MTB: The Perfect Overdrive for Your Bass
Are you looking for that dense, rich overdrive or distortion for your bass guitar that will add character and power, but won’t turn your sound into a ringing chaos? Meet MTB – a unique VST/AU plugin from Matthieu Brucher, designed specifically for bassists.
MTB is an interesting variation on the legendary Boss MT-2 (Metal Zone) distortion pedal. But don’t let the name “Metal” scare you – although the MT-2 is a favorite among guitarists of heavy genres, its original frequency range can be too aggressive for bass, especially in the upper mids and highs.
Features of MTB for Bassists
The key difference between MTB and the classic MT-2 lies in the adaptation of frequency filters. In MTB, the filter cut-off points have been shifted lower to better match the main frequency range of the bass guitar. This means that the plugin:
- Preserves the density and “body” of the bass frequencies.
- Provides harmonic saturation without losing the foundation of the mix.
- Significantly less “clutter” in the high-frequency spectrum compared to using a standard MT-2 on bass.
This optimization makes MTB an ideal tool for adding roughness, graininess, or full-fledged overdrive to your bass, while maintaining its readability and weight in the mix. This does not mean that the original MT-2 is completely unsuitable for bass – if you are looking for its specific, more “ringing” character of distortion, it may be appropriate. But if you need an overdrive/distortion that sits more naturally in the bass range and is less harsh, MTB is exactly what you need.
Technical Details and Compatibility
The MTB plugin is available in popular VST and AU formats, ensuring its compatibility with most modern digital audio workstations (DAW) on both Windows (Win32, Win64) and macOS (OSX) platforms. This makes it easily accessible to a wide range of users, regardless of their operating system and favorite music creation software.
Your New Favorite Bass Overdrive?
Whether you’re recording funk, rock, metal, electronic music, or any other genre where the bass guitar plays an important role, MTB can become a valuable addition to your effects arsenal. It provides the ability to easily add character, aggression, or warm saturation to your bass sound, while remaining focused on the bass frequencies. Try MTB and feel the difference – it’s a powerful, flexible, and optimized tool for the modern bassist.
