IK  Multimedia's                              "MODO     BASS    1.5"

A physically-modeled virtual bass instrument ( -8-years in the making ) with these newly added  features:                                                                                                                                                                        *  Two new  bass models:  "Imperial" ( -based on a 6-string Fodera Custom )   

    and "Metal" ( -based on a 5-string Dingwall Combustion NG2 ). 

*  All models can now be turned into 6-string basses.

*  A "Drop A" feature that drops the low B string to an A note.                                                                        *  Redesigned, more flexible "Control" section.

-Update is FREE for all current users. 

While preparing for "Riffjam Tribe's" first album, I had to assess my musical arsenal of instruments. Luckily,    I'd already been introduced to AAS's "Strum" Guitar sim software and found it to my liking -so the guitar part  of my search was solved. And since I was already satisfied with my Korg "Electribe" Sampler and Zoom R-8's punchy built-in drums, the drum part of the equation had also been solved.

The part of the puzzle that was still missing was the "bass part". I couldn't find a suitable solution. I went so    far as to purchase an Ibanez ( Talman ) TMB-310 bass guitar thinking I could just "sample" the bass sounds and notes I needed into my "Electribe" ( -"playing" my bass lines on the "Electribe's" sixteen pads ). 

After sending the TMB-310 back, I thought I'd simply conjure up some "bass guitar" patches on my synths.  After all, bass sounds are pretty easy to program on a synthesizer. And I did come up with a few that "kinda sorta" worked but nothing that sounded like a"dead-on" REAL electric bass. So, after a while I once again      began to search for a more "realistic-sounding" solution. 

As serendipity would have it, about that same time a few "Creative Tech Nerd" readers started asking if I'd be reviewing IK Multimedia's new "MODO BASS 1.5" software ( -which I'd somehow missed ). So, I thought why not? ( -and contacted the people at IK Multimedia to see if they'd let me do a review of "MODO BASS 1.5" in Creative Tech Nerds ). Luckily, they agreed and here we are! 

Not being particularly "compuer-savvy" ( -in fact, I pretty much HATE messing with computers! ), I contacted  the good people at It's Computers to download and install "MODO BASS 1.5" onto my laptop (-an MSI GS63 Stealth ). When I returned to pick up the laptop, I made a point of asking John Chihak, my "go to" computer tech at It's Computers, how the download and install had gone.  John replied it had been "pretty straight forward" and uneventful. Something that's always good to hear! 

Upon opening "MODO BASS 1.5" you're greeted with a gorgeous main screen comprised of a top toolbar          ( -featuring the "MODO BASS" logo, SAVE, SAVE AS and DELETE as well as INFO, LOCK and the "bumpy circle" SETTINGS icon ). This settings utility ( -located in the top right most corner of the screen ) is where you want to specify your audio and MIDI sources ( i.e: Windows Audio, Direct Sound, ASIO, etc. ) along with your "Output Device" ( -in my case a Behringer Uphoria MC-404HD audio interface box ) as well as your "Modo Bass" settings like "Velocity Curve" and "Units" ( -using either standard American inches or metric centimeters ). 

In the "Audio/MIDI" settings, you'll also find Sample Rate Buffer size, MIDI Input and Output Device and drop down windows where you can specify these settings. I found the "default" 512 and 256 Buffer Size and the 48,000 ( hz. ) Sample rate to work optimally and "safest" with my laptop ( -the MSI GS63 Stealth ).

Beneath the toolbar utilities you'll find ten colorful thumbnails of some of the bass models available in "MODO BASS 1.5". Using the arrows to the left and right sides of this thumbnail banner gives you access to the models that won't fit onto the screen. These are the available models you'll find:  '60's P-Bass, '70's P-Bass, 70's J-Bass Modern J-Bass, Devil Bass, Bass Man 5, Rick n' Bass, Studio Bass, Violin Bass, Thunder Bass, Japan Bass,  Flame Bass, Imperial Bass and Metal Bass. If you're a bassist, these mock names are easy enough to decode    ( -if their thumbnails didn't already give you a clue ).  

Beneath these thumbnails, you'll find the "Model", "Play Style", "Strings", "Electronics", "Amp/ FX" and "Control" icons, which will let you really "dial-in" the exact sound you want.  The "Model" icon simply allows the top thumbnail pictures to be displayed across the top of the main screen. Clicking on the "Play Style" icon allows you to access "Finger", "Pick" and "Slap" playing styles -to give your playing the dynamics of one of  those playing styles. 

