Bass Engine 2 is a bass virtual instrument plugin by DopeSONIX, built around 300 hip hop bass sounds including 808s, sub basses, vintage basses and synth-based tones. It is available in VST2 and AU formats for Windows and macOS.
Bass Engine 2 is the follow-up to DopeSONIX's Bass Engine, aimed at hip hop producers who want more 808 and vintage analogue-style bass sounds. The developer says the library was built to fill gaps left by the first version, adding 808s, heavy Moog-style subs, deep pads and upright and electric basses. Every instrument is processed through a Drawmer 1961 dual vacuum tube equaliser for low-end warmth and midrange punch. The plugin is a virtual instrument, so you play it from MIDI in your DAW.
The first 150 presets focus on 808 bass, with deep, booming tones and spacey sub-bass. The developer says the 808s were designed to hit harder and deeper than earlier 808 plugins and that some layer 808s with synth stabs and pads for a fuller sound.
The final 25 presets cover pure sub-bass, along with subs mixed with pads, abstract stabs and cinematic textures. These suit trap, drill and drum and bass production where low-end weight matters most.
The middle presets draw on classic hardware synths from the 1970s, ranging from moody, deep tones to short, punchy bleeps. The developer notes that the software is an approximation of those instruments rather than a replacement for them.
There are also 50 live-style presets, including dusty uprights, a classic jazz bass and deep dub bass. These give beats a vintage character alongside the synthetic sounds.
Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.
| Developer | DopeSONIX |
|---|---|
| Type | Plugin |
| Category | Virtual Instruments |
| Formats | VST2, AU |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Option | Store link |
|---|---|
| Bass Engine 2 Upgrade from Bass Engine 1 | Plugin Boutique ↗ |
Bass Engine 2 is available in VST2 and AU formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.
You need a VST or Audio Units compatible DAW host in 64-bit. On Mac it requires OS X 10.4 or later, with 208 MB of disk space and 2 GB of RAM. On Windows it requires Windows 7, 8 or 10, with 238 MB of disk space and 1 GB of RAM.
No. The developer states that this software is not compatible with Pro Tools.
Yes. You can program basslines manually or use a MIDI or USB controller or keyboard, and the developer lists compatibility with brands including Native Instruments Maschine, Novation, Arturia and Akai.
