DI'ing Bass?

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iceyflame

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I have heard that it's better to DI a bass guitar instead of micing the amp.

Any reason why?
 
It's better to do whatever sounds better, and often people use a combination of both. Getting a good clean DI recording allows you to come back later and re-amp it if you have an amp sound you want.

Bear in mind that a combination of stock EQs and compressors in software will produce something superior to most cheap bass amps, but if you have a Hartke, Ampeg, decent Laney or Peavey or whatever, give it a go with either a condenser about a foot back or commonly a kick drum mic closer.

Maybe it's my imagination but I seem to end up with less fret buzz and string noise when I use amps, but I usually need a DI sound anyway. Try some of each and see what results you get. What bass, amp, DI and interface/preamps do you have?
 
nothing really, i just was just curious! Thanks for help the help anyway!!
 
I'm sure there's something else too, about transient response and stuff but I can't remember it! I tend to work by ear anyway. :)
 
Is a DI box just a DI box or is there such a thing as bass DI, guitar DI and so on?
 
usually a guitarist will prefer to mic his cab , as the speakers are a big part of what makes up his( or hers) "sound". a keyboardist will use a standard D.I, but bass is a bit different. there are a few bass D.I's out there that give the bassist more control of thier sound before it goes out the soundman.

1. mxr m-80 bass D.I. i use this one and it is rock solid. it has bass, mid and trble contol, a color adjustment and a distortion channel that can be blended with the original signal for various distortion effects, and a gate.

2. sans amps. i am not to familiar with these but they are very popular.

but in general any D.I that is half descent will work fine for any instrument. i have even used a behringer D.I and it got the job done (live sound anyways, im not to sure how they are for recording) shhhhh dont tell anyone.
 
well my bassist uses a 120watt ultrabass behringer and it has a XLR Direct Output in the back of the amp... that would still mean he has his "sound", right?

because you were talking about going straight from the bass guitar, right?
 
I picked up a Behringer V-Amp Bass Pro off ebay which I basically use like an over-blown DI box. The amp/cab modeling is basic but it does the job and saves time over trying to shape the sound you want within your DAW.

Some of the DSP effects are handy too, though again basic.
 
the direct out of the amp should work fine. i have had occasions where the soundman has said that the output of a certain amp was too hot , and i had to use a D.I anyway even tho i had a direct out. i think it was my BBE 383 and maybe a crate B 200xl that i had years ago, i also used a peavey head that was too hot(i think it was a dynabass or somthing with t-300 in its name,wasnt mine.)
 
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