Right of there, you'll find a "Muting" knob -allowing you to dial-in the amount of muting you want in your playing ( -using your mouse ). The "Stroke" control gives you "Index", "Middle" and "Alternate" choices to change up your playing stroke. I found the "Index" setting most to my liking. Right about here I should make mention of the "distance marker". Using your mouse, you can adjust the distance from the bridge pickup          ( -1.80" to 12:10" ) to where your fingers "play" the strings from. Simply left click and hold your mouse to "drag" the yellow distance marker where you want it. You'll hear how the sound changes. Next door, you'll  find the "Touch" control -giving you "Normal", "Hard" and "Soft" touches to your playing attack and

emphasis. The binary "Let Ring" control allows your notes to either sustain ( i.e: ring ) or not. 

"Fingering" offers you "Easy", "Nearest" and "First Position" fingering choices. The "First Position" option sounded most natural to me but this is of course a matter of personal preference. The two position "Open String" control offers "On" and "Off" selections. The two most-right controls: "Detach Noise" and "Slide Noise" are mouse controlled knobs allowing you to "dirty up" or "clean up" your playing technique for added realism.

Clicking on the "Strings" icon gives you access to controls allowing you to select from a 4-6 string bass while clicking on the "Drop" icon allows you to drop your bass' tuning ( -which will be of interest to the "metal heads" out there ). Clicking on the "Action" icon allows you to specify your bass' action ( -from "Low" to "Standard" to "High" ). Clicking on the "Type" icon allows you to select the type of strings ( -either "Round Wound" or "Flat

Wound" ). The "Gauge" icon allows you to select your string's thickness ( -from "Light" to "Medium" to "Heavy" ) while the "Age" icon allows you to dial-in the age and condition of your strings ( -from "New" to "Broken In" to "Old" ).  Wow, talk about getting specific!  To the far right, you'll find an A4 ( 440 hz ) "Reference".  

Switching to the "Electronics" icon gives you access to the type of pickups ( -both bridge and neck ) your bass will have ( -running the gamut from all of the bass model pickups "MODO BASS 1.5" offers ). Want to exchange

a "60's P SC" bridge pickup in the place of the "Rick n' Bass's" stock bridge pickup? You can do it.  Want to change out the "Thunder Bass' " "Thunder NHB" for a "Bass Man 5 HB" neck pickup? Yeah, you can do        that  too. The permutations possible are only limited by the ( 14 ) bass models, their pickup choices and

your imagination.  As St. Louis' late Cardinal's broadcaster Jack Buck used to say: "Go crazy people! "  

Beyond that, the "Electronics" control gives you mouse-controlled "Volume" controls for both the bridge and neck pickups ( -sorry, no "Spinal Tap 11" here, the the knobs only go to "10" ). You get a "Piezo" pickup knob    ( -also mouse controlled ) that allows you to blend an under-bridge piezo pickup signal with your main pickup's sound. You also get a selectable "Active" or "Passive" Circuit for your tone controls -along with a "for show" Tone knob. In the Circuit's "Active" position, the "Bass", "Middle" and "Treble" knobs actually set your tone, 

allowing you to dial-in the precise tone you're looking for. 

Clicking on the "Amp/ FX" control opens up the pedalboard and "Amp" section. You can "chain together"          several stomp box effects using the "Pedal" control ( -you can choose from: "Compressor", "Distortion", Octaver", "Chorus", "Delay", "Envelope Filter" ( "wah-wah" ) and a very cool 8-band "Graphic  EQ" -all  derived from AmpliTube Custom Shop models. Each effect comes with three adjustable parameters ( -or,        in the case of the "Graphic EQ" -frequency sliders -with "centers" at:  50, 120, 400, 500, 800 hz, 1.2 K,            4.5 K and 10 K, along with a "Gain" slider ).

An "Amp", "D.I" ( Direct Input ) and "Master" knob also permits you to sculpt the amount of instrument-to-amp sound, direct input amount and "master" volume for the effects in your chain. The "Amp" control to the left of the effects controls -allow you to select either a crisp "Solid-State" or warm, rounded "Tube" Amp sound from  a drop down menu ( -with your selection showing up in control's thumbnail box as well as taking "center stage" in the main screen ). Very cool stuff!

