Learn How to Play and Customize Scarbee Pre-Bass in KONTAKT
Native Instruments Scarbee Pre Bass v1.2.0 (KONTAKT)
Introduction
If you are looking for a realistic and versatile electric bass instrument for your music production, you may want to check out Native Instruments' Scarbee Pre Bass. This is a faithfully sampled Fender Precision bass, created by the renowned bassist and sound designer Thomas Hansen Skarbye, also known as Scarbee. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, pros, and cons of this instrument, as well as how to install and use it with KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER. By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of whether Scarbee Pre Bass is the right choice for you.
Native Instruments – Scarbee Pre Bass v1.2.0 (KONTAKT)
What is Scarbee Pre Bass?
Scarbee Pre Bass is a virtual instrument that runs in KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER, which are software samplers that allow you to play and edit sampled sounds on your computer. Scarbee Pre Bass is based on the highly-regarded Scarbee Blue Bass, which was one of the first products released by Thomas Hansen Skarbye in 2005. The difference between the two products is that Scarbee Pre Bass uses round-wound strings instead of flat-wound strings, giving it a fatter and dirtier sound that suits a wide range of styles, from reggae, to pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, and more.
Why use Scarbee Pre Bass?
Scarbee Pre Bass is not just another sampled bass instrument. It is a meticulously crafted product that aims to capture the essence and soul of a real Fender Precision bass, which is one of the most iconic and popular bass guitars in history. The instrument was recorded with a DI (direct input) signal, which means that you can shape the tone and effects to your liking using KONTAKT's built-in tools or external plugins. You can also choose from different pickup settings (bridge, neck, or both) to get different sounds from the same instrument.
But what makes Scarbee Pre Bass really stand out is the level of expression and realism that it offers. The instrument features a vast and intuitive set of playing techniques and articulations that are fully playable in real time, without any key switches or menus. You can play mutes, harmonics, hammer-ons, pull-offs, grace notes, slides, bends, vibrato, and more, just by using your keyboard or MIDI controller in a natural way. The instrument also uses advanced scripting and algorithms to simulate the human touch and feel of a real bassist, such as finger noise, string rattle, fret buzz, and random variations. The result is a dynamic and organic sound that breathes life into your music.
How to install and use Scarbee Pre Bass?
To install and use Scarbee Pre Bass, you need to have KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER installed on your computer. KONTAKT is a powerful sampler that allows you to load and edit various sampled instruments, while KONTAKT PLAYER is a free version that can only run certain instruments, such as Scarbee Pre Bass. You can download KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER from the Native Instruments website. You also need to have a Native Instruments account and the Native Access software, which are used to manage your licenses and updates.
Once you have KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER installed, you can purchase Scarbee Pre Bass from the Native Instruments website or from other authorized dealers. The product costs $99 USD and comes with a serial number that you need to register in your Native Instruments account. After registering, you can download the product using Native Access, which will also install it in the correct location on your computer. The download size is about 3 GB, and the installed size is about 6 GB.
To use Scarbee Pre Bass, you need to launch KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER and load the instrument from the browser. You can also drag and drop the instrument file (NKI) into the rack. You will see the instrument interface, which consists of four main sections: Performance View, Instrument Options, Effects, and Presets. You can use these sections to adjust various parameters and settings of the instrument, such as volume, tuning, tone, effects, articulations, and more. You can also save and load your own presets or use the factory ones that come with the product.
Features and benefits of Scarbee Pre Bass
Now that we have covered the basics of what Scarbee Pre Bass is and how to install and use it, let's take a closer look at some of the features and benefits that make this instrument so special.
Authentic Fender Precision bass sound
The first and most obvious feature of Scarbee Pre Bass is the sound quality. The instrument was sampled from a 1974 Fender Precision bass, which is widely regarded as one of the best bass guitars ever made. The bass was played by Thomas Hansen Skarbye himself, who is not only a skilled bassist but also a sound designer with over 20 years of experience in creating sampled instruments. He used a custom-made preamp to capture the DI signal of the bass with great detail and clarity.
The instrument features over 4 GB of 24-bit samples, covering every note and every velocity layer of the bass. The samples were recorded with four different microphones: a Neumann U87 (for warmth), a Neumann KM184 (for brightness), a Shure SM57 (for punch), and a DI signal (for flexibility). You can mix these signals to create your own sound or use one of the presets that are included in the product. The samples also include round-robin variations and release samples to avoid machine-gun effects and add realism.
Versatile playing techniques and articulations
The second feature of Scarbee Pre Bass is the playing techniques and articulations that are available. The instrument offers a wide range of options to play the bass in different ways, such as fingered, picked, slapped, muted, harmonics, hammer-ons, pull-offs, grace notes, slides, bends, vibrato, and more. These techniques are fully playable in real time using your keyboard or MIDI controller, without any key switches or menus. You can also use velocity, aftertouch, pitch bend, mod wheel, sustain pedal, expression pedal, and other MIDI controllers to control various aspects of the sound, such as volume, tone, expression, and effects. The instrument also uses advanced scripting and algorithms to simulate the human touch and feel of a real bassist, such as finger noise, string rattle, fret buzz, and random variations. The result is a dynamic and organic sound that responds to your playing style and musical context.
