Substance is a comprehensive virtual instrument by the masters of ingenuity at Output. This low-end monster supersedes convention, generating bass material from multiple sources to shape an evolutionary sound. In this review, we’ll be discussing its key features and critical components to help you decide whether this plugin is the creative tool you’re after.
What Is a Bass Engine VST?
A bass engine, or virtual instrument/VST plugin for bass, is more or less what the name suggests. It’s a software instrument dedicated to low-end sounds, typically capable of managing your average bass leads, in addition to sub-bass body for extra power, impacts for drops or sound design, and occasionally a whole lot more.
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In some instances, producers/musicians get their synth bass from an all-around synthesizer instrument such as Omnisphere. A lot of virtual synths come with bass presets or let you shape the desired low-end patch with the given parameters. Other VSTs are bass-only, as is the case with Output Substance. Purpose-built instruments help artists get from point A to B more quickly, and also go beyond the typical bass lead presets you’d find elsewhere.
Substance is a job-specific bass VST, part of Output’s suite of innovative instruments for producers looking for a creative edge over everyone else.
Output Substance Expands the Range of Sounds You Can Achieve with Your Bass
It seems as though a primary focus in developing Output Substance was to give music-makers something original to play. The plugin melds electric bass with acoustic bass, brass sections with massive polysynthesizers, and gritty analog leads with elements of impactful sound design.
Users can mix and match three voices, or engines, at a time. This simple yet radical approach to bass gives users the ability to come up with truly unique and unusual sounds, every time they open the plugin.
Output Substance Review: What Does It Have to Offer?
Interface and Usability
If you’ve perused the Output catalog before, you’ve probably noticed their instruments and effects have something in common: accessible UIs. Substance is not an outlier, offering an impeccably user-friendly and well designed layout.
The complexities under the hood refrain from spilling over into disorganized chaos on the UI. This keeps the plugin easy-to-use, which is of critical importance to creatives. The layout consists of six clearly labeled tabs at the top. Substance’s “Main” tab is where the bulk of sound-shaping comes into play, featuring a triad of bass generators to combine for the ultimate tone.
At a glance, there is very little cause for confusion or manual consultation. Substance is a thoughtful instrument. While one could argue that more versatile software synthesizers exist, Substance eliminates the guesswork and endless tinkering. That alone solidifies the plugin’s value to producers and musicians who demand quality sound, innovation, and immediate playability.
300 Presets with Customizable Features
We’ve praised Substance’s usability above. For some folks, that’s enough. However, Output thought better of it and loaded Substance with 300 presets (and an additional 300 available in expansion packs). Fitting the plugin’s overarching theme, the preset menu itself is neatly broken down into subcategories based on the type of sound you’re seeking, so locating the right style of bass is an intuitive task.
3 Sound Sources & Unlimited Possibilities
We’ve mentioned that three engines handle all of Substance’s sound-generating capabilities. The idea is to combine these disparate voices into a uniquely cohesive whole, lending itself to bass sounds that are not easily found or formed elsewhere. Substance excels as a broad low-end palette, letting users mix hues until the sonic image reveals itself.
How Does Output Substance Sound in Use?
Substantial. Output’s bass instrument manages to achieve an astounding number of both conventional and outlandish low-end tones. That actually makes it much more versatile than some people might expect. It truly is a powerhouse for anything and everything bass, whether you’re putting together an EDM track or layering impacts for a horror film.
Conclusion: Why We Love the Output Substance Bass Engine (& You Will Too)
In review, Output Substance is an inspiration station. Sit a producer down with this instrument, and they’re guaranteed to have fun. This VST is user-friendly, it sounds as it should in 2023, it has an immense variety of presets, and it’s suitable for music, post-production, and more. Substance by Output is definitely a contender for the top bass software in 2023.