Clicking on "MODO BASS 1.5's" Control screen allows you to "remap" keyswitches or link controls to any MIDI control change ( -for esoteric things like various types of hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, harmonics, the force of strings, adjustable vibratos, mutes and slides -including the frequency of vibratos as well as bend, slide and detach noise amounts ). Whew, talk about getting "into the weeds"! 

You can switch between "chord" and "note" modes, "stroke" type, fingers used for phrasing, set your values  for each of these and set "latch" on ( or ) off. This section really gets into the weeds. More than what most users are ever likely to need. However, it's nice to know these controls are there in case you want to get "granular". This section also gives you access to "Slide Range" and "Vibrato Rate" knobs ( -which are mouse adjustable ). Luckily, for those who don't want to "weed-out", the "Control" section's factory default settings sound just fine as they are. If you're like me you'll just leave them "as is". 

Tweaked your bass to your heart's content? Want to save it for posterity? Just click on the top toolbar's

"SAVE AS" icon ( -a "Save Preset File" pop-up screen will appear in the middle of your main screen ).          Then, it's simply a matter of clicking your mouse on the "File Name" dialog box within the pop-up screen        and naming your new bass creation.  Then, just click on the "SAVE" button and your new creation will be 

saved under the bass model you started your tweaking journey on ( -with it now appearing in the screen's

top left toolbar's bass name window ). It's as simple as pie!

In future sessions, you'll be able to find your creation by clicking on this bass name window when the    "Model" screen is selected. Regardless of which "Modo Bass" models you select -clicking on this box will    cause a drop down menu to show -allowing you to scroll through "Modo Bass' " various factory presets            ( -using "Finger", "Pick", "Slap" and "Extreme" playing styles as your search criteria ( or ) the "default"              for that model ). As well, you'll find your own creations listed below there. 

Here are a few of the basses that impressed me most from "MODO's" arsenal. I've added another ( -Ibanez' Talman TMB-310 ) that isn't  in MODO's arsenal ( -in the hope they'll consider adding it in an update ). The TMB's bold, bodacious sound-signature really is unique and special enough to deserve being added!

*NOTE:  The model below IS NOT included in "MODO BASS 1.5". Hopefully, IK will consider adding it              in a future iteration of the program.  Just a bit of "wishful thinking" on my part! 

"MODO BASS 1.5's " factory preset sounds are pretty good. You could use just these if you're not into programming your own. But my-oh-my, would you be missing out on a lot of FUN! This is one of the areas where "MODO BASS 1.5" really shines! You can conjure up some truly gnarly, bodacious basses by investing just a little time into programming your own.  Believe me, your time will be well-spent. 

At first blush, "Modo's" factory defaults may sound a bit "tame". However, once you start tweaking them you soon find that you can make these basses as big, bold and "in your face" as you want them. And guess what? It's also a lot of fun!  I must've spent a good eight to ten hours so far tweaking "MODO's" basses ( -using the various parameters described above ). Never once during those sessions have I not had tons of fun. In fact, most times I've completely lost track  of what time it was ( -which is always a good barometer of whether    you're having fun or not! ).  

As I said previously, the factory presets are really pretty good. I found the "Studio Session", "The Stream" and the "Try This" presets to be real standouts. But of course, this will be purely a matter of personal preference. The most important thing I can say is to just "dig in" to see which of these presets tickle your fancy. Better yet, program a few of your own  original bass creations. You'll quickly become "a believer" like me. 

So, how does IK Multimedia's "MODO BASS 1.5" stack up? Does it belong in the "Winner's" or "Also Ran"    column?  Well, based upon weeks of time spent with it, I can confidently put "MODO BASS 1.5" into the "Winner's" column! Not only are it's screen graphics gorgeous, the sounds you can conjure up with it                are nothing short of astonishing. Even it's factory "presets" sound good. And using "MODO BASS 1.5"      couldn't be easier!  Speaking as a non-bassist ( -and a confirmed "computer-hater" ), I can truthfully              say that using "MODO BASS 1.5" was not only "easy" and intuitive but downright pleasurable to use.                Something I was not  expecting. 

So, if you're hesitant of purchasing "MODO BASS 1.5" fearing a steep "learning curve", you're worrying for nothing. If a "computer-illiterate" like me can master this program, ANYONE can learn it!  OK, I'll admit the program's "Control" section is still a bit "beyond me", but it really doesn't matter since leaving it's factory defaults "as is" sounds fine to me. So, no worries there.  And like I said, tweaking and programming your    own custom basses is tons of fun. You'll be amazed at how quickly the time will fly when programming.        And the basses you conjure up will amaze you and your friends! 

