RootBass: Tang

Blending analog textures with mechanical and electronic actuators.

All-new electro-mechanical bass instruments constructed from a multisampled analog synthesizer, physical actuators, noise artifacts, and amp/cabinet impulses.

Building on the philosophy of mechanical sound, RootBass TANG charts new creative territory by blending all-new analog textures with mechanical and electronic actuators. Rich new sample content re-imagines the sound and feel of classic synthesizers, with a focus on root+fifth variants.

Carefully modeled, velocity-sensitive multisamples from an analog synthesizer are made combinable with keys, switches, old circuitry, percussive strikes, and articulations from analog waveforms and effects. RootBass TANG captures the sound and feel of vintage synthesizers in a fresh, modern style: brilliant arpeggiators, intense leads, deep keys, rich basses, and gorgeous crossover instruments that defy classification.

RootBass demonstrated how noise becomes an essential part of the sound and feel of an instrument. Two types of radio noise are added to the lineup of custom noise textures, which include different tape hiss and flutter styles, amplifier hum, vinyl crackle, VHS tracking, and electromagnetic noise. Routed through classic tape echo, amp/cabinet impulses, and effects, RootBass TANG creates instruments that feel solid, real, and deliciously mechanical.

CLASSIC ARPEGGIATOR

RootBass TANG‘s arpeggiator is bright, and intense, and captures the iconic sound of vintage electronica in a fresh new style. Filtering, noise modeling, effects, and subtle modulation are central to capturing the feel of fluctuating voltages, scratchy pots, failing transistors, and aged circuits. The humanization feature (instrument mode) adds another dimension by shifting note volume, pitch, and filtering.

MECHANICAL BASS

Independently selectable key-down and key-up articulations offer separate decay, filter, tuning, and velocity sensitivity controls, including fine control over their position relative to the bass’s attack and release. Similarly, control the noise type, volume, envelope, filtering, and velocity sensitivity. The instrument offers poly/mono modes and a simple, classic legato mode. Each element can be bypassed.

TAPE ECHO/FX & MIXING

The unique character of tape echo pairs up beautifully with classic rotator, phaser, flanger, and chorus effects to color the bass tones. Three output mix types shape the instrument’s essential style: overdrive + amp/cabinet impulse, classic tube amp, and classic UK guitar amp. Finally, tape saturation and compression give warmth and body while classic mono and modern stereo reverb impulses put space around it.