Bass continuity in recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bodhisan
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Bodhisan

Hillbilly
I'm going direct thru a DI into a Joemeek VC3Q into the recorder. How do I get the strings to have the same punch? The E string has such a stronger, thicker (of course) signal.
 
Hmmm... have you tried playing with the compressor settings? I have the same problem, either direct or miked. Nowadays I generally compress the living shit out the bass tracks (sometimes during AND after recording). The tracks lose something in the process, though.

My only other thoughts would be EQ (the extra E string punch could be super-low end that you can cut) or modifying your technique to not hit the E string as hard (easier if you play with your fingers, and nearly impossible in certain genres). And maybe, worst case, use an E string from a lighter set than the rest of the strings (perhaps a "super soft").

Don't take my technique comment wrong-- I once snapped my low E on stage (abruptly ending our set)! However, I blame the clue-impaired sound guy for a too-quiet monitor.

Then he'd blame me for the pathetic, farty bass tone I had that night, for which I blame my pal's Series 10....

I'm very interested in any other ways to accomplish this.... anyone?
 
Possibly the pickup angle could cause this. If one side of the pick up is to high, it could cause the out put of the E to be higher than the rest of the strings. Just a possibility.

P
 
There are bass compressor/limiter stomp boxes that help with those fluctuations.....

Guyatone makes one....I think it's the BL2 or something......

Might wanna check out Musician's Fiend or Samash or Zounds to see if they carry those or other brands....surely Boss makes one too......gibs
 
you ought to get a real good tone out of a joe meek pre for direct bass. I have a vc6q and i can get a great tone (when a bass player with the right touch lays down the track). It seems like bass playing requires a very good touch.....more so than guitar...to get a track right. Hell, I can lay down track after track and not get a decent one because of the dynamics...always uneven. Then a REAL bass player will come in and i'll get him to lay it down and on the same bass, with the same pre, and going into the same channel his part will be killer. So, I guess im trying to say that performance plays a HUGE factor in the eveness of a bass track.
i with you guys about compression taking something out of it. Thats next on my wish list a really transparent compresser
 
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