T
Tonekat
New member
I'd like to hear what all of you out there use to mic bass guitar amps. AKG D-112? EV RE-20? Any others you like? Would an SM-57 be acceptable?
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
I rather going direct with a Countryman DI or J-Station.....if i had to mic one id be inclined to do it with an AT Pro 25.....
S
subspace
New member
Bass mic
Some of the coolest bass tones I've ever heard were coming through RE-20s. It's also nice to have around for cutting gtr solos, oh - and driving nails! I'm not a big D112 guy and I defintely wouldn't go that route if the kick was cut through one, an original D12 would give a more natural tone. When in doubt, a 421 is a safe bet on pretty much anything, kick, toms, bass, guitar, and especially nasal voices. The 57 would be at the bottom of my list, but can be cool on kick and bass if you pull the x-fmr and take the capsule straight into a DI. Large diaphragm FETs work well too, I use a 414 in figure 8 now and again. HTH
Some of the coolest bass tones I've ever heard were coming through RE-20s. It's also nice to have around for cutting gtr solos, oh - and driving nails! I'm not a big D112 guy and I defintely wouldn't go that route if the kick was cut through one, an original D12 would give a more natural tone. When in doubt, a 421 is a safe bet on pretty much anything, kick, toms, bass, guitar, and especially nasal voices. The 57 would be at the bottom of my list, but can be cool on kick and bass if you pull the x-fmr and take the capsule straight into a DI. Large diaphragm FETs work well too, I use a 414 in figure 8 now and again. HTH
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
either way you go, id definitely record both the cab and direct and do a blend, using the best qualities of each....
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
C
Cave Dweller
New member
421 all the way! i cant seem to get defined high on a bass when using a d112. 57s also work well, in my opinion. i have been DIing for a while, with not so hot results, although i just got a ART tube pac, and i havent had a chance to record alot of bass though it yet. right now i am recording a band that uses an old traynor amp for bass, and the only to get the crunch is to use a mic. and that is where the 421 comes in, it gets enough of the highs, and has a 5 position bass cut switch which is nice.
I
imacgreg
New member
I'm recording a punk bass player tomorrow and will most likely use a combination of 421 and SM57 close miced on his 4x12 as well as direct. Direct is nice if you might want to reamp the bass track.
Ian
Ian
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Direct is always nice for bass....most pros will probably say the same also.....I dont even attempt to mic my amp......
G
Guardian
New member
DI
If you always record bass direct, you will probably never have a problem..buy a Countryman Directbox, and it will last forever.
--Sal
If you always record bass direct, you will probably never have a problem..buy a Countryman Directbox, and it will last forever.
--Sal
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Re: DI
....and it will sound GREAT!!!!!!........
Guardian said:
....and it will sound GREAT!!!!!!........
G
Guardian
New member
heh
I was gonna say that but didn't wanna start an argument over whether DI bass sounds better than mic'd amp'd bass <'s are fun>
I recorded both a few times and figured I could mix or use the amp if the DI sounded bad..but I always wound up using just the direct signal. Besides, if you're NOT overdubbing the bass, it's gonna bleed into everything else you're doing unless your studio is like amazing, or you have the amp iso'd somewhere.
--Sal
I was gonna say that but didn't wanna start an argument over whether DI bass sounds better than mic'd amp'd bass <'s are fun>
I recorded both a few times and figured I could mix or use the amp if the DI sounded bad..but I always wound up using just the direct signal. Besides, if you're NOT overdubbing the bass, it's gonna bleed into everything else you're doing unless your studio is like amazing, or you have the amp iso'd somewhere.
--Sal
PapillonIrl
New member
Having said all that, I use a sennheiser e602 to mic the cabinet and blend it with the direct sound using my ctrappy behringer desk preamps and I always end up using more of the miced sound than the direct one. It sounds nice.
pAp
pAp
G
Guardian
New member
how
How're you getting the direct sound into the mixer?
-_Sal
How're you getting the direct sound into the mixer?
-_Sal
PapillonIrl
New member
The bass amp we use has a line output.
I have nothing to use a D/I as yet, I am currently saving for a VC1Q which I've heard is good for bass as well as vocals and other instruments.
pAp
I have nothing to use a D/I as yet, I am currently saving for a VC1Q which I've heard is good for bass as well as vocals and other instruments.
pAp
G
Guardian
New member
Ahh
Unless the amp is top notch, the line outputs on amps are usually ..well..crap..they're thin and buzzy and sound like junk..try a direct box for kicks and not that output from the amp..or hell plug right into the mixer, and see how that sounds compared to the amp output..im guessing better.
