Recording bass, need help with my rig

  • Thread starter Thread starter killthepixelnow
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killthepixelnow

killthepixelnow

Do it right or dont do it
Tomorrow I'm gonna start recording the bass for my band's album. My gear is:

> Ibanez active bass


> Direct box

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> ART Tube MP Project Series Tube Microphone/Instrument Preamp

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> Boss Compressor

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> M-Box2

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I need help setting my rig.

Plan A:
Bass> Compressor > Direct box > M-Box2

PlanB:
Bass > Compressor> Preamp > M-Box2
Not sure about not having a DI.

PlanC:
Bass > Compressor > Direct box > Preamp > M-box2
Not sure about this one.


What do you think? Thanks in advance.
 
Hey Dude,

Few things:

1) It's important to understand what it is that a direct box is doing. What it does is takes an instrument level source and bumps it up to line level. I'm assuming you're using a passive bass. What you should do is plug straight into your direct box, take the 'link' output and plug that into your amp. Run the output of the direct box to your Mbox. If you want, then, you can put a mic in front of your amp, run that to your preamp, and then send that to the mbox as well (I don't ever use an MBox... I'm assuming 2 inputs at least?). Then you'll have the option of blending the two signals to taste.

There is no reason to be using both the direct box and the preamp; it's redundant, since both machines are used for amplifying a signal.

Keep in mind you can use either your preamp or your direct box to go to the board. It's all a matter of taste. I prefer to record direct and then process the bass afterward.

2) I'm not sure what the compression/sustainer is supposed to be doing in the rig. A guitar compression/sustainer is used a bit differently than a rack compressor. Basically, it's called a sustainer because as the volume from each note fades it raises the volume accordingly to give you the feel of a much larger sustain. But, it also raises the noise floor, which is bad in most cases.

If you're attempting to use it to tame dynamic swing between strings, you're better off working with the volume controls on your bass. Then, after you lay the track down, you can use a rack compressor or plugin to compress the entire bass track, and you'll have the added option of fussing with knobs until it sounds good. Put that compressor in your rig and record, you're never going to be able to change it.

Cheers.
 
starbuck26 said:
(...) I'm assuming you're using a passive bass. What you should do is plug straight into your direct box, take the 'link' output and plug that into your amp. Run the output of the direct box to your Mbox.
Click to expand...
A friend is lending me the bass but I think is an active one. Does it means that I don't have to use a preamp since the pickups are doing that function?

you're better off working with the volume controls on your bass. Then, after you lay the track down, you can use a rack compressor or plugin to compress the entire bass track, and you'll have the added option of fussing with knobs until it sounds good. Put that compressor in your rig and record, you're never going to be able to change it.
Click to expand...
I think you're damn right. I better do the signal processing later and try to manage dynamics with my playing and the volume controls.
 
killthepixelnow said:
A friend is lending me the bass but I think is an active one. Does it means that I don't have to use a preamp since the pickups are doing that function?
Click to expand...

No, you should still use the DI box. On that particular box there are two -20dB pads, if you have both of them pressed it will be -40dB. Basically, what you do, is fuck with it until it sounds good. Likely you will have one of them pressed and one not, depending on how high the gain is on your MBox. Like I said, I don't really know how the MBox works.

As for the other piece, it's much easier to fix a performance while your performing it than it is to plug it into an electrical doodad fuss with some knobs.

Cheers.
 
bass / art / Mbox... if ya wanna try the comp see if the art has an insert... though levels will be pretty radical for it at that point... may not see much improvement over bass / berh / Mbox ... but berh gear gives me hives....
 
I recorded it all!!!

Hey, thanks to all, I ended using this rig:

Bass > Art Tube MP > M-Box

I'm not a bassit so it has been realy hard to pull off the bass lines. My forearm and fingers still hurt. Another problem that I have to solve is the dynamic control. With a distorted guitar is easier but with a bass... man, I have to punch out a lot of passages. Will post samples.

By the way, I hate most Behringer equipments too but the Ultra-G direct box is pretty useful.
 
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