Can you get a decent bass sound by plugging directly into a digital recorder or is a direct box required? I'm recording on a Fostex MR-8 with guitar input so I think I'd be fine plugging directly into it - but want to be sure.
You should have no problem doing the Electric Bass into your Fostex. I have a special line for my Boss 880 and takes the plug right from there into Electric Bass, with volume control. I've worked that and the sound feeds to my cans--pretty quiet for recording stuff.
You can do some adjusting on your Fostex EQ and any other dynamics you want to use.
I would think that without a DI (such as a Tech 21 unit) the sound quality would be fairly poor and you would need to use a software program like Ampeg SVX to create something decent. Also, you would probably run into some problems without a Hi-Z input when recording direct like that.
A lot of those recorders have instrument-in jacks on em, I've used em, they work fine.. That instrument-in IS a direct box, albeit probably not the nicest cleanest one around..
You'll be fine. What I meant actually was that without any treatment from a DI unit that also has some features like eq and so forth, your signal probably won't be usable without processing with software or a plugin. Of course you may be doing that-- I don't know. But I highly doubt an untreated direct signal with no processing would be worth much in a mix.
I have an active bass and go straight in to my TASCAM 2488. Works fine and sounds good. Like farview said: It depends on the bass, the sound you want, etc....
Thanks for all the helpful posts. I'll be using a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. And the Fostex does have a "Guitar In" jack but thought I'd check some thoughts from you guys regarding the topic. Much appreciated. I'll let you know what kind of results I get when I buy that bad boy in a day or two.
Agreed, depends on the bass and taste. Depending on the type of music, I prefer to go straight in to the preamp. Sounds great to me. This is how James Jamerson did it at Motown on pretty much every record they made. Straight into the board.