain note to be played on a specific string. In other libraries there is usually a keyswitch for that.

In my situation I want to play some higher notes and EZbass decides to play them on the higher strings – but I want it to stay on the current string and to go up the frets instead. Is there an option or workaround for that?

 

Thanks

Sebastian

 

 

 

 

 

 

EZbass version: 1.0.2
Operating system: Windows 8.1

Hello Toons,

so far EZbass is awesome and makes my day beautiful, but I can’t find any option to force a certain note to be played on a specific string. In other libraries there is usually a keyswitch for that.

In my situation I want to play some higher notes and EZbass decides to play them on the higher strings – but I want it to stay on the current string and to go up the frets instead. Is there an option or workaround for that?

 

Thanks

Sebastian

 

 

 

 

 

 

EZbass version: 1.0.2
Operating system: Windows 8.1

Topic

[Robert Hays]

And it doesn’t sound like a long slide. So I stand by what I posted – string selection to be able to force slides is important. I can see when its sliding and its instead selecting the wrong string and not sliding, and it sounds like it too. So thanks Jordan but we need to agree to disagree (and thanks cschormann for adding in).

[Bear-Faced Cow]

And it doesn’t sound like a long slide.

Please explain how going from a high A to a low A doesn’t sound like a long slide. Not to mention a slide all the way up and then down the neck. You’re obviously not setting up a slide properly. Feel free to disagree all you wish, but full neck slides are working here.

and thanks cschormann for adding in

That’s a different issue, which is a viable concern, but I’ve worked around this with different EBXs. In this case, sampler rules apply.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[Robert Hays]

But I can’t force the software to do that, and by choice it likes the middle range of the bass frets. So thanks but your continued responses don’t help at all – if you have something helpful to add (like how you force it to do a long slide from high up the neck) then please let me know, otherwise my request is valid and meaningful.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

But I can’t force the software to do that,

Force what??

if you have something helpful to add (like how you force it to do a long slide from high up the neck) then please let me know,

Stop listening with your eyes. The grid editor is where it counts as far as the slide goes. That’s where it’s going to matter where a song is concerned. No one is going to listen to a song and go, “but it didn’t look right on EZBass”.

Shootie School is a good place start to learn how to use the grid editor, as well as everything else ToonTrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEFrstWttYg&t=442s

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[Robert Hays]

Yea no. With MIDI, not the grid editor – I edit MIDI streams and don’t use individual instrument note editors, the learning curves are too steep for all of them (I use a bunch). That’s why I need a keyswitch (like other instruments have) to control the string for the next note. Cleared that right up.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

If you mean that you just demonstrated that you couldn’t be bothered to learn EZBass in order to create a slide let alone discover how it creates it in MIDI, and believe that there is some sort of slide articulation, by way of a keyswitch, then your last statement is inarguable.

You also cleared up why you are unable to make a realistic bass slide across the neck with EZbass. Hate to break it to you, but the grid editors in all of ToonTrack products are MIDI-based, whether it’s bass, keys or drums. The slides, grace notes, hammer on and pull offs are all MIDI shortcuts and if you bothered to drag a region containing these into your MIDI editor, you would have seen that it is created with a combination of keyswitches along with MIDI. And if you were thinking like the instrument you are trying to emaulate in MIDI, in this case bass, you will see that the above four items I mentioned are pretty much the same in MIDI and can be handled by a single keyswitch along with the MIDI. What you want has absolutely zero to do with a “forced string selection” and is already possible, even if you want to do it the hard way.

No use telling me that what you want can’t be done when I’m already doing it.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[MOTIFXS8MINE]

The functionality limitations of this software should have been disclosed before purchase. I would not have purchased it knowing that you could not select strings. A slap bass pattern where the slapped root is played on the 5th string and the octave pop on the 4th, is just not musical or realistic even if tootrack thinks it is the best note. In addition, for some strange reason, my octaves slides tend to fall short of a true octave. A to Ab, for instance.

Finally, it amazes me that individuals on support forums think they should respond to posts in the nastiest most unhelpful way. If you are ok with how the plugin works- good for you. Go use it and allow those who are discovering its shortcomings to find clarity and seek actual support.

EZbass version: 1.2.0
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

1

Thanked by: rookosu

[stpete111]

MOTIFXS8MINE wrote:

The functionality limitations of this software should have been disclosed before purchase. I would not have purchased it knowing that you could not select strings. A slap bass pattern where the slapped root is played on the 5th string and the octave pop on the 4th, is just not musical or realistic even if tootrack thinks it is the best note. In addition, for some strange reason, my octaves slides tend to fall short of a true octave. A to Ab, for instance.

Finally, it amazes me that individuals on support forums think they should respond to posts in the nastiest most unhelpful way. If you are ok with how the plugin works- good for you. Go use it and allow those who are discovering its shortcomings to find clarity and seek actual support.

EZbass version: 1.2.0
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

Amen to that! If you’re happy with the software, awesome! There’s no reason for you to be in this thread!

