Okay Chevy (hope you own a nice OLD one), first I am astonished that you use notes below E1. I think ample guitar just used the standard bass tuning, i.e. the lowest string is E1. I know that some people tune their guitars in unusal ways, but I had never heard that of basses. Even 6 string basses have usually the lowest string tuned to E1. But beware, I do not want to offend you in any kind, it is just my experience and I do not have a lot of know-how there!
 
One thing that is possible with ample basses (and guitars) is that you can tune them other than to 440Hz (in the Settings panel). So I checked that, but unfortunately the maximum down is only 430Hz. If there had been the possibility to tune down a full half tone (you mentioned it above), then you could have done this in combination with transposing the MIDI one half tone up.
To me it seems the only solution using ample bass for your needs, is to transpose the bass line a half tone up and then consolidate it to audio that is shifted one half tone down with Melodyne. But of course that would be an odd method!
 
Another thing I forgot to say concerning shifting the MIDI 50ms ahead: In Sonar I had always to calculate with the tempo (bpm) how many ticks correspond to 50ms (ticks = 50 * tempo * 960 / 60000 (using 960 ticks per quarter note)). Perhaps you or anybody else knows a better way?

Kamikaze

marled
 Even 6 string basses have usually the lowest string tuned to E1. But beware, I do not want to offend you in any kind, it is just my experience and I do not have a lot of know-how there!

5 strings usually add a low B string. 6 string usually add a High C
 

+1
 
This is true unless its a Fender VI (or Baritone guitar).

chuckebaby

Kamikaze

marled
 Even 6 string basses have usually the lowest string tuned to E1. But beware, I do not want to offend you in any kind, it is just my experience and I do not have a lot of know-how there!

5 strings usually add a low B string. 6 string usually add a High C
 

+1
 
This is true unless its a Fender VI (or Baritone guitar).

Thank you guys! You have taught me something more!
I have read also a bit on the internet and it seems it is also quite common to use other tunings (down to D1) on 4 string basses like Johnny V says. Sorry, it seems I have disgraced myself! But in all the bands I played guitar the bassist was always using only a 4 string bass with standard tuning and so have I later on using the Aria SB II.

marled

chuckebaby

Kamikaze

marled
 Even 6 string basses have usually the lowest string tuned to E1. But beware, I do not want to offend you in any kind, it is just my experience and I do not have a lot of know-how there!

5 strings usually add a low B string. 6 string usually add a High C
 

+1
 
This is true unless its a Fender VI (or Baritone guitar).

Thank you guys! You have taught me something more!
I have read also a bit on the internet and it seems it is also quite common to use other tunings (down to D1) on 4 string basses like Johnny V says. Sorry, it seems I have disgraced myself! But in all the bands I played guitar the bassist was always using only a 4 string bass with standard tuning and so have I later on using the Aria pro II.

I totally understand where your coming from man.
I play a 4 string for 90% of the stuff I do but I do own 2 different 5 string basses and a Fender squire VI (which is a Bi%$* to keep in tune if you dare use the tremolo system). But the only reason I know this is because bass is my second instrument next to guitar (well voice being my main instrument). but for the majority of people out there a 4 string will complete any task.
 
Ive found similar issues using Bass sims (trying to tune down).
I find the IK Modo has a similar problem when going below Eb. instead they force you to use a 5 string VST-I.
Not really a big fan of the IK modo.
 

I used to do what most of you guys are doing, using my old Ibanez Roadstar II I bought new in 83, and a newish Ibanez 5 string, but mainly doubling up with the midi and audio tracks. But both my bass's are relatively dirty sounds compared to say a J or particularly a P bass, so recently I bought a new PJ active special after many enquiries. I just havn't looked back. Everything I've tracked recently is so clean and full. No more pulling out nasty frequencies. No more editing of the waveform to clean up volume levels. But in particular, no more looking to add to, or change, the sound, because whatever I want, I can pretty much dial up on the bass. The beauty of this model is you can switch off the electronics and operate in passive mode only. The only thing I've done is drop a track an octave using Melodyne, dirty it up a bit, and mix it with the original track for extra growl and subs.
 
But to answer the op's question. I did something similar last week to what you want using Neutron 2's transient shaper. I was blown away by how good and simple it was. Worked brilliantly.
 
cheers
 
Dave.

chuckebaby

MacFurse
I used to do what most of you guys are doing, using my old Ibanez Roadstar II I bought new in 83

Like this one ?

Bought mine in 83 as well. Got the Pro Rocker Floating tremolo system which parts are totally scarce.
 

Nah. Mine was a bass Chuck. RB850. Awesome guitar. Could run over it with a truck and still not have to adjust the action I reckon. But the soapbars are noisy now. Got drenched in seawater in a shipping container in 92 and despite my best efforts, it never really was the same. But the fret board is like it's made out of stone !!

