Cheapest, best way to record bass

[Pearl_Jammin']

Hi, I'm new so I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this.
I'm looking to buy a digital multitrack recorder, price range £400- (don't know what that is in dollars, sorry)
The thing is, I am a bassist and most of my ideas start as riffs on bass, then I add guitars and the rest.
Which digital multitrack recorder is best for this? I was looking at the Fostex VF-80 (without CDW), or the Boss BR-864, but that seems to have been designed for the guitarist songwriter.
Has anyone had any experiance a cheap(ish) multitrack that handles bass well?
Thanks for any input.

 

[Sloan]

Hi, I'm new so I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this.
I'm looking to buy a digital multitrack recorder, price range £400- (don't know what that is in dollars, sorry)
The thing is, I am a bassist and most of my ideas start as riffs on bass, then I add guitars and the rest.
Which digital multitrack recorder is best for this? I was looking at the Fostex VF-80 (without CDW), or the Boss BR-864, but that seems to have been designed for the guitarist songwriter.
Has anyone had any experiance a cheap(ish) multitrack that handles bass well?
Thanks for any input.

Most of the time bass is just recorded direct so a multitrack with good preamps is recommended.
Also, you could consider purchasing an outboard preamp.

I don't have much experience with preamps so I can't really recommend anything.

One thing to watch out for when buiying a digital recorder is if the audio is compressed when you record. A recorder that records uncompressed audio will sound better.

 

[A GUY NAMED JON]

I use a Bass PODtx

*waits for hate*

 

[DigitalSmigital]

For demo quality songwriting

you can't beat the TASCAM line up of multi-trackers. The 788 is digital. Portable, cassette or digital, and cheap if you go analog. The built-in pres work good on bass. Used or new, you can't start recording for cheaper start-up costs than, say, a 424 mkIII four track cassette.

 

[Dani Pace]

Since most bass lines are recorded pretty much "as is" a simple line out from your amp, pre amp, pod or whatever you are used to using, directly into your recorder is the most practical and cheapest way to record bass. Remember digital is a little bit different than analog recording, you need a strong signal in but record at lower levels, nerer let it "red line" or you will get massive amounts of distortion and a really muddy sound when you try to add other tracks. I had to learn this by trial and error, just thought passing it along
might save you a bit of frustration, hope it helps. Oh yeah, one more thing, if you are recording on a pc be sure to use the line in instead of the mic input, I learned that one the hard way too.

 

[Pearl_Jammin']

Thanks for all your help.
I don't currently own a pre-amp, or any active bass, so I was considering buying the DOD 250 Overdrive/Preamp.

Would this work as a signal flow? -

Bass - Effects - DOD 250 Overdrive/Preamp - Recorder (probably either the Korg D12 or Fostex V-80)

 

[Hard2Hear]

I have been using an Art TubePac for bass recording now for several years. I have been very happy with the results. The TubePac is not great for vocals, but it excels for bass recording. Few people know about it and you can get one for pretty cheap. It is a tube pre and tube compressor built into a half rack space.

H2H

 

[DC-XPL]

The original ART Tube MP (now selling for around $50.00) isn't a tremendous mic preamp, but it makes for a pretty mean bass DI. Pick up a dbx 163x compressor on ebay for about $30.00 bucks and you've got a very respectable tone path.

 

[acidrock]

I have been using an Art TubePac for bass recording now for several years. I have been very happy with the results. The TubePac is not great for vocals, but it excels for bass recording. Few people know about it and you can get one for pretty cheap. It is a tube pre and tube compressor built into a half rack space.

H2H

I use the same thing and I'mvery happy with it.
You can get them for $99 dollars now at certain stores.