Dan Dean Essential Bass Collection

Name: Dan Dean Essential Bass Collection
Price: 99 USD
Author: Tracktion

by Tracktion · Instrument · Sampled electric bass instrument

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Dan Dean Essential Bass Collection by Tracktion

Dan Dean Essential Bass Collection is a Tracktion instrument with six basses from Dan Dean's own collection, including Alembic, Fender and Washburn models.

It includes 100+ presets and amp modeling, for $99.

Best for: Bass. Genres: Rock & Indie, Pop, R&B & Soul, Jazz, Acoustic & Classical.

Keywords: bass instrument, monophonic, sample-based, preset-driven, classic, clean, hardware emulation, punchy, sampled hardware, vintage.

What it does

Dan Dean Essential Bass Collection is a sampled electric bass instrument built from six basses in Dan Dean's own collection. Tracktion pitches it as a "record-ready collection" with amp modeling and effects built in, so parts can go straight into a mix.

Six basses: Alembic Spoiler (clear and clean), Alembic Fretless (resonant and growly), Fender Precision (balanced), Fender Telecaster bass (deep and barky), Lull Jazz (classic jazz tone) and Washburn Fretless (punchy and versatile).
Articulations: per-note harmonics on the mod wheel, key switches for extra articulations, and a set of slides over different ranges.
Core controls: pitch, decay and release times, noise levels and glide on the main page; the glide only engages when you play legato.
Amp modeling: seven amp profiles: Vintage, Round, Wooden, Subtle, Classic, Acoustic and Modern.
Effects: a dedicated EQ panel with low, mid and high shaping, plus four free FX slots for compressor, chorus, distortion, phaser, filter, delay and reverb.
Presets and browser: over 100 presets, filterable by pack, category, style and character.

A 30-day unlimited trial is available.

Source: Tracktion product page

When to use it

Dan Dean Essential Bass Collection is a good pick when you want several distinct electric basses, including two fretless models, in one affordable sampled instrument. Compared with Trilian, it is electric-only, with no upright or synth basses, but it costs less and puts amp profiles and a four-slot effects rack on the same screen. MODO BASS 2 is physically modeled, with more control over playing style and pickups, while Dan Dean gives you the recorded character of six specific instruments. One reviewer found EZbass easier for quickly driving a bass line, and noted that Dan Dean lacks finger-noise and muting details.

Best for: electric and fretless bass parts for producers without a bass player, especially jazz-leaning fretless lines.
Genres: rock, pop, R&B, funk and jazz.
Look elsewhere if: you need upright and synth basses in one instrument (Trilian), or deep playing-style control (MODO BASS 2).
Tip: shorten Decay for a muted, palm-damped feel, and overlap notes to trigger the legato glide and slides.

What producers say

Reviewers like the sound, amps and effects; one found the playing workflow more limited than rivals.

Sound & Recording (Japan) called it a compelling choice alongside established bass software, praising the browser, the seven amp models, the legato-only glide and "high-caliber" built-in effects.
makou's peephole praised the choice of basses and natural pitch bend and portamento, but missed muting and release-noise details.
Criticisms: makou also disliked that slap thumb and pull sounds sit in separate programs, and found EZbass more usable.

Where to buy

Tracktion: $99
PluginFox: $99

Tutorials and reviews

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