Need BASS tone/intelligibility help

[nyaben]

I've got a decent P-bass with nice D'Addario roundwounds. I usually record direct but my tone is just too dull. I'm using compression and pretty much know what to do re EQ. I'd like to go the DI route but could also try to go out of my Fender Blues Deluxe to see if that warms it up.

What DI is best? SansAmp? POD? Avalon?
Will they increase the presence of the bass in the mix?

 

[Tom Hicks]

direct injection bass

The few times I have been in a pro studio the bass was ALWAYS recorded in the control room into a direct box.Passive versions are just a transformer and maybe a ground lift switch while active units can have eq,pads pre-amp and other bells and whistles.Don't go by brand but rather what features you really need.IMHO
Tom

 

[Shailat]

Asuming it's not the instrument, the source of your problem may be one of the folowing.

* Old strings sound dull
* Pick ups to close to the strings can be cause a muddy dull sound
* You are not setting the compresoor corectly, resulting in a dull sound
Check out a thread called compressing bass in the past 5-6 days in the recording Tec. Forum

You didn't write what your Eq choices is. did you try a cut in the 25-500Hz ?.
A boost at 2-3 Hz?

An active will add moe low end punch and more high freq' clarity but I would suggest you look at the option of adding an active pickup instead and bypassing a direct box, eliminating more circuits in it's path.

 

[nyaben]

I've tried tracking straight into my Roland 1680 via its Hi-Z input. Have also tracked via my JoeMeek VC6Q mic pre/compressor/eq. In either case, I usually end up tracking with 3:1 - 4:1 compression settings (very lightly applied during tracking) and more on mixdown (sometimes heavier...whatever is needed).

I usually have to notch out a bit at 50-60 Hz to remove mud/boominess. Also cut a few dbs at around 200 Hz sometimes. Then I'll boost 800 Hz - 1.5 Khz (varies).

Even with all of that fine tuning, it still doesn't cut through like I want it to sometimes.

 

[Shailat]

First of all a 4:1 is not so light, It's not heavy but if you track with a 4:1
and then add more at the mixdown you might be over compressing.
More important is how you set the attack and release time.
To fast an attack and your sound will be dull.

AS to the EQ -You can't EQ a instrument alone. It has to be in comparison to the other instruments in the mix. How ever it seems to me that you are not Eq'iug corectly. To cut the mud you should look for it around the 250-500Hz.
I strongly suggest this exspecialy with a P Bass !!!!.

Youre cutting at 50-60 is basicly a good idea but lower it a bit around 40-50
The 800-1.5 boost helps clear the pitch but try to boost around the 2-3kHzthis will give you a clarity you might be looking for.

For it to cut through your mix you'll have to EQ the Kickdrum or any other instrument that might be fighting for the same Freq's as well and make them work toghter.Your bass can sound fine but might be masked from other instruments. Don't Eq each instrument to sound good by itself but that they should work together ! even at the expense of sounding weak on there on.