A Bass Guitar and Preamp and some pedal effects

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Eclipse4449

Eclipse4449

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I'm not sure where this would go but I am digital recording soooo.
I have a Bass, I have Scarlett 18i20 and a preamp (Sansamp GED-2112) and some effects pedal which apply to these questions.

I am just starting out and at this point I have far more equipment than skills that would apply to this gear.
I have a 5 string bass and a 4 string, I'm told this 4 string very old, and the pickups are very good, the stamp on the head say AXL, whatever is says underneath that is unreadable, anyhow it sounds really good so I'm happy.

I started by buying some Bass effect foot pedals and hooked them all up, I'm happy. But then I bought the SansAmp GED-2112 preamp, When I looked at the back and said "ok now what?" This just got really complicated.

First I realized my amp has a "Send and Return" on the rear and an input on the front and is where I sent the pedal board effects chain and it sounded as I expected it to sound. Then it was described to me the GED-2112 is 2 preamps in one, the first being the "Drive' and the second being the "Deep" meaning it requires 2 input channels in my Scarlett. I'm ok with that, but I want to use the effect pedals I purchased. Since I'm sending 2 clean signals from that preamp to the Scarlett, I also want to mic the amp using a chorus and a 10 band EQ(more cuts than boosts) to my count now 3 bass channels I can blend together.

The problem I am having is 3 sets of sends and returns, 1 on the amp and 2 on the GED 2112. What Do I Do???
 

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OK, maybe I am not getting it, but why do you want to DI the bass, why not just mic it? Why not split the input one DI and the other mic'd? Or, just play it twice and blend how you want it to sound. I mean, it is digital, you have as many tracks as you want.

My apologies if I missed it.
 
DM60 said:
OK, maybe I am not getting it, but why do you want to DI the bass, why not just mic it? Why not split the input one DI and the other mic'd? Or, just play it twice and blend how you want it to sound. I mean, it is digital, you have as many tracks as you want.

My apologies if I missed it.
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Honestly I really don't know, I'm more confused with the signal chain. I bought some gear and want to use it or at least try, lets call it a learning phase.
As I describe my amp has a send and return but someone told me to just use the input on the front, if that the case then why does it have so many options?

In addition it has a "Direct inject" on the front and "DI" on the back, and gain is also a Compressor when pulled out. I didn't really need the SansAmp what attracted to me was the parametric EQ it has. This is where it gets crazy at least in my mind, (I'll remind you I have no clue, I've only had a small practice amp before I picked up this amp) So the DI is the SansAmp right? I'm guessing here, so I add a "Chorus" using the "send and return" or the "Direct Inject"?, that sound would come out of my speaker and would be mic'd. Then how can I add the DI's tone capabilities to the amplified sound?

In addition the DI has 2 pairs of "send and returns" one for the Drive and the other for the Deep and then XLRs for both to travel the distance to my audio interface, these signals would not have the effect applied, probably a poor example of wet and dry signal.

Please note the effect "chorus" is an example effect and wont be on full time, it's just a momentary effect but I want to hear it live when I stomp the switch. Also I do know effects work better before amplification
 
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I see you have EQ on the amp itself.
You have lots of routing options, but you don't have to use the sends and returns.
If you put the effects between guitar and amp input, they're going to come out of the amp speaker, and also the DI output.
So you have a choice of micing the speaker, or just connecting the DI to your interface.
 
Slouching Raymond said:
I see you have EQ on the amp itself.
You have lots of routing options, but you don't have to use the sends and returns.
If you put the effects between guitar and amp input, they're going to come out of the amp speaker, and also the DI output.
So you have a choice of micing the speaker, or just connecting the DI to your interface.
Click to expand...
Thanks
I have a pedal board consisting of a Tuner, Compressor, Chorus, and Phase shifter and I looped them into the front input and it worked.
I looked online and found that Send and Return is an "Effects loop" having said that it would seem that is where they go. But if they can just go in the Input then what is the difference those 2 choices?

2) if I do have an effect connected to the amp would I use the Amp's "DI" to connect it to my Sansamp and is that signal unaffected?

I'm asking these questions now because I'm in the studio setup phase, placement of gear and wire management etc and 2 I don't want blow anything up in the process
 
Eclipse, you don't say which DAW you are using? The software that allows all this stuff to be recorded and manipulated in a computer.
If you don't have a DAW yet, just get Reaper.

The Focusrite interface has enough inputs and outputs to route all your FX pedals in and out on a separate track. The MixControl that comes with the interface should help you there as well.

Now, I don't have an 18i20 nor do I use Reaper (much) but there are plenty here that have either and almost certainly someone who runs both. I am sure they will surface to help you setup.

