Recording Bass guitar: mic vs direct

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monkie

monkie

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I was recording bass guitar today and just wasn't really satisfied with the tones. It sounds too thin and weak. I recorded directly to my 002R and have also tried going through my LA610 for better compression. Still, I'm not satisfied. I haven't tried micing it because I don't have a bass amp. I don't go through a DI box either. Would that help? Which method is better? I've heard some say that micing is better but I usually hear people just going directly through a DI and into whatever they're using for recording. If micing, which bass amp would be decent for recording? Which mic is good for that application?

I'd appreciate all inputs. Thanks.:)
 
I get a pretty solid sound direct through my Sansamp DI Bass Driver. If you decide on that route it's a hell of a lot cheaper than an amp plus you won't have to shake the foundations of your house to get a decent tone from an amp with a mic on front of it.
 
I do fairly well going DI (shameless plug: I just did this two days ago, and the bass was DI'd through a line in on an ART MPA Gold: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=267909).

But some of the best results I've gotten is a mix of the two. And because I had the DI for the thicker, low end, I found that I didn't need to crank the amp. So I split the signal, DI'd one, and the other went into a GK backline (pretty small/cheap bass amp) and mic'd it with an SM7b. I think since I was mixing it with a DI signal, I would've been fine with a lesser mic as well.

The mic'd signal had some bite and energy that really added to the DI--I went about 50/50 on the mix. Let me know if you want to hear some samples of that and I'll post some links.
 
I agree with WhiteStrat. Often a blend of DI and mic works best. Good mics for bass cab include SM7, RE-20, ATM-25, Audix D4, Beyer M380.
 
I don't have a bass amp either, so I never mic. I have a set of mic preamps that I really like for mics (Black Lion Audio modded MOTU Traveler), but they really don't work for bass. I've come to use either an ART Digital MPA for smoother mellow sounding lines or an older Ashly SC-40 instrument preamp that a stumbled across for heavier stuff. I've also had acceptable results with a toob pre (the cheap starved plate design - the ART Tube MP with capacitor and opamp upgrades, or the Presonus Tube Pre with a new tube), but I'm not sure I'd run out and get one if you don't already have one.
 
A nice not too expensive tube DI for bass is the now discontinued GT Ditto. It's essentially the DI only version of the Brick. You can find them on E-bay from time to time for @$150 or so - which is a far cry from the $300 they originally brought on e-bay before the Brick came out.
 
Stop spending!!!

Hmmm... save your money. I promise you, it's something with your bass. First and foremost, finding a great bass sound comes from the fingers. If your bass player isn't good, then finding a good bass sound to sit in the mix will be impossible! Second(this will make all the difference), adjust your pickup height to make sure you can hear each string. If the pickups are too close to the strings, you'll have a fat sound, but all mud, back it off just the right amount so that every sting becomes distinguishable from the other, and make sure that volume levels are consistent across all the strings. Backing the pickup too far away from the strings will just make your bass sound thin. Third, fresh strings! Get yourself some fresh strings, stretch them, intonate, and if they sound "too fresh (bright)" pick up some Johnsons paste wax at a local hardware store. Apply a very thin film to an old t-shirt, buff into your strings. A little dab does it, but it adds that perfect "two days" later sound to your strings. And if you're super anal, pick up a can of food grade silicon spray for your stings and back of your neck to speed the neck up a bit.

Now, try going direct! Your recorded bass sound should be thinner than in a live situation. Bass in a mix is more about midrange, not necessarily low end. And if it sounds too forward in the mix, send your direct signal to an amp for re-amping and play around with mic positions to add some distance.

Please, please, please save your money. Great gear can make the difference between this year's grammy and Dark Side of the Moon, but if the engineer/mixer isn't great to begin with, the best gear in the world won't save you. Take time learning your gear first, and then when it's the gear holding you back, upgrade. Hope this helps. =)
 
This has come up at least once before- in fact, I opened this thread because I though this thread was that one, and I wanted to see if there was any feedback on my reply, there!

Anyhoo, recently I recorded the bass track for a song, using a MIM Fender Jazz bass, Fender Frontman 25B amp. I recorded it on two tracks- one was miked with a SM58 going into the Tascam DP01, the other was direct (from the pre-amp send) to the DP01. On playback, I honest could hear almost no difference. Now, there was no slap or other high-technique bass playing, so I can not comment on how that may have sounded, but for basic bass tracks, I was as pleased with one as I was with the other.

