20 Best Bass VST Plugins of 2024

1. Spectrasonics Trilian

Trilian from Spectrasonics is a VST plugin with realistic and expressive bass sound with automatic articulation and comprehensive source sampling. Not only this, the samples are highly detailed, giving the most natural sounding result from the plugin.

The interface is simple yet interesting, and inspires music creation. The system can be synchronised with other Spectrasonics plugins.

Pricing: Around $300

Highlights

• Dynamic playing experience with intuitive articulation.
• 4 audio channels.
• 21,000 detailed samples with high-resolution streaming.
• Filter algorithms with realistic electronic bass resonance.
• Modulation and editing tools.
• Customizable interface and controls.
• Compatible with Windows 7 or higher, OSx10.10 or higher.

Spectrasonics Trilian is a complete solution for acoustic, electronic and bass sounds. This bass plugin is highly recommended in the music community and widely accepted as the best bass VST plugin in the market.

2. Native Instruments Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass

The Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass is a VST from Native Instruments which is officially recognized by Rickenbacker, world’s leading string instruments manufacturer. The plugin comes with authentic sounding midrange and bass.

The sound sampling is extraordinary, capturing crisp tones and even the pick. The plugin comes with all desirable features for tweaking, and also with equalizer and compressor.

Pricing: About $100

Highlights

• Officially recognized Rickenbacker VST.
• Electric bass for pop and rock effects.
• Automatic string selection and stroking.
• Open and palm-muted NKIs.
• Picked articulations.
• 50 presets.
• Designed by the top-bassist, Thomas Skarbye.
• To be used with Kontakt Player or Kontakt.
• Jump Amp for professional studio effects.

Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass is an ideal plugin for the classic rock guitar and bass sound with extraordinary realism and playability. The signature sound of Rickenbacker is authentic and sampled to perfection.

3. Native Instruments Scarbee Jay-Bass

Scarbee Jay-Bass is a perfectly sampled Jazz VST plugin for slap and finger bass sounds. It has a natural sound and realistic strings, and it is powered by sophisticated technology for all the real-time string effects. The plugin comes with customizable settings and presets.

Pricing: About $70

Highlights

• Jazz bass plugin.
• Electric slap and finger bass sounds.
• 3 Kontakt Instruments and 6 NKIs.
• Automatic string selection, chord recognition and finger selection.
• 6000 samples with articulation and playing techniques.
• 4 velocity layers.
• Designed by the top-bassist, Thomas Skarbye.
• To be used with KONTAKT PLAYER or KONTAKT.

Scarbee Jay-Bass is a premium quality bass VST plugin preferred by top musicians and music producers globally. Besides the true-to-life sound samples, the Scarbee Jay-Bass also emulates finer effects and articulation of string instruments.

4. Native Instruments Scarbee Pre-Bass Amped

Another premium plugin in the Scarbee line from Native Instruments is the Scarbee Pre-Bass Amped, with masterful samples from the amplified set-up of Fender’s Precision bass. This plugin is a successor of the highly acclaimed Scarbee Blue Bass plugin.

The most notable feature is the amp set up which allows for different styles of bass sound, making the output sound impressively professional and detailed.

Pricing: About $100

Highlights

• Amp set ups for 4 types of music production sounds.
• Advanced scripting for automatic playing techniques.
• Real-time playability and articulations.
• 4 instruments.
• Electric bass sound.
• 4000 sample sounds.
• 9 velocity layers.
• Designed by Thomas Scarbye.
• To be used with Kontakt Player and Kontakt.

Scarbee Pre-Bass Amped is the full version VST plugin of the Scarbee Pre-Bass series. The plugin yields accurate true-feel Fender Precision instrument sounds and can be applied in multitude of music genres, be it reggae, hip-hop or blues.

5. Scarbee MM-Bass Amped

Scarbee MM-Bass Amped from Native Instruments is the go-to option for a bass VST plugin with distinctive disco and fink sounds. The amp set-up for this plugin also comes in 4 styles for varied fingered bass sounds.

The sample sounds reproduce authentic sound of flatwound strings. The plugin is bundled with impressive playing techniques, and scripting and automation features.

Pricing: About $100

Highlights

• Amp sounds in 4 styles.
• 4000 samples with 17 articulations and techniques.
• 9 velocity layers.
• Realistic monophonic strings and real-time playability.
• Automatic string selection and alternation feature.
• Slide and chord modes.
• Intuitive random pick-up hits for the true-feel.
• Presets for EQ and effects.
• To be used with Kontakt Player and Kontakt versions.
• Engineered by famous Bassist, Thomas Scarbye.

