Bass software instrument is out of tune with the rest of the software instruments

I have Garageband 10.3.5 running on a Mac running 10.15.7. All of these instrument parts in question were created within the Garageband app (not via external midi instruments). I'm seeing a very odd issue where the bass software instrument is very slightly out of tune with the rest of the software instruments. It is ever so slightly more sharp than the other instruments. Initially, something just sounded a little off, so I played individual notes on the bass and compared them with the other instruments and it was obvious. I confirmed it was sharp by using a couple of guitar tuners. I then started checking my other songs, and it's the same issue on all of them.


I have found a workaround, which was to detune it by 27 cents in the free MAudioPitch plugin. I've saved this setting for the plugin and essentially have to use this setting for the bass track in all of my songs.


But I can't help thinking that there must be a bug here. Has anyone else run into this issue?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 25, 2020 7:36 AM

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Oct 25, 2020 8:47 AM in response to PowerPop

So I did some further testing. Very simple, I created a single software instrument track - picked bass. I created 4 long D notes (4 consecutive octaves). The lower you go, the more sharp the note is. In other words, the D two octaves lower does not match (is sharper) than the higher D. Again, you have to really listen for it, as it's not a huge difference.


Now, if I change the track to a Steinway Grand Piano and perform the same test, the 4 D notes (one in each octave) do not seem to have this problem. It does seem to have something to do with the bass.


Would be great if someone else could test this, before I open a bug with Apple.


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Bass software instrument is out of tune with the rest of the software instruments

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