Acousticsamples The Upright — Free Download
The Upright is a sampled double bass virtual instrument with three microphone perspectives, expressive articulations, and a detailed performance-oriented interface for realistic upright bass parts.
Instrument Overview
The Upright captures a four-string upright bass from three microphone positions: overheads, a microphone near the F-hole, and the pickup. This setup allows you to blend different tonal characters, from airy and detailed to round and woody. The instrument is built around a performance-focused interface, with controls on the left for playing behavior and the right for microphone mixing.
The sample set includes sustain notes with six velocity layers and two round-robin variations, plus a wide range of articulations such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, slaps, harmonics, ghost notes, and string hits. The release samples are recorded with multiple velocity levels, capturing the subtle sound of fingers leaving the strings.
Performance Controls
The left side of the interface gives you control over how the instrument responds. Legato mode can be set to trigger hammer-ons, slides, or sustains, with a legato distance parameter defining the maximum interval for these effects. The slap effect can be enabled with adjustable volume and sensitivity, and the release sound level is separately controllable.
A sensitivity setting adjusts the minimum velocity for the softest notes, opening up the full dynamic range. These controls let you shape the instrument’s playability to fit your style, whether you prefer subtle, expressive phrasing or aggressive, percussive playing.
Mixing and Tonal Shaping
On the right side of the interface, you can independently adjust the volume of each microphone position: overheads, the F-hole microphone, and the pickup. This allows for a wide range of tonal shaping. Boosting the overheads adds air and definition, while the F-hole mic brings out the body and roundness, and the pickup provides a more direct, electric-like sound.
By mixing these perspectives, you can create anything from a warm, natural acoustic tone to a more present, detailed sound that cuts through a mix. The advanced UVI scripting also includes an adjustable vibrato effect, controllable via the modulation wheel, adding further expressiveness without leaving the instrument.
Practical Applications
The Upright is well-suited for jazz, folk, rockabilly, and pop productions where a realistic upright bass is needed. The multiple articulations and legato options make it effective for melodic basslines and solos, while the percussion and slap samples can be used for rhythmic, percussive passages. The microphone mixing is particularly useful for fitting the bass into a dense mix by choosing the right tonal balance.
The instrument is designed to be played live via MIDI, with controls that encourage real-time expression. For studio work, the round-robin and velocity layers help avoid a mechanical feel, and the release controls add realism to sustained notes. It is a practical tool for composers and producers seeking an expressive acoustic bass sound.
Key features
- Three microphone positions: overheads, F-hole, and pickup
- Six velocity layers for sustain notes with two round robins each
- Articulations including hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and slaps
- Release samples with multiple velocity levels
- Adjustable legato mode and distance
- Advanced vibrato controlled via modulation wheel
- Percussion and string hit samples with round robins
Best for
The Upright is best for producers and composers needing a versatile, expressive upright bass for genres like jazz, folk, and pop. Its flexible microphone mixing and articulation set make it a solid choice for realistic basslines, solos, and percussive parts, with controls that support detailed programming and live play.