Scarbee MM-Bass Amped is a truly versatile VST plugin with a warm 70’s vibe. This plugin has been well received by a huge community of musicians, and has been specially recommended by the famous guitarist and musician Nile Rodgers.

6. Image-line Transistor Bass

Image-line Transistor Bass is inspired from the Roland Bassline synthesizer with extensive editing features and adjustable controls. The interface is smooth allowing adjustments and mixing with multitude of timber variations.

The built-in guitar distortion effect has a realistic range. You can easily create slide and accent patterns with the sophisticated sequencer.

Pricing: About $80

Highlights

• Subtractive synthesizer plugin.
• Guitar distortion feature.
• 128 programs sequencer and FX.
• Controls for resonance, cut off, envelope mod and decay.
• Delay and reverb settings.
• To be used with FL Studio 12.3 and higher.

Image-line Transistor Bass is a great Bass VST plugin with a modern sequencer and convenient editing functions for bassline patterns. You can easily create the true-sound bass music and tweak it to perfection on this Bass VST plugin.

7. Chris Hein Bass

Chris Hein Bass is a realistic sounding Bass VST plugin developed from more than 4000 sample recordings with impressive articulation and extensive playing styles. The plugin captures all variations and velocity levels in great detail and makes the music creation experience as spontaneous as a real instrument.

The interface characterizes an information field which displays descriptive text for each button on hover, which assists in quickly mastering the plugin’s functions.

Pricing: About $250

Highlights

• 6 detail-sampled instruments.
• Total 20,000 samples.
• Variety of scripts and controls.
• 8 velocity layers.
• 42 articulations per preset.
• MIDI controllers.
• 8 pre-programmed special effects controls.
• Chord mode and strumming.
• Slide mode, solo mode and automatic variations.
• To be used with Kontakt Player.

With a huge library of samples, the Chris Hein Bass is a phenomenal Bass VST plugin. It includes the Kontakt Player interface and an easy-to-control script feature, which justify the high price.

8. Audiorealism Bass Line 3

Audiorealism Bass Line 3 has been developed primarily as a virtual emulation of the Roland TB-303, recognized for techno and acid music. It guarantees a rich natural sound and also a true-feel of the legendary Roland TB-303.

The plugin is ideal for real-time performance and recordings. This version of the plugin is a complete overhaul from the earlier version with impressive wave analyzer and randomizer features.

Pricing: About $100

Highlights

• Realistic emulation of Roland TB-303.
• Editing and control features.
• Vibrato effect.
• Real time randomizer.
• Wave analyzer.
• Controls like cut off, resonance.
• Works with VST 2.4 or any audio interface.
• Compatible with Windows 7 or higher, and OS x 10.9.5or higher.

It is a wise choice to invest in the Audiorealism Bass Line3 for the experience of techno house and acid music from the iconic Roland TB-303. The plugin is compatible with most of the popular audio interfaces.

9. Manytone Music ManyBass

Manytone Music’s ManyBass is a perfect mid-range plugin with high-resolution bass sounds. The samples are teamed with a range of articulation and playing styles which make this plugin comprehensive. The plugin includes a very handy set of presets, and can also be used for making music from scratch.

Pricing: About $150

Highlights

• High-quality electric bass guitar emulation.
• Built-in presets.
• 2.4 GB of sampled music.
• Loads 4 articulations simultaneously.
• Built-in amps.
• Cabinet emulations and effects.
• Sound variations and playing techniques.
• Keyswitching feature.

ManyBass from Manytone Music is the most versatile Bass VST plugin in the market with built-in amplifiers and effects racks. The sound of acoustic guitars and upright and fretless basses are very authentic. Besides the built-in presets, you can also create your own sounds from scratch.

10. ViR2 Basis

For only $100, ViR2 Basis is just as powerful and feature-packed as any other highly-priced plugins. It presents diverse virtual bass instruments for every music genre and astoundingly accurate articulations.

The built-in effects and playing modes further add to the versatility of this unbeatable Bass VST plugin.

Pricing: About $100

Highlights

• Electric, acoustic and bass synth virtual instruments.
• 100 patches of synth basses.
• Randomizer feature.
• 7GB of sound samples.
• Playing modes and articulations.
• Legato tool and Vibrato engine.
• Distortion, reverb, delay and lo-fi effects.
• Designed for Kontakt player.