YMMV.
 
Same here. I've always been happy with the sound of my bass recorded direct through an ART Tube MP Studio. At least that pre can do something right!

Granted I always end up putting a good deal of compression on my bass parts (I love a solid low end), but I think that the DI method is perfectly capable of producing great bass tracks.
 
A Behri BDI21 is almost perfect & it's VERY, VERY cheap. It is quite close to the sansamp21 but not anywhere as trendy or expensive.
A blend of it & a mic'd amp is closer still!
You need consistency of pressure on your plucking/picking
You need consistency of pressure on your plucking/picking
You need consistency of pressure on your plucking/picking
You need consistency of pressure on your plucking/picking
Get the best sound you can - play & listen, tweak, play & listen ad infinitum.
You also need to ride the faders on your mixing device if the vol is still inconsistent after having rehearsed the part thoroughly to ensure you have consistency of pressure on your plucking/picking.
Don't forget a few grease proof pans and aluminium foil - all painted bright red for extra speed. Get some new stuff and relic it too. BUT! Don't forget the ancient bassist axiom - "neither a borrower nor a lender be".
 
I've recorded my bass going direct into my SUMMIT AUDIO preamp and gotten a good sound. I've also recorded using a SansAmp Bass Driver DI.... going into the SUMMIT AUDIO... and I liked it even better.

I think both methods are fine as long as you tweak the sounds.... take some time doing that... and you can get the DI to sound close to that of a modeler.

For my money, using the Bass Driver is where it's at for my music. I dialed in a sound that I just LOVE... one I couldn't get with the direct box.
 
Tadpui said:
Same here. I've always been happy with the sound of my bass recorded direct through an ART Tube MP Studio. At least that pre can do something right!

Granted I always end up putting a good deal of compression on my bass parts (I love a solid low end), but I think that the DI method is perfectly capable of producing great bass tracks.
Click to expand...


I agree...but I have used quite a few modelers...I have a Jazz bass and Ive used a Korg modeler...Sansamp (Mine was cheap...got it at a pawn shop for $35)...and a Line6 interface...which is my newest and what I think is the best.

Allways go with direct in with bass...Geddy Lee who most reguard as the best out there...have you seen him onstage with a big wall of amps...or does he go direct in to the PA?...and you cannot beat it for isolation...lol.
 
I find getting really decent bass tracks is the single most difficult thing in home recording. Solid clear tracks require a good technique for recording and mixing plus a good ear and willingness to fuss with them for a while to tweak them. There are no short cuts. Its experience, work and knowledge.
 
i'm no pro, but i got a decent sound

Look I don't know alot, but i've miced a little 15 watt fender bass amp with a shure kick drum mic and was very pleased with the sound. Even more after adding some compression.
 
I almost always use a blend of both DI and amp. DI almost always sounds too clean for me, and amp always lacks some of the definition I want. So I always blend. Although sometimes I blend DI with a virtual amp.

I believe the 002 has instrument inputs, so a DI box is not necessary. Although it could change the sound a bit, but i wouldn't imagine it to be drastic. Like others have said here. The key to good bass tone is playing technique.
 
There are so many different ways to make chicken salad. What I'm getting at is, some recipes work and some don't.
The mic'd amd scenario is as viable an option as the direct option, but limit is 100% spot on when he says it's all about the player. A good player that is CONSISTANTLY good can play the same part the same way every time while the engineer/producer/chicken salad chefs, can all turn the knobs to get the best sound possible.
Sometimes it's about asking the wrong instrument to do the wrong job. I've always played a fender power jazz special live and it's always sounded great (to me). In the studio I'll try anything and not try to force anything. I really really don't like (just me) the sound of a short scale bass in a live application, but in the studio I get really good tone without the tubbi-ness.
Bottom line is: Try everything to get not only good bass tone, but tone that sits well (I hate that term) in the mix. and and and play that bass part as good as you can everytime. Experiment, you're painting a picture....
Love this forum and love everybody's ideas!
Peace
 
CalypsoNut said:
Try everything to get not only good bass tone, but tone that sits well (I hate that term) in the mix.
Click to expand...

Why do you hate the term? To me it's very descriptive of having the bass consistently audible without being overbearing. That's true for every instrument, of course, but I find bass to be especially challenging.
 
you will get just as good results with a preamp with XLR direct out or a Sansamp and/or other active DI boxes as you will micking a cab in my opinion that is always the way I have done it and always get good results
 
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