And to the specific subject – literally every Bass VI I have and that I have seen allows for string selection, and even better and quicker, what is called position selection – where if, for example, if the Position selection is set to 5, no note will be played below the 5th fret, other than where it’s impossible not to (such as any note on the lowest string that’s on fret 0 through 4.  This is quickest way to say, “I don’t want any notes played on frets 1 through 4 on the higher strings because (enter your reason here).  But still, if we had to choose between string selection per note, and the position selection, I’d be happy with string selection since it can cover all scenarios.

 

1

Thanked by: rookosu

[Steve Russell]

Robert Hays wrote:

Yea no. With MIDI, not the grid editor – I edit MIDI streams and don’t use individual instrument note editors, the learning curves are too steep for all of them (I use a bunch). That’s why I need a keyswitch (like other instruments have) to control the string for the next note. Cleared that right up.

That may be your issue – doing manual editing. If you look at slide midi after importing,  it’s a very complex sequence of micro slides. So best to use the built in editor which is very easy to use – no remembering key switches, just menu selection for each note.

• The post has been modified 3 times, last modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by Steve Russell.

[Christian Schormann]

At least for my part, I am perfectly happy to use the built-in editor. But there is no way to force string selection there either, so for programming authentic lines the way I’d play them, it still falls short.

it really surprises me that a manufacturer like toontracks, with so much attention to detail, would not support such a relatively simple yet essential (to the player character of stringed instruments) feature. Sadly, I barely use EZBass anymore because of that.

Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

[rookosu]

Sorry to kick the dust off an old thread, but what many condescending replies in this thread (unfortunately some from TT as well which was incredibly disappointing to read) fail to grasp is that the sound of different strings playing the same note is incredibly different and musical.  No offense, but if you think there’s no difference in sound you probably haven’t played a bass.   Which is totally fine!  But the OP’s request is incredibly valid and I came here trying to find a solution to what I surely thought was possible, but unfortunately isn’t.

The Toontrack response of “No you don’t need it, we decided, and adding the option would make the software difficult to use” is………..disheartening and very much taints my view of the brand.

Also, try adding just the smallest amount of gain/overdrive/distortion to your bass signal for a rock/metal tune, then tell me you can’t hear the difference the same lick played on the E string vs. the A string.

1

Thanked by: Glenn Stanton

[Steve Russell]

Well, I get it but it’s the same with the drums. They have very limited editing capability to keep it simple. They say themselves that they are meant as a songwriters tool. I would like the possibility perhaps tucked away in an advanced section because their editor is just so good and easy to get a great performance. I wish I could use that editor with the Scarbee Rickenbacker.

[rookosu]

This particular ‘keep it simple’ argument from TT is what frustrated me.

It’s incredibly easy to add a keyswitch for “Force A string.”    or “Force B string.”  Every other library has it (at the same pricepoint as EZB might I add).  It doesn’t change the ease of use of the software literally one bit.  Use it if you want, don’t if you don’t.

It’s the only reason why I buy other libraries instead of EZB expansions now.

IMO the TT team just underestimated the need for it, which was a mistake (totally fine), but when challenged on it, came up with this ‘we wanted to keep it easy’ nonsense.

• The post has been modified 2 times, last modified 4 months ago by rookosu.

[Billy 86]

stpete111 wrote:

Henrik Ekblom wrote:

No, there is no manual control over this. EZbass comes sampled with, and is automatically using, the notes that sounds best for each tone!

Hi Henrik,

This is one of the features I’ve been wondering about since EZBass’ announcement.  As Clownizm says, this is a pretty standard feature in any bass sample VI.

When you say, “EZbass comes sampled with, and is automatically using, the notes that sounds best for each tone” – how does Toontrack or EZBass know whether I prefer the sound of an A note on the open A string, or on the 5th fret of the E string, for a given song or song part I’m working on?  Or what about if I specifically want to play the 15th fret of the D string instead of the 10th fret of the G string?

Please don’t misconstrue the tone of my question, I’m not trying to sound combative at all.  I’m just wondering about the decision behind leaving this functionality out, and whether we can put it on a feature request list for a future version.  I have to admit I’m a little surprised this was left out, only because of the incredible level of detail in so many other facets of this plugin.  Aside from this feature omission, this is an amazing plugin.

EZbass version: 1.0.0
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

• This post was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by stpete111.

Let me say, I think EZB is amazing. I agree the forced string feature would be welcomed as an option. If users are looking for easy, they don’t have to engage it, just like the other options that are available if you want to use them; otherwise, just let the programming do its thing. Forced string is a very, very basic function/techique for a bass player.
In a way, if it’s new users who need things simple to get started, they could “graduate” into using it if they want once they get comfortable. A ton of us have been using EZB for years and would use it immediately.

SD3 3.4, EZK2.1.3, EZ Bass 1.3.1, Win11, i9/9900, all SSDs, 64g RAM, Cakewalk, Studio One

[Author]

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