Gorilla Bass by SampleScience
Key Features
- 15 heavily processed Reese bass samples crafted from scratch for drum & bass, jungle, 2-step, and garage production
- Built-in distortion, delay, chorus, and reverb effects for shaping bass tones without leaving the plugin
- Multi-LFO modulation for adding movement and evolving textures to basslines
- Highpass and lowpass filters with real-time control for precise tonal sculpting
- Three voice modes — polyphonic, monophonic, and legato — supporting stacked chords and classic Reese glide techniques
- Amplitude range controls for consistent dynamic levels across all patches
- 64-bit support with VST, VST3, and AU formats on Windows and macOS
Description
Gorilla Bass is a sample-based instrument by SampleScience built specifically for generating heavy Reese basslines. It targets drum & bass, jungle, 2-step, and garage producers who need grungy, aggressive low-end without complex sound design.
The free version ships with 15 heavily processed master samples, while the Pro edition expands to 50 sounds totaling 598 MB. Version 2.0 introduced four built-in effects — distortion, delay, chorus, and reverb — alongside a redesigned interface and re-tweaked presets.
A multi-LFO section and highpass/lowpass filter give you real-time tonal shaping over each patch. Three voice modes (polyphonic, monophonic, and legato) let you switch between stacked chords and gliding single-note lines, which is useful for classic Reese glide techniques.
The amplitude range control sets the dynamic ceiling for each sound, keeping levels consistent across patches. Combined with the onboard distortion, the plugin can push from warm sub-bass rumble to full-on aggressive midrange growl without external processing.
Gorilla Bass runs as a 64-bit plugin on Windows 8.1 or later and macOS 10.12 or later, in VST, VST3, and AU formats. The free version requires 133 MB of disk space.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Gorilla Bass Free and the Pro version?
The free version includes 15 sounds with 133 MB of samples. The Pro version expands to 50 sounds with 598 MB of samples and costs $20. Both versions share the same engine, effects, and interface.
What voice modes does Gorilla Bass offer and when should I use each?
Gorilla Bass provides polyphonic, monophonic, and legato modes. Polyphonic lets you stack notes into chords, monophonic plays one note at a time with retriggering, and legato enables smooth pitch glides between notes — ideal for classic Reese bass slides in drum & bass.
Can I shape the bass tone without using external effects?
Yes. Version 2.0 added four built-in effects: distortion, delay, chorus, and reverb. Combined with the highpass/lowpass filter and multi-LFO section, you can go from warm sub-bass to aggressive midrange growl entirely within the plugin.
Does Gorilla Bass support Apple Silicon Macs natively?
The developer lists macOS 10.12 or later as the requirement. There is no explicit mention of native Apple Silicon support, so it likely runs under Rosetta 2 on M-series Macs. Performance should still be smooth given the plugin's modest CPU requirements.