Rarely, have I found a software as easy, intuitive, engaging or more FUN to use as "MODO BASS 1.5"!                I intend to use it heavily on "Riffjam Tribe's" upcoming "First Contact" album, future RJT releases as well as    on some 15 and 30-second "promos" for my upcoming "Music From the Cutting Edge of Rock" Radio Show      ( https://creativetechnerds.jimdo.com/music-from-the-cutting-edge-of-rock-show/ ) debuting later this year.           

A big heartfelt thanks to the Creative Tech Nerds readers who alerted me to "MODO BASS 1.5's" existence!        "MODO BASS 1.5" fills a much needed "niche" in today's electronic music production scene.                            It retails for $299.99 ( -with special cross grade pricing breaks ).   

*NOTE:  Occasionally, IK Multimedia offers "MODO BASS 1.5" at a special discount price of $149.99.            Pay attention. If you can snag it at that price it's a really "sweet deal"!    

64-bit application. Requires a 64-bit CPU and OS.  Works as a 64-bit plug-in or stanalone instrument for Mac/ PC. Full MIDI control with MIDI learn, keyswitches. Full DAW automation control support.

MAC ( 64-bit ):  Min. Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB of RAM (  8 GB suggested ). MAC OS 10.9 or later.

WINDOWS ( 64-bit ):  Min. Intel Core 2 Duo ( or ) Athlon 64 X 2. 4 GB of RAM (  8 GB suggested ).

Windows 7,  8 or 10. Requires an ASIO compatible sound card. 

SUPPORTED PLUG-IN FORMATS ( 64-bit ):  VST 2, VST 3, AAX. 

Given "MODO's" terrific sound quality, it's astonishing IK Mukltimedia hasn't "spun-off" OTHER products from it. Ditto that for their "Syntronik" ( -Analog Synth Emulation software ). Both represent the pinnacle of today's instrument emulation technology. With "MODO BASS's" eight year investment in R&D, you'd think IK would be eager to capitalize upon their hard work by "spinning-off" a raft of cool new products from these softwares.  But so far, nothing.  INCOMPREHENSIBLE!

And with the success of their UNO Synth ( -the company's first foray into the world of hardware synthesis ), you'd think migrating MODO BASS and SYNTRONIK's "analog synth DNA" into a line of hardware instruments would be a "natural".  Again, nothing.  I find this INCOMPREHENSIBLE!  Below are a few "spin-off" products I'd love to see IK Multimedia consider. Would you like to see IK produce these?  Drop us an e-mail ( below ).  Let us know what you think:  CTN Reader Comments.  We'll pass along your comments to the company.            Maybe if enough people request them, they'll consider making them.  Let's find out! 

If IK Multimedia decides to make these maybe they'll cut me in on some of the profit. That would be nice.      Not only would these instruments be a nifty way for IK to "recoup" their R&D dollars + time ( -8 year's worth      in the case of "MODO BASS 1.5" alone! ), they'd be some VERY COOL instruments in their own right! I'm pretty sure there are a few electronic musicians who'd like to own them -including me!  These instruments fill glaring "gaps" in today's electronic music scene.  No one ( -not even the "Big 5"! ) has anything like them! 

*NOTE:  None of these designs currently exist. I present them here in the hope that IK Multuimedia

will ( -with the encouragement of the global synth community ) consider putting them into production. 

Utilizing killer bass, keyboard and synth sounds from IK Multimedia's "MODO BASS 1.5" and "Syntronik Deluxe" software, this compact "go anywhere" workstation beats the "Big 5" ( -Yamaha, Kurzweil, Roland,  Korg, Casio ) at their own game -expanding IK's "market reach" into the lucrative workstation keyboard market! 

Take ( 150 ) "killer" MODO BASS 1.5 bass guitar sounds. Add ( 150 ) "iconic" guitar sounds ( -sampled from Fender "Strat", Gibson "Les Paul" and "SG" electrics as well as Martin D-18 / D-28 acoustics ). Add ( 900 ) "killer" SYNTRONIK synth, electric piano, organ and string sounds PLUS a dozen studio grade drum kits            ( -covering twelve musical genres ). Burn the resultant sound set onto an LSI memory chip.  

Then, delight gigging keyboardists by packaging it all in a svelte, lightweight ( -under 5-lb. ) "go anywhere" chassis that can operate from USB, AC or "AA" battery power.  FINALLY you have the FREEDOM to play and create your music ANYWHERE ( -instead of always being tethered to an AC outlet or laptop! ). That's how      you beat the "Big 5" ( -Roland, Yamaha, Korg, Kurzweil and Casio ) at their own game! 

