KVR Audio

WillieJenkins · Post by **WillieJenkins** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:55 pm

Hey guys,

I just got a bass, and wanna learn how to record / set it up in my system.

I found a thread on Help on recording a real bass... but this was already too advanced for me.

How do I integrate the bass into my setup?

1) Do I *have* to have an outboard mixer? or can I go

Bass -> Soundcard?

If I can't go Bass -> Soundcard, what are my options to jack the signal level up?

pre-amp, di box, mixer?

Any help would be great. Again, I'm not worried about tone / sound, I'm mainly going to set this up just so I can learn bass on my own.

Thanks!

Barf · Post by **Barf** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:22 pm

Depends on your soundcard I guess. I (still) use a Soundblaster Live soundcard and get a very weak signal if I put my bass directly in the line-in. So I use an old 4-track recorder as a 'booster', bass-->4track--->soundcard. I think u should try just pluggin it directly in first to see how well your soundcard records. DONT put it in the microphone slot on your soundcard, it may ruin your card, microphones use different 'elements'!

proletkult · Post by **proletkult** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:38 pm

WillieJenkins wrote: pre-amp, di box, mixer?

That's what they're for! Pending on your budget. I bought a Fedora preamp about five years ago and have never looked back. It was really pricy and I already have several good basses but the sound I get out of all of them with this is amazing. Sans Amp's D.I.box is probably better for what you want but none of them are cheap. The mixer idea works but doesn't always serve your bass sound as well as something more dedicated. If you already have an combo, try miking it up(only if your enviroment is quiet enough). Good luck comrad.

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:59 pm

Well my card has a "hi z" input for guitars so if yer card has the same input then you can use it. Other wise, you will need a DI box. I recommend a Sans amp, they are not that adjustable, but give a great sound with little hassle, and they are relatively inexpensive. Another option would be the behringer Vbass, Bass Pod, or the like. The good thing about bass is that really all you need is some compression once you get the signal boosted enough to record..

WillieJenkins · Post by **WillieJenkins** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:23 pm

Sweet! Thanks guys, I might run out to Guitar Center today and see whats crackin!

I always appreciate the help from KVRians

WillieJenkins · Post by **WillieJenkins** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:53 pm

Also, I'm a lefty playing on a right handed bass, do you think this will cause any problems?

I've decided to try and learn right handed, since 99% of basses are for right handed people

proletkult · Post by **proletkult** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:25 pm

WillieJenkins wrote:Also, I'm a lefty playing on a right handed bass, do you think this will cause any problems?

I've decided to try and learn right handed, since 99% of basses are for right handed people

Jimmy Haslip is one of the greatest players of all time(and a really nice guy) and it don't bother him!!!

VicDiesel · Post by **VicDiesel** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:12 pm

Be like Jimi and string a right-handed bass upside down!

Barf · Post by **Barf** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:52 pm

I'm lefthanded and have no problems playing bass lefthanded, lol I mean righthanded....or was it left?! This always gets me confused. I mean I play the 'wrong' way....no not the bass up the 'wrong' way like hendrix but...how to explain this?

I just pretend I'm righthanded! I mailed to someone who's running a website for lefthanded guitarists once and he says its easier to play bass righthanded for a lefthanded person than guitar, especially picking.

Very basic live bass question