Do I need a DI box to record bass?

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nuke

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Im planning on buying a bass guitar in a few days. Do I need a DI box to record with it in Cubase or can I just plug it straight into my Fast Track Pro Audio Interface?
 
I can't answer your specific question, but unless you're skint, a DI box is a useful thing to have anyway... I use mine to record bass, to link my effects box to a PA for my acoustic guitar, for running long leads into separate rooms for acoustic and electric guitars when recording, and for sqaushing stray cockroaches that wander past... it has neat rubber feat for this last task..

Pretty useful thing to have.
 
If your interface has a hi-z input, then there is a good chance that you can route the signal from your bass into that with good results.
 
Or if your purchasing an amp as well, you could mic the amp plus di the bass and mix the two to taste.



:cool:
 
To answer your question........

No. You do not NEED a DI. Just plug your bass straight into the guitar input on your Fast Track.
 
As it's been said you don't need a DI box with your interface. But you will need software amps if you want to hear anything tasty.

I recommend IKmultimedias X-Gear. It's free, has two guitar amps, and one bass amp. I can't speak for the guitar amps, but the Bass amp is FANTASTIC!

Here is a link http://www.ikmultimedia.com/Main.html?guitaredge/index.php
 
Ok, thanks for the info guys.

Just another quick question. I amp completely broke after buying lots of gear to get my home recording setup. The one thing I have left to get is a bass guitar.

I have some money coming in in a few days but I can only afford a cheapass one. How much will this affect the quality of my recordings? I know using a cheap amp and guitar with a crap tone will result in a cheap, extremely amateur sounding recording. But I was kinda thinking that because bass is inherently 'muddy' the tone is much less important and I can get away with a cheap one with impacting the quality of the recordings too much....am I correct on this or is it wishful thinking?
 
I bought a $120 Ibanez brand new. It was the Cheapest bass I could find, I put some Ernie Ball Slinky strings on it, and it works great for what I need it for. But, a better instrument will yield better results.
 
nuke said:
Ok, thanks for the info guys.

Just another quick question. I amp completely broke after buying lots of gear to get my home recording setup. The one thing I have left to get is a bass guitar.

I have some money coming in in a few days but I can only afford a cheapass one. How much will this affect the quality of my recordings? I know using a cheap amp and guitar with a crap tone will result in a cheap, extremely amateur sounding recording. But I was kinda thinking that because bass is inherently 'muddy' the tone is much less important and I can get away with a cheap one with impacting the quality of the recordings too much....am I correct on this or is it wishful thinking?
Click to expand...

Look on your local craigs list to find a good used bass for cheap!



:cool:
 
I can't believe I didn't think to mention used gear. There is lot's of it out there right now, and for cheap too! At least if your in the US, i can't speak for other countries.
 
OH YEAH! and the deals are enormous. It's a buyers market :D if you don't like the price listed just counter post with your price that you are will to pay. and 9 times out of 10 you get it.



:cool:
 
There are some pretty good sounding cheap basses out there. I frequently record with a very modest Silvertone owned by a friend of mine with good results.
 
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Ive heard good things about Rondo guitars...if you do a google search "Rondo bass review" or "Rondo Guitar review" you can see what people are saying about them.

I like the look of some of the guitars they sell as well...I think they are an american company so If you live in america it maybe something to look at...not sure how much shipping is.

Hear is one site that talks about rondo bass...I would do a google search though.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/394383-how-rondo-bass-guitars.html

Rondo
http://www.rondomusic.com/
 
nuke said:
But I was kinda thinking that because bass is inherently 'muddy' the tone is much less important and I can get away with a cheap one without impacting the quality of the recordings too much....am I correct on this or is it wishful thinking?
Click to expand...

Wash yo mout out wit' soap chile !! :eek: :eek:

Just choking, mate ! :D

Inherently muddy ? I'd say deep ! Low ! Sonorous.......The last thing you'd want is a muddy bass. That's like a cotton wool snare or a honey electric guitar - indistinct and floomy. That said, in my opinion, you're right. A well recorded, well played and well mixed cheapo bass will do you fine - make sure it has more than three strings though. You don't want it that cheap :D. I've used a Wesley
http://www.wesleyguitars.co.uk/Bass Guitars/
5 string for the last five years and it was a cheapo on ebay. I think it sounds fine and it does what I command it with no backchat. Quite a number of professional musicians or sound engineers comment on it's sound which always surprizes me. Coz it's a "no-name" brand, I guess I half expect derision but it's not come yet. Obviously there are far "better" basses out there but it does me fine and I like it. It's like cheap monitors - once you're at home with them, you know how they strut their stuff.


D_Vincent said:
Ive heard good things about Rondo guitars...if you do a google search "Rondo bass review" or "Rondo Guitar review" you can see what people are saying about them.
Click to expand...
The first bass guitar I ever took notice of was not a Rondo, but a Hondo ! My mate George, who was the first bassman I ever met, played one. A few years later I bought myself a V shaped Hondo to compliment my Fender musicmaster. It wasn't a good bass though. I felt the strings weren't taught enough and I could never get a punchy 'boof !' from it which I suppose contradicts everything I've said previously. I never recorded with it though. And besides, it was the early 80s.

Me and my V shape Hondo, cira '84.webp
NB - Those Rondos could be right up your street.
 
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