Gigging keyboardists can finally dump their bulky ( -15 to 35-lb. ) "boat-anchor" keyboards for a compact,    full-featured workstation they can take ANYWHERE! Imagine MODO BASS 1.5 and SYNTRONIK Quality Sounds without any of the back aches  or transport worries  you have with the "Big 5's" dinosaur workstations! Suddenly, gigging and touring becomes FUN again!  And since my design is the same size as Yamaha's          nifty "ReFace" line, it'll comfortably FIT the tight confines of even the smallest home studios, making                  home project-studio recordists rejoice as well!  

But aside from it's compact, lightweight "footprint" and MODO BASS 1.5 / SYNTRONIK Soundset, my          "Grab n' Go" design leapfrogs the "Big 5's" behemoth boards with these "cutting-edge" features: 

* A  simple, intuitive Jog-Shuttle based operating system ( -and large LCD window ) that makes accessing various programming, recording and effects modes a breeze. 

* An easy-to-use control panel ( -allowing users to tweak/ program synth parameters right from the front-panel's parameter grid ). No complex multi-button "finger gymnastics" to access buried menus/ features.

* An onboard (  24-bit/ 96 Khz  ) 8-Track Digital Audio Recorder ( -with overbubbing, punch-in, looping        and "phrase record" modes ) overcoming the polyphony limitations of "sequencer only" workstations.

* And building upon the ( 8-Track ) Recorder:  the unit's ( 2 ) rear panel "XLR/ 1/4 Combo" Inst/ Mic. Jacks allow the unit to record and sample external instruments ( i.e:  electric bass/ guitar, drum machines, vocals, etc. ) as well as  internal sound set voices. The unit's ( 8 ) drum pads ( -right of the keyboard ) allow you to "tap-in" drum parts. And these pads can also  be used to "trigger" previously recorded sound snippets or phrases ( -for re-recording  back into any of the recorder's open tracks ). The recorder also allows you to "sample", store and chromatically play recorded sounds on the keyboard-just as you would with any

OTHER user-created sound! 

* Two built-in 3" speakers ( -2-watts per side ) allow for unconnected monitoring ( -when "in-the-field" ).        A beefy ( assignable ) pitch-bend/ mod wheel ( -left of the keyboard ) and a 3-octave mini-keyboard with   

a high-quality, velvet smooth "synth-action" keybed ( -ilke the ones used in Yamaha's "ReFace" line )

complete the unit's feature set. 

Take five or six "Synthronik" Instruments. Package them in a solid, rolled-metal desktop unit ( -like the one shown above ). Use an Analog Devices ( 2.5 Ghz Class ) SHARC DSP chip to run these synth sims. Eliminate      the computer and "patch/editor" software headaches by making the unit "ready to use" right out of the box      ( -with ALL instruments "factory pre-loaded" ). No more "plug-in" download hassles! 

Give the unit a monochromatic LCD display and a large Jog-Shuttle dial based operating system. Give it an economical "parameter grid matrix" ( -incorporating 14 rotary encoders and 3 multi-position switches at the top of the instrument ). Give each of the 5-6 "Instrument Slots" three rows of ( 23 ) parameters for a total of      ( 69 ) control parameters per Instrument ( -so all programming/ tweaking can be done right from the front panel  WITHOUT the hassle of connecting to a computer and using "patch/ editor" software! ). 

Since EACH of Syntronik's "Instruments" cover the "Synth DNA" of ( 1-4  ) iconic analog synths or keyboards, users actually get more than  the 5-6 "Instruments" stenciled on the front panel. For example, this desktop module covers "Syntronik's" Moog Instruments ( i.e:  the "Memory-V" -featuring the Memory Moog synth, "MiniMod" -featuring the Minimoog Model D, Moog Modular and Voyager synths, "PolyMorph" -featuring    the Moog Polymoog, Opus 3, Rogue and Concertmate MG-1, "Noir" -featuring the Prodigy, Micromoog and Multimoog and lastly, the "Bully" featuring Moog's Taurus 1, 2 and 3 pedals.  All told you get ( 14 ) Moog synths in a single desktop unit!  Compare this to IK's competitors who can only offer you their SINGLE

synth-engine hardware synths at this price. Big difference! Big bargain! 