ViR2 Basis is a massive plugin with extensive sample sounds and articulations. It is believed to give a tight competition to some of the more expensive plugins in the market, in terms of features and functions. The sound quality is very good too. Overall, this plugin offers the best value for money.

11. Rob Papen SubBoomBass2

SubBoomBass is a specially engineered Bass VST plugin for deep low-ends. In addition to the usual VST functions and effects, this unconventional bass plugin captures some unusual waveforms from excessively low-pitch samples. The 16 step sequencer and huge range of presets on this plugin allow for unique sounds and effects.

Pricing: USD $100

Highlights

• Low-end bass VST plugin.
• Fast editing features for beginners.
• Free modulation step sequencer.
• Modes for FM and ring modulation.
•  Volume control oscillations.
• Built-in amp and volume control.
• Extensive modulation features.
• Variations of play modes.
• 1000 presets with quick access functions.
• FX modulation and HQ effects.

Rob Papen SubBoomBass has been masterfully designed to deliver a boom and deep bass. It is the ideal plugin hip hop, R&B and other bass centric music productions even for video games, music videos, background scores etc.

12. Impact Soundworks Shreddage 3 Abyss

Impact Soundworks Shreddage 3 Abyss is a versatile Bass VST plugin suitable for a variety of music genres especially rock and heavy metal. The plugin yields realistic sound and articulations sampled from a handcrafted 6 string Mukleroy bass with true sounding punch and fat sounds. The plugin comes with a huge library and a customizable articulations feature.

Pricing: USD$100

Highlights

• Custom Mukleroy bass VST plugin.
• Modular FX rack and Mixer with 30 effects modules.
• Articulation control feature.
• More than 1000 sound samples included.
• Virtual fretboard.
• Compatible with Kontakt Player and Kontakt.

Shreddage 3 Abyss is a plugin that offers sounds sampled by the master bassist Tony Dickinson on a custom Mukleroy bass recorded through a preamp. We recommend this plugin for crisp clear sounds with exceptional low-end bass and high velocities.

13. D16 Phoscyon BassLine

Phoscyon BassLine is a good entry level bass plugin with the classic Roland TB-303 instrument sound. The user interface of this plugin is as realistic as the sounds, allowing articulations and modulations like the real instrument. This plugin is one of the finest emulations of the original TB-303 delivering the same raw sound, but with immense tweaking functions and mixing options.

Pricing: USD $60

Highlights

• Authentic Roland TB-303 bass VST plugin.
• Filters and oscillation features.
• 96 pattern step sequencer.
• Arpeggiator and Randomizer features.
• Distortion effects.
• MIDI control feature.
• Compatible with VST and audio interfaces.

We strongly recommend the Phoscyon BassLine for electronic bass for all genres of music like techno, acid, trip hop, EDM, etc. This plugin yields fantastic accented and high-resonance sounds, and offers incredible features at a very low price.

14. TAL BassLine 101

BassLine 101 is a plugin which delivers the real bass sound of the Roland SH 101. This monophasic bass synthesizer offers the unconventional analog sound, without any samples or digital artifacts. The plugin is designed for high resonance and oscillations, for yielding sound with deep character and originality. The interface is superb with a clear layout of presets and functions.

Pricing: USD $60

Highlights

• Roland SH 101 Bass VST plugin.
• Monophonic bass synthesizer.
• Polyphonic mode with 6 voices.
• Arpeggiator and sequencer.
• 300 presets.
• Oscillators.
• Step sequencer.
• Compatible with VST and audio interfaces.

BassLine 101 is the best in the market emulation for Roland SH-101 with astoundingly original sound and great selection of features. Priced at only $60, this is a highly affordable plugin compatible with most software.

15. Output Substance

Output Substance is a Bass VST plugin with electric and acoustic sounds extracted from poly-synthesizer, analog synthesizer and brass instruments. The interface is very classy and sophisticated, yet easy-to-operate and master. The plugin blends 3 sound layers with effects and modulations for the powerful experimental music. Since this tool is not focused on sampling from real instruments, it yields a sound which is beyond realism and truly original.

Pricing: About $200

Highlights

• Progressive Bass VST plugin.
• 3-layer engine.
• 300 presets.
• Arpeggiator tool.
• Rhythm page and macro sliders.
• Monophonic and Legato modes.
• Expandable with other Bass plugins from Output.
• Compatible with Kontakt Player and Kontakt.

