So I've searched thru as many Bass libraries as I can and although there are a lot of Slap Bass sounds, there just doesn't seem to be anything like a simple fret click. This is the sound made by playing the strings hard with fingers and slapping the string down against the fret instead of sort of 'picking' or strumming.
 
Don't know if this makes any sense. Any ideas on how to produce this? I have Dimension and Rapture, plus Kontakt 4 and SampleTank, PPG wave 3.v...
 
This sound, as used by Steve Harris, is excellent for bringing definition to the rhythm the bass is playing - really cuts through any low end mud

I don't know if it'll get you exactly what you want but if you have X2 the Zeta install comes with a patch called "Picked Alembic" (or something like that) that has a pretty nice attack and considering Zeta is highly tweakable you could probably draw it out a little more from within the synth. If that's not enough the Transient Shaper could draw it out even more. Cheers.

I am assuming you are talking about a hammer-on?
 
I tried to google "waveform of a hammer-on" and could not find anything. A hammer-on is created by rapidly fretting a string to the fret of choice and is initially loaded with louder overtones similar to picking a string as close as you can to the bridge (node). This will give the note a "higher sting" due to those overtones, but I am not sure how to best map this attack on a synth. It is a very rapid attack, but the overtone spread I am not clear on (they would be initially loud with a fairly fast decay as well).

He's talking about the sound that's created when you play without a pick and hit the strings so hard when you're playing that they slap against the neck.

I will try the Zeta thing thank you. I keep forgetting that synth. I have X3
 
no it's not a hammer on. its more of an artifact? what happens is that instead of plucking the string you slap the string against the fretboard as you play the note. really helps when playing 16ths etc
 
thanks

exactly Leadfoot!  I have looked through the z3ta+ programs and I don't see anything like 'alembic'. are you sure it was z3ta?

Yeah, I know the sound he's looking for. That patch should get him close. There really doesn't seem to be many straight ahead electric bass sounds in the oodles of banks that come with Sonar. I just happened upon the Alembic one by mistake/novelty. I was trying out the totally weird arsed Zeta stuff and saw Alembic and immediately though "BAPU!! LULZ!1" but it has turned into my go to bass sound because when used right it sounds completely real. The attack is supposed to be the pick strike but it's the closest thing I've heard to the attack OP is referring to. As I said with the Zeta controls and the TS it could be shaped to get that crisp click before more rounded finger pluck of a clean electric bass.
 
Worth a shot anyway. There are also some third party synths that might be better like that Rickenbacker thingie that was getting talked about a while back. I think it's by IK and it looked like it had a whole bunch of different styles like finger, pick, popped. The actual tone of the bass might be a little different than Harris' though but it was a very cool sounding synth.

bruckner2
exactly Leadfoot!  I have looked through the z3ta+ programs and I don't see anything like 'alembic'. are you sure it was z3ta?

It's Zeta + 2 which I think came with X2 (not sure about X3). I never paid for Zeta or any upgrades aside from the fact I bought the X1 Production Suite initially so unless I got a different upgrade than others when I bought X2 because of that it should be there.
 
I'm not at my DAW but it's kind of buried. You have to navigate between the Zeta2 and Classic Content and look through the plethora of bass patch sub menus. If you can't find it I'll be at my DAW later and I'll find the exact path. Cheers.

Much as I loathe the sound Steve Harris gets (and yet I'm a big 'Maiden fan)...I'd suggest:
 
- You only seem to get this effect with Fender basses, so find a bass sound that's based (pun unintended) around a P-bass sample
 
- Try a compressor afterwards with fairly slow attack to let any attack through, and EQ around (from very old memory) 2-4KHz
 
- If this doesn't work, you could do something complex like freeze the synth, use Melodyne to get the start of the notes and their pitch (drag the audio clip to a MIDI track) and add a second synth with a "click" sound at the start of each note, short duration, probably time-shifted a few samples earlier than the note start
 
I found this "effect" from a P-bass very hard to work with in a mix as it clashes with other instruments.

You know the Studio Instruments bass is surprisingly good too for standard electric bass sounds. I haven't played with it much but that might be another one to try out.