Intuitive KONTAKT interface and presets
The third feature of Scarbee Pre Bass is the KONTAKT interface and presets that are provided. The instrument has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows you to access and adjust various parameters and settings of the instrument, such as volume, tuning, tone, effects, articulations, and more. You can also save and load your own presets or use the factory ones that come with the product. The interface consists of four main sections: Performance View, Instrument Options, Effects, and Presets.
The Performance View shows the main controls of the instrument, such as volume, pickup selection, tone control, mute switch, and expression pedal. You can also see the current playing technique and articulation that is being used. The Instrument Options section allows you to fine-tune the instrument's behavior and response, such as velocity curve, release volume, fret noise level, slide speed, vibrato depth, and more. The Effects section lets you add and adjust various effects to the instrument's sound, such as compressor, EQ, chorus, phaser, flanger, delay, reverb, and amp simulator. You can also use the built-in presets or create your own effects chains. The Presets section allows you to browse and load the factory presets or your own presets that are saved in the KONTAKT format (NKP).
Compatible with KOMPLETE and other products
The fourth feature of Scarbee Pre Bass is the compatibility with KOMPLETE and other products from Native Instruments and third-party developers. KOMPLETE is a collection of instruments and effects that covers a wide range of genres and styles. It includes KONTAKT and other samplers, synthesizers, drums, guitars, pianos, orchestral instruments, ethnic instruments, sound design tools, and more. You can use Scarbee Pre Bass with any of these products to create rich and diverse sounds and music.
For example, you can use Scarbee Pre Bass with GUITAR RIG 6 PRO or GUITAR RIG 6 PLAYER (which are guitar amp and effects simulators) to get more tones and effects for your bass sound. You can also use Scarbee Pre Bass with MASCHINE or MASCHINE MIKRO (which are groove production systems) to create beats and grooves with your bass sound. You can also use Scarbee Pre Bass with other KONTAKT instruments or libraries from Native Instruments or third-party developers to create layered sounds or multisamples.
Pros and cons of Scarbee Pre Bass
As we have seen so far, Scarbee Pre Bass has many features and benefits that make it a great instrument for electric bass lovers. However, it also has some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of before buying it. Here are some of the pros and cons of Scarbee Pre Bass that you should consider:
Pros
High-quality samples and sound design
One of the main advantages of Scarbee Pre Bass is the quality of the samples and the sound design. The instrument was sampled from a 1974 Fender Precision bass, which is one of the best bass guitars ever made. The bass was played by Thomas Hansen Skarbye himself, who is not only a skilled bassist but also a sound designer with over 20 years of experience in creating sampled instruments. He used a custom-made preamp to capture the DI signal of the bass with great detail and clarity. The instrument features over 4 GB of 24-bit samples, covering every note and every velocity layer of the bass. The samples were recorded with four different microphones: a Neumann U87 (for warmth), a Neumann KM184 (for brightness), a Shure SM57 (for punch), and a DI signal (for flexibility). You can mix these signals to create your own sound or use one of the presets that are included in the product. The samples also include round-robin variations and release samples to avoid machine-gun effects and add realism.
Realistic and expressive performance
Another advantage of Scarbee Pre Bass is the realistic and expressive performance that it offers. The instrument features a vast and intuitive set of playing techniques and articulations that are fully playable in real time, without any key switches or menus. You can play mutes, harmonics, hammer-ons, pull-offs, grace notes, slides, bends, vibrato, and more, just by using your keyboard or MIDI controller in a natural way. The instrument also uses advanced scripting and algorithms to simulate the human touch and feel of a real bassist, such as finger noise, string rattle, fret buzz, and random variations. The result is a dynamic and organic sound that breathes life into your music.
Flexible and customizable settings
A third advantage of Scarbee Pre Bass is the flexibility and customization that it allows. The instrument has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows you to access and adjust various parameters and settings of the instrument, such as volume, tuning, tone, effects, articulations, and more. You can also save and load your own presets or use the factory ones that come with the product. The interface consists of four main sections: Performance View, Instrument Options, Effects, and Presets. You can use these sections to fine-tune the instrument's behavior and response, as well as to add and adjust various effects to the instrument's sound, such as compressor, EQ, chorus, phaser, flanger, delay, reverb, and amp simulator. You can also use the built-in presets or create your own effects chains.
Cons
Requires KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER to run
One of the main disadvantages of Scarbee Pre Bass is that it requires KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER to run. KONTAKT is a powerful sampler that allows you to load and edit various sampled instruments, while KONTAKT PLAYER is a free version that can only run certain instruments, such as Scarbee Pre Bass. You can download KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER from the Native Instruments website. You also need to have a Native Instruments account and the Native Access software, which are used to manage your licenses and updates.
The downside of this requirement is that you need to have enough disk space and RAM to run KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER, as well as Scarbee Pre Bass. You also need to have a compatible host software, such as a DAW (digital audio workstation) or a standalone application, to use KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER. Additionally, you need to have an internet connection to activate and update your products.
