Bass Recording Techniques???

[3dyota777]

Anybody got any tips or ideas on recording bass guitar. I am using a Fender 5 string J-bass, through a Sansamp, into an Ampeg Combo amp. I'm micing the cab with an AKG D-112. When I play the recording back its muddy and not smooth. I put a compressor on it but that didn't help to much. The bass will punch through on some parts, boom on others, or even disappear in the mix. Thanks guys!

 

[Dogbreath]

Are you running 2 tracks? One DI'd and the other mic'd with the D112? How's your sound before recording? Does it sound OK till recorded then ka-ka after? And where does the dark go when ya turn on the light?

 

[3dyota777]

No, i'm running one track. I might try to run the bass DI through the sansamp and see what results that will give me. I thought with the D-112 I could get pretty good results. The bass sounds good before I record it. I make sure the tone is what I want before I lay the track down. When I go to edit the track, set levels, stuff like that it sounds pretty nasty. Thanks

 

[Dogbreath]

Hey boss....ya might play around with mic placement. Experiment. Moving it 1" can make a difference. You should be able to get some decent recordings outta the D112. I sometimes double up my bass tracks, apply a little different eq or maybe a light reverb to one of em and then play around with the pans.
But I'm no pro. Maybe one of the guru's will chime in...
Peace, sir......................

 

[AlexW]

Yeah, I'd split the signal from your SansAmp--run one side (effected) to the Ampeg if you like that tone and the other dry to your recorder. Maybe blending them both will help. With a bass-response mic like the D112 you may need to increase the highs a bit to get the tone you want. Also mess around with mic position--sometimes a 6 to 12-inches or more back works well for a bass cabinet.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I agree with everything that's been said here re running a seperate DI track and mixing the wet and dry, etc.

One extra thing I might add is that you'll very likely want to run at least some ccompression on the DI track to even out natural amplitude changes between different notes in the instrument. Have you ever noticed that you bass seems to really punch out one note (perhaps an open E or something like that) where as others are more laid back? This is a natural tendancy in may electric bass' that is often even more evident via DI than it is through a cabinet (which by it's own nature applies a little natural compression). Compressing the DI will help even out these natural resonances and give you a tighter sound all around.

HTH,

G.

 

[IronFlippy]

Is the compression you're using part of your effects link? i.e. before the amp, before the recording. Or is it a post recording effect?

If it's before, then add some compression in the mix. Either way, change the settings up a bit. Try something you think wouldn't work, experiment a little.

Also, have someone listen while you play, and then play the recording and ask him/her if it sounds very different. Although you might not want to admit it, it could be your playing style that needs fixing.

Good luck!

 

[TheMajorMiller]

Here's something I just recently tried and am very happy with...

Take the amplifier and point it towards a corner in your room, with both sides of the amp touching each opposing wall. Place the mic BEHIND the amp, maybe a foot above it pointing down at a 45 degree angel.

I tried this using no compression or DI and it sounded AWESOME....anything's worth a try (??)

 

[Zed10R]

Anybody got any tips or ideas on recording bass guitar. I am using a Fender 5 string J-bass, through a Sansamp, into an Ampeg Combo amp. I'm micing the cab with an AKG D-112. When I play the recording back its muddy and not smooth. I put a compressor on it but that didn't help to much. The bass will punch through on some parts, boom on others, or even disappear in the mix. Thanks guys!

Yeah - what everyone else is saying about mic placement and seperate tracks to avoid "muddy" bass. As far as "smooth" goes - I think "smooth" bass if more representative of the players technique than the recording technique. Maybe focus on consistancy of attack? Like playing all loud passages with the same intensity and all mellow passages with equally deminished intensity?? Do I make sense?? Good luck......

 

[snow lizard]

It always seems to be pretty easy to get a big, fat low end sound with a bass, but it's not always what you want. Too much, and it sounds boomy. The D112 will carve the midrange out a bit, which can work pretty good - leaves room for guitars, vocals, snare & anything that relies on midrange.

To my ear, it seems like the low midrange and the higher end of the bass frequencies are the critical ones. It's hard to say without hearing it, but maybe try to back off the low bass frequencies a bit, and work on the stuff around 100 to 300 Hz to give the track the right thickness. The high frequencies around 2k to 10k will help to give you the right edge and definition. Low mids are the secret weapon for big & thick. Anything below 100 Hz seems to be where the boom is.

If you print tracks with the DI signal and the amp, a blend of the 2 might work well, and a bit of compression can be a big help.

If the cab is on the floor, it might help to raise it up a bit to get rid of some boominess.


sl

 

[Track Rat]

All good advice. If you're working in a DAW, bring both your DI and miked tracks up and zoom in on them to look for phase problems. The miked track is going to be a little late, how much depends on the distance of the mic from the source. You may or may not have to slide a track to line them up. I must say though that 90% of the tone and dynamics are with the player.

 

[Spaztic]

I DI and use a little compress. I am happy with the results.