Recording Bass...Suggestions?

[bohunk06]

I am trying to get a better bass sound and am having some trouble. I am relatively new to recording so I might be missing the obvious. For a while, I was recording direct into my FirePod and using Cubase Studio 4 as my software. The bass was coming out kind of weak. I tried EQ and compression, but just can't get a good, smooth bass sound. I read a little and thought that it was because I needed a direct box. So I just went out and picked up a Live Wire Passive Direct Box. I think I understand about it converting high z to low z and unbalanced to balanced and all that. But it doesn't sound like its changing the sound at all. I thought it would thicken it up. But it sounds exactly the same. Am I missing something? Are there any suggestions for getting a smooth, thick sounding bass using Cubase?

Thanks!!

 

[bkkornaker]

most DI bass sounds arent that thick.....you may want to check out a bass modeling amp like IK Multimedia AMPEG, and use that along with the DI sound to blend them together.

for EQ, i like to add some 50Hz, and also add some 2k. Maybe roll off the 20hz and below. Compression is a typical 4:1 or 3:1 ratio and i tend to squish the bass sound a bit so every thing is consistant in bass sounds, and there is not certain notes that "JUMP" out at ya too loud.

 

[Slowjett]

The instrument jacks on the firepod are DI's. I know what your saying about the thin sound. I ran my bass through a cheap tube DI and it sounded much better and thicker even the wave forms were larger in Cubase even though the db were about the same. I think the preamps in the firepod dont have enough color for bass.

I just ordered a Golden Age Preamp Pre73. It supposed to be similar in design to a Neve pre. At $300 its a supposed to be a great deal, but thats about what your firepod cost.

If you have a decent microphone try recording the di and micing the bass amp at the same time. Add compression you might like what you hear.

Compression can thicken up and even out your sound too like bk said, compress it a bunch so you get even amount of bass tone.

best of luck man!
Josh

 

[bohunk06]

Thanks for the help. You say the instrument jack on the FirePod is the DI, but does it convert the impedance like the direct box does? Do I need to worry about converting the impedance? What does that do for me aside from eliminating a little buzz (which I don't hear to begin with).

I suppose I could try to mic the bass amp. What mic would you suggest? I have some decent dynamic mics (SM57, Beta52, E609). Or would a condenser be better (I have some large and small diaphram AKGs)?

 

[WhiteStrat]

Use a dynamic to mic the bass amp. Any of those might work, but I'd try 'em in this order: 52, 57, then 609.

 

[suprstar]

You say the instrument jack on the FirePod is the DI, but does it convert the impedance like the direct box does? Do I need to worry about converting the impedance? What does that do for me aside from eliminating a little buzz (which I don't hear to begin with).

I suppose I could try to mic the bass amp. What mic would you suggest? I have some decent dynamic mics (SM57, Beta52, E609). Or would a condenser be better (I have some large and small diaphram AKGs)?

Correct, yes, no, and nothing except taking your instrument signal and boosting it to line level for your direct outs and inserts and fw.

Yes, use the beta 52, that's an excellent bass mic. I wouldn't even bother trying the other 2 unless you're just goofing around to see the difference. If you mic up an amp, take a DI from the amp and track two bass tracks. They sound different, and you can mix them to get a wide range of tones.



Edit: OOOoooooooohhh Post 666, evil, EVILLLLL..............

 

[NL5]

If your DI signal isn't thick, then you are doing something wrong. I'd check the bass and see where it's set. You should be able to hear it while it's tracking, and adjust it to get it where you like it to sound.

 

[jmorris]

I'll tell you one thing, there is a world of difference is bass sounds depending on the bass and it's pickups. Some basses just sound great out of the gate,others need work. I would not right off blame what you are doing. A decent di should give a good baseline (hah! no punn intended)sound to work with.I like to combine a di signal and mic'd cabinet. Like was mentioned a beta 52 is great. compression helps a lot. I tend to cut bass in the 200-500 hz range, just like a kick to take away the mud.Then as far as what eq to boost it all depends on what is needed. How about some samples?
Jim

 

[bohunk06]

Thanks for all the help! So I guess I have concluded that I don't need the direct box and should return it. Unless someone can justify having it for other uses. In other words, should it be used with electric guitar, acoustic, keyboards, etc? I would assume not since my FirePod acts as the direct box.

I will just have to tweek the EQ and mess with the compression. I never wanted to compress the bass a lot for fear of squashing the sound. But your posts have convinced me otherwise.

Thanks!!

 

[jmorris]

No, do keep the direct box,it will be better than just going in1/4 to your console

 

[Seafroggys]

The Firepod has 2 jacks designed for DI.

 

[ElectricBlu]

Remember, Mic the Bass WHILE also recording it DI.
Like some people said, a Bass should go in and sound good right out of the Box...
Does it sound good going through the Amp?

A better pre-amp might help! Try a Tube pre-amp, even a cheap one might do the trick! Like an Art MP Gold or something...

Also, I think that you could return the DI in order to purchase a better Tube Preamp, in my opinion, they are the best thing to fatten up a Bass Sound...

Hope this Helps!

Julien
Recording Engineer @
The Electric Blu Studio
www.electricblustudio.com
Asheville, North Carolina, US of A

 

[Broken_Hal0]

As far as it goes for the signal you want to record ,being able to record from an amp is great. If not , try to look into a pre amp channel with a comp on it. I use an envoice mindprint mkII which is a tube pre amp .

 

[bohunk06]

Thanks for all the responses!

I was not aware of the specific DI inputs on the FirePod. I will have to look into that? Are they different than the 8 regular inputs?

I do have a Presonus Tube Pre that I wasn't using in the process. I was under the impression that the pre's on the FirePod would work. But I will try running it into the TubePre to see if that warms up the sound. Is the proper set up to go out of the bass, into the direct box, into the Tube Pre and into the board? Or do I switch around the Tube Pre and the direct box?

Thanks again for the responses!!

 

[the-audio-man]

Check out Line6 (not an amp) software, they make great VST plugins that come with their hardware. I think you can now buy it without having hardware but I could be wrong.

The gearbox software is pretty awesome. If you get a good signal into your computer you should be set. Try a DI box to run your signal into your preamp via XLR

 

[MCI2424]

I am trying to get a better bass sound and am having some trouble. I am relatively new to recording so I might be missing the obvious. For a while, I was recording direct into my FirePod and using Cubase Studio 4 as my software. The bass was coming out kind of weak. I tried EQ and compression, but just can't get a good, smooth bass sound. I read a little and thought that it was because I needed a direct box. So I just went out and picked up a Live Wire Passive Direct Box. I think I understand about it converting high z to low z and unbalanced to balanced and all that. But it doesn't sound like its changing the sound at all. I thought it would thicken it up. But it sounds exactly the same. Am I missing something? Are there any suggestions for getting a smooth, thick sounding bass using Cubase?

Thanks!!

Barring having a high-pass filter accidently switched on (in Cubase) you should play a CD with great sounding bass to see if your monitors can actually reproduce deep sounding bass. Bass going DI should be pretty straightforward.