recording bass

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scifiaudious2

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what is the best way to go about recording bass tracks?(equipment suggestions, etc.)
 
DI and Mic. Then you can mix the 2, or chose the one you like.
If you don't have the channels to do that, I prefer DI myself.
Todd
 
I like di better myself as well. Micing a bass amp is supposed to be pretty complicated, and most untreated rooms will not record a very good bass sound. DI is a much better "no suprises" sort of way for the newbie..... I use the hartke bass attack di pedal. And it's right at 100 bucks brand new. I'd definately recommend it. Although if you need effects and more modeling options you should check out vamps or the bass pod or something...... But then again the hartke is more straight foward, and simple to use. (Especially if you're me and know just enough about bass to know when it sounds bad).
 
DI is the traditional way to get it done, probably more so now than ever before, too, as options for digitally treating a clean raw track are nearly infinite.

Bass is hard to acoustically record properly. It's done, but it's a pain to get right, even in a decent [$$$$$$$] acoustic environment. These days it's not really worth the hassle.

That's why the pros still do it direct most of the time, even guys I know engineering and producing for the big studios in LA.

Actually, though...the dirty little secret is that most of the really great electric bass you hear these days is keyboard synths.
 
bongolation said:
Actually, though...the dirty little secret is that most of the really great electric bass you hear these days is keyboard synths.

Say what? You mean a keyboard plays the bass line or what??? Please tell me more. :D
 
He went overboard saying that most of the "really great" electric bass is synth, simply not true. Most of the really great electric bass is well, really great electric bass players.

What is true though is that a lot of bass parts from top level productions are helped with synth lines recorded under the original bass, helps to fill out missing frequencies.
 
as far as equip is concerned for DI - what is your budget? or do you already have a DI box, or some prefered pre amp?

Todd
 
as of now i dont have anything, i need alot of things for recording.not sure what to buy. iwas thinking about going with a pod for basic recording, i hear they do alright
 
scifiaudious2 said:
as of now i dont have anything, i need alot of things for recording.not sure what to buy. iwas thinking about going with a pod for basic recording, i hear they do alright

I'm assuming that you mean the Bass Pod? You'd be correct in saying they do "alright". But is that what you want, "alright". Those things are around $300, and IMO sound horrible hooked to an amp(if you ever wanted to use it live) I would recommend the Sans Amp Bass Driver, or Boss GT-6B. both sound great hooked to an amp, and both sound great going direct in. We tried using the Pod Live XT for bass direct in.........sounded like lifeless poo. Of course I'm bias, I'm not a fan of Line 6 products anymore.

The Countryman DI box is good as well. Keep in mind, in order to get a good bass sound, you'll need a good instrument, and good player. This cannot be said enough.
 
my behringer ultra d.i. works out great...

i've also heard of some ppl use something like a sm57 to record the string sounds, while they d.i.


gl
 
seismetr0n said:
my behringer ultra d.i. works out great...

i've also heard of some ppl use something like a sm57 to record the string sounds, while they d.i.


gl

That is a cool trick. You can get some really neat sounds doing that. I usually end up using a LDC, but hey, whatever works.
 
DMP3?

it's a good di, and 2 channels of relatively clean pre for 150.

hard to beat at that price.
 
recording bass tracks

i usually go straight from the bass into the audio interface. i am using an ibanez sr 500 thats like 10 years old and i recently up graded to EMG's and made it an 18 volt system. stay away from the v-amp for bass it sucks bad. not many usable sounds, but it does look good in the rack.
 
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