10.6

527Logic Pro Instruments
Set sustain levels for the basic bass sound, dependent on pitch in Sculpture
In basses in particular, low notes sustain far longer than high notes. Sculpture allows you to
authentically and convincingly simulate this behavior with the Media Loss parameter.
1. In Logic Pro, play a few held notes in the range around C2 and above. You’ll hear that
these notes die out much too slowly. Drag the Media Loss slider up until this range
begins to fade out quickly enough. The downside is that the lower notes now die out too
quickly.
2. Drag the green Media Loss Key Scale slider down until the fade-out phase of the lower
range is sufficiently long.
3. Compare your results with these recommended values:
You’ve now created a basic bass that’s articulated with your fingers. Save this as E-Bass
Fingered Basic. You’ll be using this basic bass as a foundation for the construction of
further bass sounds.
The scope for sound design, by altering the frequency spectrum of electromagnetic
instruments, is far more flexible than that offered by acoustic instruments. In addition
to the number of pickups, a major role is also played by the choice of amplifier, the
equalization setting within the amplifier, and—last but not least—the physical properties of
the speakers and their enclosing cabinet.
The central features of your electric bass sound are complete, but the sound can be
improved by paying close attention to some details. Here are a few general suggestions:
• Vary the position of the pickups. Try placing each of them in different positions. This
cancels out certain frequencies, and others are summed together.
• Try turning on the Invert switch, even though this effect is not typical for electric
basses.
• What is typical for bass sounds is the placement of the pickups in the outer-left third of
the string model. The farther you move them to the left, the thinner and more nasal the
sound becomes.
• Shifting Object1 has a similar effect. Try different combinations here as well.