Also, if you don't know what it is investigate "re-amping".
Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Eclipse, you don't say which DAW you are using? The software that allows all this stuff to be recorded and manipulated in a computer.
If you don't have a DAW yet, just get Reaper.

The Focusrite interface has enough inputs and outputs to route all your FX pedals in and out on a separate track. The MixControl that comes with the interface should help you there as well.

Now, I don't have an 18i20 nor do I use Reaper (much) but there are plenty here that have either and almost certainly someone who runs both. I am sure they will surface to help you setup.

Also, if you don't know what it is investigate "re-amping".
Dave.
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I’m just getting started with Ableton Live Lite I downloaded from my Arturia keylab 61.

Here’s the thing, I understand using separate channels to do different things, I have basic stuff fairly mapped out (cabling usb, midi, xlr between drums, strings, keyboards vocals, I just have an issue understanding “send and return” it doesn’t make sense to me, if there is jack titled “Send” am I sending a signal to the send or is that jack where you send a signal somewhere? “Return” seems like it is referring to an output that goes to an effect pedal’s input jack, so then if that is correct, send is an input right? If someone can tell me Send is an input and return is an output I’ll be alright.
 
Send>>>>>>>>>>>Effect Input-----Effect Output>>>>>>>>>Return
 
Eclipse4449 said:
I’m just getting started with Ableton Live Lite I downloaded from my Arturia keylab 61.

Here’s the thing, I understand using separate channels to do different things, I have basic stuff fairly mapped out (cabling usb, midi, xlr between drums, strings, keyboards vocals, I just have an issue understanding “send and return” it doesn’t make sense to me, if there is jack titled “Send” am I sending a signal to the send or is that jack where you send a signal somewhere? “Return” seems like it is referring to an output that goes to an effect pedal’s input jack, so then if that is correct, send is an input right? If someone can tell me Send is an input and return is an output I’ll be alright.
Click to expand...
You probably received Ableton lite with your interface. I suggest dumping it unless you are going to use its features, which I will be honest, unless you are into EDM, I don't think you will . Plus the lite version is cripple ware. I use Ableton, I have used it for over 10 years, I do experiment with EDM and I like the software. But I have the full version and it costs about $700.

Before you get too deep down the rabbit hole, get you into a DAW that is focused on recording (Ableton is focused on Live/EDM performance use). I think you should get Reaper, spend the $60 bucks and learn it. Lots of support, I think there are maybe a couple of people on this board who use Ableton. Ableton is good software, it just focuses on other areas. Reaper or something like it is probably where you want to be at this stage of learning.
 
"
I just have an issue understanding “send and return” it doesn’t make sense to me, if there is jack titled “Send” am I sending a signal to the send or is that jack where you send a signal somewhere? “Return” seems like it is referring to an output that goes to an effect pedal’s input jack, so then if that is correct, send is an input right? If someone can tell me Send is an input and return is an output I’ll be alright."

Right. Now I get into trouble often here if I mention the "M" word! That is "M for mixer".

An audio mixer, as I am sure you are aware is a device with several mic and line level channels. Each channel allows the signal to be adjusted for level and generally EQ and can usually be 'panned' to any point to the left or right channel. These processed signal are then "mixed" come out on two LR outputs for recording or/and PA.

But, all but the meanest mixers also have a separate 'mono' mixer circuit that allows a proportion of each channel to be 'sniffed' and sent out via an FX* send jack. Let is say a guitar signal goes off to an "outboard" reverb unit? The resultant 'effected' signal then needs to get back into the main mix path and so "returns" via another set of inputs. Budget mixers rarely have dedicated FX return inputs and so one has to give up one or more line inputs for the purpose. DAWs emulate much of this hardware. You can of course "daisy chain" outboard units just as you would guitar/ bass pedals.

I would suggest you download the user manuals of some modest mixers and have a read. E.G. Allen and Heath ZED 10.

*Many mixers also/instead have an AUX send. Essentially the same idea but the take off point is different, and can often be changed.







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ecc83 said:
I just have an issue understanding “send and return” it doesn’t make sense to me, if there is jack titled “Send” am I sending a signal to the send or is that jack where you send a signal somewhere? “Return” seems like it is referring to an output that goes to an effect pedal’s input jack, so then if that is correct, send is an input right? If someone can tell me Send is an input and return is an output I’ll be alright."
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On SSL mixers the channel signal always comes out of the Send connector, whether you plug it up to something or not.
After you've sent it through outboard kit, the processed signal re-enters the mixer through the Return.
Send is an output. Return is an input.
 
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