Bass

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brendandwyer

brendandwyer

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I have recorded my bass direct in through a bellari preamp (RP220 i think) and have been content with the sound.

I have recorded my ampeg 115 cabinet and have been pleased with the sound but the dynamics are difficult to control. It lacks punch and is not consistent in volume.

Direct in seems more consistent but there is a quality to live mic'd bass which i love.

So my question centers around the use of a compressor in the signal chain of the live mic'd setup.

I have used compressors post preamp to try to add some punch, i've gated lightly, used low and high ratios of compression and don't have a handle on what results in what. I feel that i have a pretty good ear, but i'm just not hearing the result I'm looking for.

And please don't reply that DI is the only way to go with bass. Whether it is true or not, i'm trying to get a solution to the live mic scenario. Thanks
 
I went through something similar recently. My solution was:



Fender Jazz Bass - Wah Pedal - Line Splitter
1 line to Bass Amp - Mic - Board - PC
1 line to Aguilar DB924 - Board - PC

Then add a bit of compression in Cakewalk, and a little outboard reverb on mixdown through one of the loops on the board. I was pleased.

As for the compression thing, I'll leave that to someone who can explain it better, I'm barely hanging on in the compression Dept.
 
I should have specified that i don't record with PC.

I record to analog tape and a Mackie SDR Hard DIsk Recorder. Not that it should matter that much, but if anyone references plug ins, i'll go..."Duh?"
 
I've recorded many a bass track by mic'ing the cabiet, and this is what I found out:

Either direct or a combination of direct/mic is the way go.... :p

Mic'ing a bass cab is very much the same as mic'ing a guitar cab. You gotta find the right place, you gotta play loud, and you gotta get the source sound just right. And PLEASE don't use an SM57. MMkay? :D

As far as a consistent sound - not a dynaminc sound - that you control by how you play. But since no human can play two notes EXACTLY the same way, you need to use compression. Unfortunately the only compression components I use are plugins....so....."duh?" Hehe....if you can, start with a slower attack...around, say, 8ms, and just play with it. You are goign to have the best results testing bass compression settings while listening to your full mix. Sometimes you just need a subtle adjustment that is easier to hear in context than on it's own.
 
If it's worth anything to you, I like to use a stompbox compressor between the bass and the amp when I'm micing a bass cab. I've got a Carl Martin compressor pedal that I love for that. I'll use that or a rack mount compressor when I'm recording DI. I use a Sansamp RBI. I just work with the settings enough that the softer notes still have a strong sound and the over the top notes are squashed a bit.

If you set the threshold just right, you can squash the hardest notes so they don't pop out, but you don't compress the softer ones. The range there will be totally up to the player. A slower attack can actually let the beginning of the notes through a little. A fast attack will keep the "attack" of the notes in check. I'll use a faster attack time when the player is using a pick too becasue the initial part of the notes can be pretty loud. Just make sure that when you first thump a note that it responds the way you want it too. Set the release time so that you don't hear any pumping or strange sounds while the player is playing. That really depends on the playing style and the music style. You can use the make up gain to keep the softer notes good and strong. I don't know if that explanation will help you much, but that's the mindset that I have when I'm dialing it in.
 
good tips. the direct/mic combo i like. I'm not really talking about a wildly dynamic player, i'm talking that fine line where some subtle notes or attack is lost.

I'll mess around with the compression settings but the mic/direct combination i'll try on the next track. thanks guys
 
Why not try the DI method, compress as needed for control, then re-amp that back through the cab?

If playing DI doesn't mess with yer style, you can add the mic thang later.

Just sumpin' else to experiment with, and you could use an existing DI track to do it.

mees
 
I'm not sure I understand the term "reamp", can anyone clear that up?


Thanks
 
Creamyapples1 said:
I'm not sure I understand the term "reamp", can anyone clear that up?


Thanks
Click to expand...

It's when you take a track that was recorded dry with a DI, and you send it back to an amplifier to record it again. You accomplish this with a "re-amp" box which would convert a line level signal from your recorder/DAW to instrument level so that it jives with an amplifier. I do this all the time for guitar tracks, as you don't have to commit to the original tone you record, you can always dial in a new tone on the amp and re-amp without having to redo the performance. It's a god send.
 
Well Holy shit. I'll have to give that a try lol
 
brendandwyer said:
I should have specified that i don't record with PC.

I record to analog tape and a Mackie SDR Hard DIsk Recorder. Not that it should matter that much, but if anyone references plug ins, i'll go..."Duh?"
Click to expand...

What kind of analog tape? If it's something fat and sassy like a 1/2" or better reel to reel, that's where I'd want to plant my bass tracks. Maybe touch the miked setup with a stompbox comp like metalhead suggests, then swat the hell out of the level going onto the analog. :D

I like using a sennheiser MD 421 or an AKG D112 for micing bass cabs myself. an EV RE-20 isn't bad either.
 
Tascam 38 1/2" 8 track.

we have been using a reverse wired 12" speaker as a microphone and i've been pleased with the sound of the bass, just that the dynamics are a bit spotty. I don't have great compressors so the idea of compressing those quiet sections to add punch make's me a bit queezy considering the compressor. ALthough i did read that if i chain compressors channels & then multiple compressors together to add a little compression from each adding up to more compression over all. I'll have to mess around
 
Cool trick with the speaker, I have been using one out in front of the kick drum on some stuff, havent tried it on a bass cab yet, but I will.

If you basically like the sound you're getting, I'd track with1out compression then fool around with it on the mix.

good luck
 
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