Large download size and disk space
Another disadvantage of Scarbee Pre Bass is that it has a large download size and disk space. The product costs $99 USD and comes with a serial number that you need to register in your Native Instruments account. After registering, you can download the product using Native Access, which will also install it in the correct location on your computer. The download size is about 3 GB, and the installed size is about 6 GB.
The downside of this size is that it may take a long time to download and install the product, depending on your internet speed and computer performance. You also need to have enough free disk space on your computer to store the product, as well as enough RAM to run it smoothly. If you have limited resources or bandwidth, you may want to consider other options that are smaller and faster.
May not suit all genres and styles
A third disadvantage of Scarbee Pre Bass is that it may not suit all genres and styles of music. The instrument is based on the highly-regarded Scarbee Blue Bass, which was one of the first products released by Thomas Hansen Skarbye in 2005. The difference between the two products is that Scarbee Pre Bass uses round-wound strings instead of flat-wound strings, giving it a fatter and dirtier sound that suits a wide range of styles, from reggae, to pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, and more.
The downside of this sound is that it may not fit well with some genres and styles that require a different tone or feel. For example, if you are looking for a smooth and mellow jazz bass sound, you may prefer flat-wound strings over round-wound strings. If you are looking for a modern and aggressive metal bass sound, you may prefer active pickups over passive pickups. If you are looking for a vintage and warm funk bass sound, you may prefer a different model of bass guitar over a Fender Precision bass. Of course, you can always tweak the tone and effects of Scarbee Pre Bass to suit your needs, but you may not get the exact sound that you are looking for.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Scarbee Pre Bass is a realistic and versatile electric bass instrument for your music production. It is based on a 1974 Fender Precision bass, which is one of the most iconic and popular bass guitars in history. It features over 4 GB of 24-bit samples, covering every note and every velocity layer of the bass. It also offers a wide range of playing techniques and articulations that are fully playable in real time, without any key switches or menus. It also has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows you to adjust various parameters and settings of the instrument, such as volume, tuning, tone, effects, articulations, and more. You can also save and load your own presets or use the factory ones that come with the product.
However, Scarbee Pre Bass also has some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of before buying it. It requires KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER to run, which means that you need to have enough disk space and RAM to run them, as well as a compatible host software and an internet connection. It also has a large download size and disk space, which may take a long time to download and install the product. It also may not suit all genres and styles of music, as it has a specific sound and feel that may not fit well with some musical contexts.
Therefore, we recommend that you try the free demo version of Scarbee Pre Bass before buying the full version. The demo version has the same features and sound quality as the full version, but it is limited to 15 minutes of use per session and it cannot be saved or loaded. You can download the demo version from the Native Instruments website or from other authorized dealers. This way, you can test the instrument yourself and see if it meets your expectations and needs.
If you like the demo version and decide to buy the full version, you can do so from the Native Instruments website or from other authorized dealers. The product costs $99 USD and comes with a serial number that you need to register in your Native Instruments account. After registering, you can download and install the product using Native Access, which will also manage your licenses and updates.
We hope that this article has helped you to learn more about Scarbee Pre Bass and whether it is the right choice for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below. Thank you for reading and happy bass playing!
FAQs
What is the difference between Scarbee Pre Bass and Scarbee Blue Bass?
Scarbee Pre Bass and Scarbee Blue Bass are both sampled Fender Precision bass instruments created by Thomas Hansen Skarbye. The main difference between them is that Scarbee Pre Bass uses round-wound strings instead of flat-wound strings, giving it a fatter and dirtier sound that suits a wide range of styles. Scarbee Blue Bass has a smoother and mellower sound that is more suitable for jazz and soul music.
How can I get more sounds and presets for Scarbee Pre Bass?
Scarbee Pre Bass comes with over 100 factory presets that cover various genres and styles of music. You can also create your own presets by adjusting the parameters and settings of the instrument, such as volume, tuning, tone, effects, articulations, and more. You can save and load your own presets using the Presets section of the interface. You can also use external plugins or effects to further shape the sound of Scarbee Pre Bass.
How can I adjust the tone and effects of Scarbee Pre Bass?
Scarbee Pre Bass has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows you to adjust various parameters and settings of the instrument, such as volume, tuning, tone, effects, articulations, and more. You can use the Performance View section to access the main controls of the instrument, such as volume, pickup selection, tone control, mute switch, and expression pedal. You can use the Instrument Options section to fine-tune the instrument's behavior and response, such as velocity curve, release volume, fret noise level, slide speed, vibrato depth, and more. You can use the Effects section to add and adjust various effects to the instrument's sound, such as compressor, EQ, chorus, phaser, flanger, delay, reverb, and amp simulator. You can also use the built-in presets or create your own effects chains.
How can I play Scarbee Pre Bass with a MIDI keyboard or controller?
Scarbee Pre Bass is designed to be played with a MIDI keyboard or controller, as it allows you to access and control various playing techniques and articulations in real time. You can use the keys to play the notes and the velocities to control the dynamics. You can also use other MIDI controllers, such as aftertouch, pitch bend, mod wheel, sustain pedal, expression pedal, and others, to control various aspects o