Bass Recording Difficulties

  • Thread starter Thread starter ScreenS
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ScreenS

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Yes, I am a n00b, so let's get the lolz out of the way.

I have been experimenting with home recording for about 2 years now.. trying different micings/placements/gear and generally just learning by doing (Check profile for basic gear list). I'm at a point where I can produce something that isn't completely atrocious to listen to, but not quite where I could release something for radio play.

Generally I am into writing/recording heavy prog/math/groove metal, low tunings focused on rhythms, high gain recto kind of stuff (a novelty I know..). Through the wonders of axe-fx I have achieved a guitar tone that I think is pretty awesome. But my problem lies with recording my bass.

I have tried micing various cabs with various mics, using line out on my svt 3 pro, plugging direct in to my interface.. but for some reason I get a lot of clipping when I try to boost the low end to an acceptable level, no matter how I record it. I have noticed that, when playing, the output level in Logic is always much higher than my input.. and haven't been able to figure out why that is. I understand compressors to some degree and what attack, release, knee, ratio all do.. and perhaps my problem lies in my values there, but i've experimented a lot with it and still have the problem.

I use both passive and active basses, have had the problem with both.

Are the octane preamps of the profire just not suited for this? I don't like to use the presets on logic, simply because I like to achieve my own sound.

Help is appreciated, let me know what other information would be useful. Thanks
 
I'm thinking that you are trying to add too much low end for you recordings. Try using a reference song of similar style to check how much low end that song needs. It might end up you are trying to add far too much low end. :)

Can you post samples of guitar and bass recordings please?

Cheers,
G
 
Well on the profire you have the knob and it says pull -20 dB try that. i'm guessing that's a pad? i've never used a profire before. but the level coming from the bass shouldn't be that loud. I'd shoot for a solid -12dB on your digital meters.
 
Never confuse *tracking* levels...with *monitoring* levels...they are not the same thing.
 
People will set up a mic or DI and then mistakingly adjust the tracking/recording level by what they are hearing in the headphones (or monitors) referenced to their cue tracks. So if they want it louder in the headphones, they turn up the actual instrument or the tracking front end ----wrong!
Focus on getting the right level going to your recording device. AFA what you are hearing in the cue mix, that you have to account for differently. If it sounds low, but you have the recording level set...turn down the other tracks to get the balance you want, then turn up the headphone/monitor output of the entire cue mix..NOT your recording level of the track you are doing.
 
ScreenS said:
.. but for some reason I get a lot of clipping when I try to boost the low end to an acceptable level,
Click to expand...

As stated above, you might be trying to put too much bottom end in it.

I'll (almost always) cut EQ before I'll boost something. Like if I've got some dirty in your face guitar going with some fat bottom, I'll generally listen to the guitars mixed in with the bass and cut out some of the bottom end of the guitar to let the bass take care of the bottom. (kinda like what it was meant to do :) )

Most of my EQ work is as a mix, not solo'd. I don't care how it sounds solo'd cuz it's the mix that counts.

ymmv :drunk:
 
You should be able to do well with the SVT 3 pro direct out.

So here is the questions:

1. New strings.
2. Metal: Pick?
3. Your not slamming the strings into the pickups are you? (holy turd fest this sucks as a sound)
4. Your not clipping going in are you?
5. When you mic, are you placing the mic right up close to the cab or back a bit (better to go a good foot away).
6. New battery in the bass that's active right?
 
I use Logic Pro 9 and a presonus firestudio TUBE... i've never had a problem with basstones clipping.

if you tonally make it the way you want, make sure it doesnt clip the fader and then mix the rest of your mix down to that level instead of trying to boost that up into the mix.

you'll soon realize that you cant isolate each instrument and make it tonally sound the way you want it and then slap it all together... each instrument works off eachother 100% so your troubles might not be in the bass at all in some cases.. if your bass doesnt have enough punch or low end, maybe ur guitars are too beefy and u need to make some space for your bass to shine through.

once you understand that its all trying to fit into its own little world and its own picture, then mixing will become a lot easier and your results will be FAR better.

i always mix to a point where im not even close to clipping to give me plenty of wiggle room and then bring it up in mastering in the end... this is common-trade.

maybe your mixing too high of DB?
 
How are you boosting the bottom end? Is it possible you're boosting frequencies lower than your speakers/headphones respond well to? (As in, you can't hear them but theyre loud enough in the software to cause clipping) If you're using a shelf to boost the bottom end, can you use a parametric EQ instead? If you're already using one, try boosting different sections of the bottom end, or try narrowing it. And make sure you're only boosting the bass to the levels you hear in other songs listened to through the same speakers/headphones, not what you think is a good amount of bass.

(These are only ideas, based on assumptions pulled out of my ass about what the problem is, but I hope they can help)
 
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