How Do You Record Bass Guitar

[ido1957]

I need help setting up a bass for recording.

I have been told that a compressor is a good start - got some suggestions on another forum.

It's a Richenbacher plugged into a Fender BXR400 amp. The signal comes out of the effects send into an Alesis Studio 32 board then to an ADAT. The effects send seems to have the best signal compared to the line out.

One thing I would like to change - when the bass is loud enough it's too bassy or boomy and muddy. I've heard lots of recordings where the bass is right on the money - lots of bottom but clear as a bell and turning up the loudness just enhances a good thing. Almost like it's been specially EQ'd somehow.

So can anyone suggest how this is done - what eq's, preamps, compressor, effects - the chain if you will - that gives that great bass sound.

The kind that even sounds great on a boom box......

 

[RAMI]

I'm probably not the best authority on the subject, since bass isn't my main instrument, but I do play everything on my songs. I do it as simple as possible. Bass straight into the channel. I compress the bass on mix down, instead of during tracking. That way, I'm not stuck with a compression I can't change. Others will probably tell you that they compress while tracking, and if that works for you, that's cool too. I think bass is the one instrument that can be recorded straight into the board, but that might depend on the type of music you play.

 

[scrubs]

Lately, I've been blending a direct track through the Brick preamp/DI with a mic (RE20) on a 12" guitar cab speaker. That gives me a lot of options at mixdown. I'll often add light compression with the RNC or a small dbx compressor during tracking.

 

[ido1957]

Just checked out your link - very cool songs - so what did you use to get that great bass sound? (Board/Channel/EQ/Compressor/Settings) That's what I'm looking for......

 

[AGCurry]

Here's how I do it:

Fender bass -> cable -> Hi-Z input on my Aardvark Q10.

No effects, no compression.

 

[ecktronic]

Check your tone coming out your monitors before tracking the bass guitar. Set your amp up right by probably cutting some bass, boosting some hi and playing about with the mid on your amp controls. Make sure the bass guitar pick up selector and tone knob are at hi seting rather than lo setting. Once tracked cut the lo's so that it is clean sounding with no bass rumble but so there is still a bit of meaty lo end there. At mastering you can add more lo end to bring out the bass guitar. compress the lo end at mastering to produce a tighter lo end.

 

[penthouse._]

I can give you advice atleast for compression :

Set the compressor over 20:1 and the thresh to 3-6 db, that will make it controlled and flat but it will retain it's dynamics...

 

[RAMI]

Yikes! Yikes!

 

[analogfreak]

For recording various fretless basses, I get VERY good results going DI into an Aphex Punch Factory optical compressor, which is somewhat subtle but more than adequate compression, and then into a preamp with at least 3 tone controls (any of these work: MXR Bass DI+, Fender BXR-25 combo amp, or G.K. MB 150E-III combo amp). I cut the bass and treble a tad, and boost the midrange a tad (around 800 Hz if you have sweepable mid). Then I go straight to the mixer (Mackie 1202 VLZ pro) through the line out, and touch up with slight eq adjustments as needed (though usually flat). The bottom end definition is good to my ear's and those of my trumpet player.

Once in awhile for variety's sake, I mic the Fender BXR 25 with a Shure SM 57, which I place about 6 inches from the speaker, about 2" toward the center from the edge, but not directly at the center. This works pretty well as long as there is good isolation from other instruments and mics. I particularly like this with Fender fretless P-bass.

Michael Yoder
http://www.ambientjazzduo.8m.net

 

[Richard Monroe]

I usually just plug it into Avalon AD2022 (same DI as U5), then to the RNC, if light compression is needed, based on the style of the bassist, and the material. If I can get away with no compression, I'll do it. Heavier compression will be added at mixdown (or not) with software, or occasionally by re-amping with Joemeek twinQ. Usually I get the sound I need with no compression at all, but I don't do a lot of heavy rock. For that, mostly, I mic up a badass amp, and compress going in as needed.-Richie

 

[ecktronic]

I can give you advice atleast for compression :

Set the compressor over 20:1 and the thresh to 3-6 db, that will make it controlled and flat but it will retain it's dynamics...

So your using a soft limiter then really.
Set attack time to around 30ms and release to maybe 50ms. Good starting points anyway.

I usually compress the hell out of the bass which can kill the punch. But i am now going to try a diferent method.
Automated compression on the bass!

Because the bass style is sometimes quiet (plucked) and sometimes loud (slapped) i am going to use a different compressors for each part. Yeah. that will work good with a bit of practice.

 

[Afrosnatcher]

Just a thought but how about trying putting the bass through an amp and then using two mics on it, say a regular vocal mic and a kick drum mic and then mixing the 2 together. personally ive not tried it but i'll probs give it a go

 

[David Katauskas]

Tracking:
Active Bass (using a pick) -> PSA1 -> mixer -> DAW

Mixing:
Slight compression...that's it.

 

[xfinsterx]

I usualy go through an array of analog pedals, then to the Avalon U5, also ill split the U5 signal off to an ampeg B2r, a kustom, maybe a small combo etc.. and mic it with several cabs, and several different mics.

It may seem extensive...but.

Lotsa options is key.

 

[ecktronic]

Lotsa options is key.

Defo man im feeling it. If you have more mics and channels then might aswell use them. More chance of getting the sound you want from more mics. My next project will have 12 mics on the drums, 3 mics on guitar amp, two mics and DI on bass.

SM58 up close to bass speaker, D112 a bit further away for some depth and the DI.

 

[Dr. Zin]

Here is mine:
I both mic and use a DI. I use a 57 on the 4x10 cabinet, angling it right at the cone of one of the 4 10", and almost on the screen of the cabinet.
I use the kick mic in the same way right on the center of the 15" cone, again at an angle.
I use the parallel out on the SansAmp DI into my bass head. Then I take the XLR out on the DI and feed either my Mackie board, or my Aphex 207D Tube Pre, then into my Digi002-Rack.
I record 3 seperate tracks and then either lose the one I don't like or EQ to taste and blend them.
I never compress on tracking, and then either use RNC inserts, or the Bomb Factory BF3A plugin for compression.

-Bass (Fender Jazz)
-SansAmp DI
-|-----|
-|--Ampeg SVT3PRO |
-|---\_Fender 115SLPro-1x15 -Samson Q Kick Mic
-|---\__Fender 410SLPro -4x10 -SM57--
-|.................|.|.....................|...|
-|--------- Mackie 24*8 APhex 207D
--\__________|___________|________ Digi002-Rack