--Sal
Unless the amp is top notch, the line outputs on amps are usually ..well..crap..they're thin and buzzy and sound like junk..try a direct box for kicks and not that output from the amp..or hell plug right into the mixer, and see how that sounds compared to the amp output..im guessing better.
--Sal
PapillonIrl
New member
One other thing, slightly off topic,
quote from Gidge's link...
" Is the bass active? If you can switch it into passive mode, try that. Bass players with active pickups seem to always use the active pickups. Active pickups can throw a lot of bottom at you."
Are there any other issues with active basses ? The musicman we use is active, and the only way I can see to switch it to passive mode is to roll off the gain knob.
pAp
quote from Gidge's link...
" Is the bass active? If you can switch it into passive mode, try that. Bass players with active pickups seem to always use the active pickups. Active pickups can throw a lot of bottom at you."
Are there any other issues with active basses ? The musicman we use is active, and the only way I can see to switch it to passive mode is to roll off the gain knob.
pAp
PapillonIrl
New member
Thanks for the advice by the way Guardian, I have tried that before, and it did sound better than the line-out from the amp. But not better than the line-out and cab miced together.
Any way of sending the basses signal to the desk, and then to the bass amp so I can get the best of both world until my JM gets here ?
pAp
Any way of sending the basses signal to the desk, and then to the bass amp so I can get the best of both world until my JM gets here ?
pAp
G
Guardian
New member
no problemo
I'm no expert or anything..hmm lemme think..I'm add'd up right now so I can't sleep, so maybe I'll have a revelation
Yes, there's a way to do that...
You need to plug the bass into the mixer, and then send an output from the mixer into the amp, and then mic that, and send it back to the amp..or somehow split the signal coming outta the bass..im not sure if all DI boxes have this, but the ART thingy, you can plug the bass into, and then use the 1/4 output to the amp, and the XLR to the mixer...
So I'd just stick the bass player in the control room with the mixer, plug him in, and then get his signal to the amp somehow..you might pickup some noise if you use a long cable tho..but you COULD put the amp nearby, and mic that there, as long as its quiet enough.
--Sal
I'm no expert or anything..hmm lemme think..I'm add'd up right now so I can't sleep, so maybe I'll have a revelation
Yes, there's a way to do that...
You need to plug the bass into the mixer, and then send an output from the mixer into the amp, and then mic that, and send it back to the amp..or somehow split the signal coming outta the bass..im not sure if all DI boxes have this, but the ART thingy, you can plug the bass into, and then use the 1/4 output to the amp, and the XLR to the mixer...
So I'd just stick the bass player in the control room with the mixer, plug him in, and then get his signal to the amp somehow..you might pickup some noise if you use a long cable tho..but you COULD put the amp nearby, and mic that there, as long as its quiet enough.
--Sal
G
Guardian
New member
hmm
Depends on your mixer also..if you can't 'bus' the signal, try using some other output, like the headphone output or line out..worse can scenario, use the main out and send that to the amp..who needs monitors anyhow when you have fun little LEDs and needles to watch...ooh the pretty lights..
--Sal
Depends on your mixer also..if you can't 'bus' the signal, try using some other output, like the headphone output or line out..worse can scenario, use the main out and send that to the amp..who needs monitors anyhow when you have fun little LEDs and needles to watch...ooh the pretty lights..
--Sal
PapillonIrl
New member
I'm gonna try that later on, I think I will do it using the mixer...hmmmmm...maybe this way.
Arm two tracks for recording on Cool Edit, one from Delta 44 1-2(left) and one from Delta 44 1-2(right)
Bass>channel 1>channel 1 insert>delta44 1-2(left)
(Make sure channel one is panned hard left and routed to Alt output 3-4)
Alt output 3-4(left)>bass amp>mic>channel2>channel2 insert>delta 44 1-2(right)
Sound like it would work ?
One thing that I must remember to test is whether the Behringer changes the sound of the bass amp any. (It's a Hughes and Kettner by the way).
Will report back if I discover anything worth reporting
Cheers,
pAp.
Arm two tracks for recording on Cool Edit, one from Delta 44 1-2(left) and one from Delta 44 1-2(right)
Bass>channel 1>channel 1 insert>delta44 1-2(left)
(Make sure channel one is panned hard left and routed to Alt output 3-4)
Alt output 3-4(left)>bass amp>mic>channel2>channel2 insert>delta 44 1-2(right)
Sound like it would work ?
One thing that I must remember to test is whether the Behringer changes the sound of the bass amp any. (It's a Hughes and Kettner by the way).
Will report back if I discover anything worth reporting
Cheers,
pAp.