BassPreamp

Introduction

This is a VST3/AU bass preamp plugin made with JUCE. My goal is blending together ideas and concepts from multiple bass preamps effects into one single processor.

Inner Processing

The signal flow is as follows:

1. Input Gain:
   • From -24 to +24dB.
2. Noise Gate:
   • Threshold: from -90dB to 0dB.
   • Ratio: 6:1.
   • Attack: 100ms.
   • Release: 30ms.
   • Mix: 90% (if it is set to 100% the gate is very hard).
3. Character (inspired from VPF control in MarkBass amps):
   • Boost @ 80Hz.
   • Cuts greatly @ 500Hz.
   • Hi-shelf boosting @ 680Hz.
   • Hi-shelf boosting @ 3100Hz.
4. Drive (multiband):
   • Adjust input-drive level for a tube emulation.
   • Drive levels are different for the low-band and high-band circuit.
5. Deep & Bite (multiband):
   • Adjust input-gain and ratio for multi-band compressors.
   • Fixed values:
     • Threshold: -38dB.
     • Attack: 10ms.
     • Release: 80ms.
     • Feedback topology.
6. Bass, Treble & LoCut:
   • Bass: Low-shelf filter of ±12dB @ 150Hz.
   • Treble: High-shelf filter of ±15dB @ 3500Hz.
   • LoCut: Hi-Pass-Filter with low-cut frequency ranging from 20Hz to 90Hz.
7. Clipper (TanH waveshaping function).
8. Mix control.
9. Output Gain:
   • From -24 to +24dB.

Actual state of this repository

For the time being, I consider this project to be finished. I recognize that some aspects could be improved or customized for a more niche effect, but I prefer to learn more about other topics and revisit this plugin in a distant future.

If you want to mess with the code and work on top of my plugin, here are some details that could be looked after:

• DSP:
  • Drive is currently running my tube emulation with different drive values for the low-band and the high-band. I don't quite like the result, I would try to emulate the SansAmp 21 Bass Driver.
• GUI:
  • My knobs are so damn ugly...