Output Substance is the best Bass VST plugin in the market for experimental music with electric and acoustic bass sounds. This premium tool can help you create extraordinary music and experimental compositions.

16. Sugar Bytes Cyclop

Sugar Bytes Cyclop is a raw bass synthesizer plugin for futuristic digital music compositions. The specially designed wobble knob feature operates at the tempo-sync rate for modulations and filters. The tool also comes with great automation recorder feature for extensive control and tweaking. The plugin offers a huge selection of presets for beginners and exceptional editing features for professionals.

Pricing: USD $100

Highlights

• Monophonic digital bass synthesizer plugin.
• Filter and FX sequencer.
• Wobble creator knob.
• Powerful oscillators.
• Modulation tools.
• Compatible with VST and audio interface.

Sugar Bytes Cyclop is designed keeping in view beginner as well as professional requirements for digital music composition. The low-end bass sounds produced from this tool are extraordinary.

17. Ilya Efimov Bass Bundle

This Bass Bundle engineered by Ilya Efimov includes five Bass plugins, each with extensive features, techniques and articulations. The tools allow fast editing for MIDI notes as well as real-time playing. This is a comprehensive package of plugins with top quality sampled music and very realistic bass sounds.

Pricing: $275

Highlights

• Multi-instrument bass bundle.
• Includes Studio-custom Bass, Precision Bass, Fender Bass, and String Bass emulations.
• Each instrument is sampled in 12 dynamic layers.
• Finger, slap and palm-mute techniques.
• Articulations with automatic and manual selections.
• Glissando.
• Modes for Legato, Chord detection, open string etc.
• Compatible with the full version of Kontakt.

Bass Bundle from Ilya Efimov is an amazing package of superior sound bundles with impressive effects and articulations. The different bass instruments sampled for the plugins provide a versatile collection of fine bass sounds, ideal for realistic recordings.

18. IK Media Modo Bass

Marketed as “producer’s dream bass“, the Modo Bass from IK Media is a VST plugin engineered for the most realistic bass sound using the innovative analog modeling technology. The plugin features 12 electric bass guitar instruments with tweaking options. This tool comes with playing technique variations; and also with sliding, vibrato, legato, muting, and pick-position options.

Pricing: USD $299

Highlights

• Modal synthesis technology which does not require samples for creating sound.
• Superior playability with player, instrument, FX and amp.
• Little memory space required.
• 12 guitar virtual instruments with customizable strings option.
• 7 bass stomp box effects.
• Customizable interface.
• MIDI controlled.
• Compatible with VST and audio interfaces.

Modo Bass is extremely flexible and playable Bass VST plugin, and offers the best professional emulations and playing techniques. It presents emulations for 12 classic guitars packed in little disk space, delivering terrific bass sound for any kind of music production.

19. Martinic Kee Bass

The Kee Bass from Martinic is a booming bass synth VST plugin, which has been physically modeled after the 60’s style Rheem Kee Bass. The plugin includes all popular features like filter, modulation, presets and edit options. The user interface is exactly like the original instrument with tabs for fine tuning and adjustments. Overall, this is a free tool worth downloading and enjoying!

Pricing: Free

Highlights

• Physical modeling of Rheem Kee Bass.
• Monophonic instrument.
• Polyphonic mode enabled.
• Built-in percussion and bass fuzz sounds.
• Extensive range of presets.
• Control and edit options.
• Filter and modulation.
• MIDI controlled settings.

Kee Bass from Martinic is an unbelievable bargain. It offers all the basic Bass VST plugin features and real-time playability experience for free. We strongly recommend grabbing this free tool for solid experimentation and learning.

20. Ample Bass P Lite II

Ample Bass P Lite II is a limited version of the Ample Bass P II, which is available for free download. This tool is an emulation of the 4 string Fender Precision Bass guitar. This is a great free tool compatible with most workstations and bundled with versatile sound samples with ample range and functionality.

Pricing: Free

Highlights

• Fender Precision Bass plugin.
• Playing techniques like palm mute, slap, legato and slide.
• More than 400 sample sounds.
• 4 articulations.
• Compatible with VST, audio interface and standalone hosts.
• Legato and Slide features.
• MIDI controlled parameters.

If you just want to add a Bass plugin to your existing digital audio workstation which will do the basic minimum as a Bass instrument, Ample Bass P Lite II is an excellent choice.