Nice !
I use a J Bass for the bulk of my work. I used to use a P bass 90% of the time in the late 80's early 90's but I picked up a J Bass in late 1997 and it covers just about everything. Pick up selection/knobs allow great variables in sound attack.
I also have a 5 string Ibanez SG With active PU's. Love the sound of it but the Fender just does it for me.
A lot of the stuff we hear now a day on the radio is synthetic but to me nothing replaces a real bass sound pushed through a good compressor (my preference is a CA2A).
 

I actually went the other way Johnny by laying real bass tracks to all my backing tracks, after years of using them with midi. But all my tracks now just have bass and drums and all my work now is acoustic solo or with the cut back tracks. Must say though. I went the Neutron2/Ozone 8 advanced routes late last year, and I just don't have the variables anymore with the bass, that was a pain like you say. Between the track assistants in the software, and now with the new PJ bass, all that stuff is gone. I spend no more than 10 minutes, (after comp'ing the takes of course), mixing the bass tracks in. It has literally saved me days of work. I still spend way too much time tracking and chasing perfection, but almost no time anymore either mixing or mastering, particularly for different systems or devices. For fear of sounding like an Izotope salesman, the Tone Balance plug in the above is extraordinary at getting a quick and easy result that matches everything, particularly with the lows and highs. Apols for digressing, but it sort of fits into the op's question. Everything we do, combined, has such a massive effect on the outcomes and the goals you are chasing. I found my happy place, at least for the low end. Must admit though, it would be almost a one off for me to alter a bass line as much as the op wants to do. For me, it would be back into the booth to re-track the 'new' bass almost every time......
 
 

Agree. The bass is the most difficult. But lately, I've just added a lower octave if needed, picked a suitable amp in Amplitude4 to dirty it up a little, and then just low levelled it up the middle too. Simple compared to what I used to get up to. A friend with a real studio always layers in a baritone bass over either a P or J. You can't actually take your own bass into his world. But I guess that's why people use him, because he knows what he wants. Once again (you will get sick of me lol) Neutron 2 with it's masking ability, allows you to see where things conflict really easily. If you put an instance of Neutron on each track and use the masking, you get both eq's in front of you, showing the conflict, and using the inverse function, what you do to one, does the inverse to the other. It's really helped me in sorting out things like 2 bass tracks and kick, or two, or more, guitars playing something similar but eq'd different, or using different amps, or mikes. You can visually wrap one around the other giving anything it's own spot in the spectrum. Very very handy, and effective.
 
Ok. Gonna stop now, or ask for some money from Izotope lol.. Lots of other plugs and tools that do similar..

The Rumble 100 is a great amp for the money. I was actually looking for an old Yamaha at first. I just wanted a good old P body. But I got the Fender for at near half price and couldn't pass it up. Same as the Izotope stuff. They kept at me with upgrade offers until I gave in  But I honestly think it will help me get things knocked over a lot quicker with a lot less fuss and heartache. Not having takes songs out 'on the road' to try every medium has changed things for me, so the cost was worth it for sure. Apart from the PC, I hardly use any other plugins.
 
But, it's all about finding your happy place I reckon and makes no difference what's used to get there  It's off to bed for me now.  it's nearly 7am........

Cactus Music
OK here's the deal- The P bass Lite only goes to E -  the paid full version goes to low B just like a 5 string. So if you like the VST you need to anti up and buy the full version. 
I have a lot of songs that use low D so I'll have to think about this. I think I'll just watch for a deal. 

I was wondering about that...  I like the VST, so I'll also watch for the deals, but will likely forget to...  
 
Thanks all for the contributions...much appreciated.  I play tuned down to Eb and record that way as well, I know there are work-arounds but I try to keep it simple, as I'm not a techno geek, just do and learn enough to get by on...  will get more into it as time allows. 

OK, got the Ample Bass P Lite II working for me in Eb...
It finally dawned on me that rcklln said to just grab a tuning key and turn it...  d'oh!
So here is what I did in case someone else plays in Eb..... I think it will also go down to D, but haven't tried it. 
 
Insert Ample Bass P Lite synth into Sonar project;  Melodyne the section of bass guitar track you want to play in ABP Lite; drag and drop Melodyned audio into ABP Lite synth track; click on the now midi'd clip to highlight, right click and select "transpose";  transpose it up 12; go to ABP Lite VST window and click and turn on tuning pegs to lower to -1 (Eb).
 
Not sure why the last step works, but it does, and extends the mapping on the VST displayed keyboard down to the Eb black key. I assume it will do the same if you tuned the bass guitar down -2 to D, and allow you to play the D note.