Otto Audio's L.E.A.D. Bass plug-in reaches lower notes than any rival

A bass plug-in just claimed the subterranean crown, diving to F sharp minus one and undercutting every standard five-string out there.

How low L.E.A.D. Bass goes

• Otto Audio released L.E.A.D. Bass as a hyper-low virtual instrument.
• The custom four-string multiscale build spans 35 to 37 inches.
• Its range stretches from F#-1 up to A3.
• That tuning drops 17 steps below a typical B1 five-string.

Sampling depth and engine

• Over 12,600 samples were captured and professionally cleaned.
• Each note offers up to 12 round robins.
• Three velocity layers add dynamic variation.
• A proprietary sampler engine runs without third-party software.

Playability and articulations

• Keyswitches sit between A4 and D6.
• Pitch bend can be set from one to 12 semitones.
• Ten articulations cover sustains, chugs, slides, bends, and FX.
• Dogiel Luthiers handled the instrument setup.

Price and formats

• L.E.A.D. Bass is priced at £120.25 for the intro period.
• Regular cost rises to £142.80.
• VST3, AU, and AAX formats are supported.
• macOS and Windows systems are compatible.