Newb Bass Question

[BFin]

I know this should be in the recording techniques, but I figure since I'm new I should post here first. LOVE this board by the way. Totally awesome people on here.
Anyway,
I want to record my bass direct and mic it at the same time. I have a presonus tube pre so I think I can plug into that and send one output to the interface and one to the amp. Then mic the amp and send through another tube pre (I have 2) to the interface. Does anyone forsee any problems with this? (aside from the tubepre sucks comments, can go to GS for that).
I searched for this on here and I found all kinds of info, but not a direct answer as to whether a DI box would accomplsh this without adding its own "color" to the sound.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[rtstudio]

I dont really know what I can say or do to help you out on this topic. I used to try a similar technique when I first started recording, seemed that line in recording and a mic at the same time gave it a more real sound and brought it out more clean but after a while I went right back to simple line in recording because its so much more simple and fast, and the mastering software I use can make it sound like virtually anything I want. so it actually sounds much better now and higher quality after I started doing it that way. I say keep doing what your doing and keep trying to find ways to make it sound better because every setup will have a different sound and its finding that perfect method that gives you that perfect sound.

 

[Dogbreath]

I've used a DI and a miked signal together for bass quite a few times and it turned out fine. It depended on what sound I was after but I'd generally end up with about 70% DI signal to a 30% mic signal in the mix.
I've got better mics and better treatment in my room now so those percentages could end up going the other way.

I say let er rip, experiment around and see what ya come up with.

Luck man.

 

[Washburn100]

I know this should be in the recording techniques, but I figure since I'm new I should post here first. LOVE this board by the way. Totally awesome people on here.
Anyway,
I want to record my bass direct and mic it at the same time. I have a presonus tube pre so I think I can plug into that and send one output to the interface and one to the amp. Then mic the amp and send through another tube pre (I have 2) to the interface. Does anyone forsee any problems with this? (aside from the tubepre sucks comments, can go to GS for that).
I searched for this on here and I found all kinds of info, but not a direct answer as to whether a DI box would accomplsh this without adding its own "color" to the sound.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

I could be wrong here, but if you take the output of the Tubepre which would be line level, and put that back into a bass amp that accepts a hi-Z input, isn't that going to be way too much signal? I would think you need to split the bass before the tubepre and sent one to the amp and the other to the Tubepre.

 

[grimtraveller]

It might be an idea to consider not so much a splitter cable but a "Y" box. I use one for both guitar and bass. I have a Palmers "Y" box. Basically, you plug the bass/guitar into the guitar input and there are two "outs" that you can send to an amp or go direct or wherever you like. I use it quite frequently and sometimes I'll go through two amps. With the bass, I sometimes do a three way thingy, that is, I'll mic my bass amp {a Fender bassman}, use the line out {one out of the "Y"} and go direct {the other "Y" out - but without a DI box}. I love what you can get with that. I know that there are those, who, justifiably, will say "it's only the bass, man !". But I happen to be a bass tone connossieur and it's actually great fun. Besides which, having some more scope won't harm you. The option is always there to use or not to use.

This is part of an answer that I gave someone at the start of the year. I think there are a number of different ways of doing/recording anything musically and most of us try out a number of ways. Even when we hit on a particular method that gives us what we want, there's usually a couple of other ones filed away to keep things fresh. I think there are a few good variations you can get by DI and miking simultaneously. As ever, keep experimenting.
I suspect that everything in the recording process colours
each sound even in undetectable ways......I guess some things more noticeably than others.

Even if a particular way seems finiky and takes a long time, once you've got that sound and you're listening to the results, who cares ! Part of the fun is the journey.......
"Daddy, are we there yet ?".

 

[guitaristic]

I know this should be in the recording techniques, but I figure since I'm new I should post here first. LOVE this board by the way. Totally awesome people on here.

Yes, we are like children on a playground...play nice with us, and we'll play nice with you!

As for the DI/mic questions, I don't see why it would be bad. Part of the fun of recording and mixing is trying new stuff, so I say go for it! Good luck!