Aside from the ( 14 ) Moog synth emulations, you get a built-in ( 64-step ) sequencer with four different looping modes ( i.e:  the LP1, LP2, LP3, LP4 buttons ) with STOP, PLAY, PAUSE and RECORD buttons above them. Above there you have the ( 4 ) Jog-Shuttle function buttons ( i.e:  F1, F2, F3, F4:  allowing you to task    the Jog Shuttle dial to various control panel, programming, patch-storing and global functions -reflected

in the LCD's display window ).

I could see IK Multimedia making more than one  of these units ( -to cover their entire line of "Syntronik" Instruments ). Apart from the "Moog-oriented" module above, they could dedicate another to covering OTHER iconic "classics" like the EMS VCS3 ( i.e:  IK's "VCF3" ), the ARP 2600 ( i.e:  IK's "Harpy" ), etc, and a third one  to cover vintage electric-pianos, organs, string machines ( i.e: IK's "String Box" ) and tape-playback keyboards    ( -like the Mellotron ) should they ever get around to such tape-playback instrument sims in the future. 

Such "Host-Plug-in" ( or ) "Hybid Synths" are nothing new.  Both Arturia and Use Audio have manufactured them in the past ( -you can read more about them here:  "Hybrid Synths" -just scroll down to the "BACKSTORY:  Arturia "Origin" & Creamware ( ASB )" paragraph ).  While brilliant in concept these units were either prohibit- ively expensive ( i.e:  Arturia's "Origin" ) or crippled with "plug-in" download and "editor-librarian" software problems ( i.e: Use Audio's "Plugiator" ). And I should know, because I've owned  TWO "Plugiators" myself!

My design ELIMINATES these problems and keeps modules affordable!  By ELIMINATING the need to download "plug-ins" from a website ( -they'd come factory-preloaded ) and by ELIMINATING the need to      use a "patch-editor" software ( -the modules can be programmed "right from the front-panel"! ), IK would sidestep the problems these earlier "Hybrid Instruments" had.  Their genuine "analog sound" and "reach out and tweak it" front panel controls would restore that "old-school" immediacy and "tactile feedback" so sorely missing from today's "computer-based instruments".  I think Synthesists would enjoy them.    

I thought of that.  It would be EXPENSIVE  to produce! WHY?  Because giving the module more than ( 6 ) Instrument slots quickly makes it too large for "desktop use". You'd probably have to use a very large, high-resolution, color LCD panel ( -almost the size of an IPad screen ) to do Syntronik's full-screen GUI's justice.  You'd have to do your "tweaking" from the line of knobs and switches to the right of the panel ( -with your tweaks displayed on the LCD display ). Either that or give it an actual control panel of ( 69 ) knobs, sliders,    and switches ( -compatible with ALL of Syntronik's "instrument GUI's"! ). That would be both challenging      and EXPENSIVE.  If by some miracle it could  be done ( -at or below a $599.00 price point ), I'd be all

for it ( -especially  the knob, slider and switch encrusted front-panel option! ).  

Take ( 100 ) killer "MODO BASS 1.5" bass guitar sounds. ADD ( 12 ) studio quality drum kits ( -covering a wide range of musical genres ).  ADD ( 128 ) acoustic and electric guitar sounds ( -taken from the "Grab n' Go" Workstation above ). Throw in ( 28 ) additional synth bass sounds from "Synthronik". Box it all in the

desktop unit shown above! 

So far so good. Now, take it to where no OTHER "drum machine" has ever gone before! Give it a grid of guitar chord buttons users can press to quickly "input" their composition's guitar chords. Give these bass and guitar

parts some of MODO's instrument customization "tweaks" and "playing-style" tricks ( -like being able to pro-gram in slides, bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs, mutes, plucks, slaps, etc. ). Then, allow users to superimpose      "strum patterns" ( -and these OTHER "guitarisms" ) onto their bass and guitar parts for added realism. 

Give it an easy-to-use jog shuttle dial and large LCD display to program and access modes from. Be sure to throw in some cool effects ( -like compression, delay, phaser, flanger, stereo panner, etc. ). There you have      it:  An entirely programmable "Rhythm Section Machine" ( -having drums + bass + synth bass as well as guitar chords with user selectable "strum patterns" and realistic guitar dynamics ). No other drum machine HAS all

of this in ONE BOX!  And utilizing "MODO BASS 1.5" and "Syntronik" sounds, no other "drum machine" would SOUND  this good either!