Darcy, we must be on the same page or something-- I agreed with you in your guitar recommendation, and I totally agree with you here.
I was going to recommend MDA's combo as well, but you had beat me to it. I don't like the JCM or Rednef, mind you, but the rest of the signal path is great, too.
Regarding the cost issue-- according to the Behringer website, their SansAmp ripoffs are now available, though I haven't seen one in stores yet and you can't order direct. But for $40 US, which is far cheaper than most commercial plug-ins you could buy, you get a hardware unit that can also double as a D.I. with ground-lift if you're not pleased with the amp modelling.
Greg
Dialing in my bass...
-
- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
-
- KVRian
- 991 posts since 16 Feb, 2005 from USA
i know a few things on this one..i actually play bass for a living and have gotten to work w/ some great engineers who have done some succesful records. here is what I would reccomend:
Use a direct Box like a Sansamp. If you can split a signal to a bass amp, even better. just make sure the same track is used. You don't want to mix seperate takes unless you are going for a really strange effect of untightness.
Take one track and boost 60 or 80 (depends on the kick), then bost in the low mids around 1-300. this is your main, low bass track.
The other track should have all the lows cut out of it up to about 8-900. Then put on some distortion. this will be your definition track. mix to taste. you can even send this track through a guitar amp if youd like.
this trick and many variations are used on countless records, especialy ones where that playing with a pick "punk" sound is needed. It also used on fingerstyle tracks.
also make sure you have a good bass. I'd reccomend a passive fender J or P for any studio work. those basses tend to sit in the mix better then anything, and all pro engineers know exactly how to record and mix them.
edit
**** read what wilowhaud said, again, becase he is really describing the same setup as I am. The difference is that if you don't have the luxury of using any speakers just use your DI. Then duplicate the take and keep one for the lows, and send the other through a lowpass and then through aVST like Ampltube for your biting distortion (don't use a lot!)
a lot of newer engineers make the mistake of using one bass track only and just distorting that. Don't do it that way, because you can lose a lot of character in the low end and your bass will never sound the way you want.
Use a direct Box like a Sansamp. If you can split a signal to a bass amp, even better. just make sure the same track is used. You don't want to mix seperate takes unless you are going for a really strange effect of untightness.
Take one track and boost 60 or 80 (depends on the kick), then bost in the low mids around 1-300. this is your main, low bass track.
The other track should have all the lows cut out of it up to about 8-900. Then put on some distortion. this will be your definition track. mix to taste. you can even send this track through a guitar amp if youd like.
this trick and many variations are used on countless records, especialy ones where that playing with a pick "punk" sound is needed. It also used on fingerstyle tracks.
also make sure you have a good bass. I'd reccomend a passive fender J or P for any studio work. those basses tend to sit in the mix better then anything, and all pro engineers know exactly how to record and mix them.
edit
**** read what wilowhaud said, again, becase he is really describing the same setup as I am. The difference is that if you don't have the luxury of using any speakers just use your DI. Then duplicate the take and keep one for the lows, and send the other through a lowpass and then through aVST like Ampltube for your biting distortion (don't use a lot!)
a lot of newer engineers make the mistake of using one bass track only and just distorting that. Don't do it that way, because you can lose a lot of character in the low end and your bass will never sound the way you want.
-
- KVRian
- 1222 posts since 6 Jul, 2004
Getting a proper bass sound is one of the most difficult things you can attempt. I'd suggest you start with something easier like, say, cod or halibut, and work your way up from there.darcyb62 wrote:I've struggling to get the bass sound I want.
( Ducks and runs...
)-
- KVRian
- 991 posts since 16 Feb, 2005 from USA
wish i could go fishing and pull up a 75 fender Jazz!
oh yeah, forgot to mention, try using a pick if you havent already. I am a finger guy myself, but had many producers ask me to use a pick on sessions and now I see why.
oh yeah, forgot to mention, try using a pick if you havent already. I am a finger guy myself, but had many producers ask me to use a pick on sessions and now I see why.
-
- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Well, I have the GDI21 in hand, but haven't hooked it up yet. That probably won't happen for several hours, but when it does, I'll let you know how it goes.
I was surprised at how solid the construction feels! I was expecting plastic garbage, but 'tis rugged.
I was surprised at how solid the construction feels! I was expecting plastic garbage, but 'tis rugged.
-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 488 posts since 2 Mar, 2004
I am using a Brian Moore Custom, I think it's a great bass but then I'm really a guitar guy so I might be totally off base on that... and when I try using my fingers to play bass they get all tangled up so I use a pick.stash98 wrote:wish i could go fishing and pull up a 75 fender Jazz!
oh yeah, forgot to mention, try using a pick if you havent already. I am a finger guy myself, but had many producers ask me to use a pick on sessions and now I see why.
-
- KVRian
- 991 posts since 16 Feb, 2005 from USA
well if you are a studio guy and plan to do a lot of that, try and snag a fender sometime down the road.
but for now, try and record passive takes. meaning if the bass is active, see if there is a passive mode switch that you can use. if it is passive, that is a good thing. unless you have a really nice active bass like a sadowski, I would reccomend always going passive since cheap (read most) preamps really can ruin a bass tone.
but for now, try and record passive takes. meaning if the bass is active, see if there is a passive mode switch that you can use. if it is passive, that is a good thing. unless you have a really nice active bass like a sadowski, I would reccomend always going passive since cheap (read most) preamps really can ruin a bass tone.
-
- KVRist
- 37 posts since 11 Mar, 2005
I'm going into Tracktion from my Yorkville into an M-Audio Fastrak USB (hey, its affordable for me). I'm able to get a decent sound which I'm happy with given the equipment I have. But one problem I have is if I pluck a string to hard (and fast) the meter jumps and the sound is distorted. Do I lower the gain on the M-Audio input for this, or is there something else?
Also, any of the bassists have tips on how I can reduce the latency? I pluck a string and its about 1 1/2 seconds til the sound comes out
I have windows xp, with an AMD Athlon 2100 (1.7ghz), 1 gig of memory and the M-audio is on a USB 2.0 channel. If I'm stuck with that I would just like to know how I can still record with it. Right now I play the drum loop and record the bass, and then try to move the clip 'up' to match the drums. Sounds very inefficient.
Also, any of the bassists have tips on how I can reduce the latency? I pluck a string and its about 1 1/2 seconds til the sound comes out
I have windows xp, with an AMD Athlon 2100 (1.7ghz), 1 gig of memory and the M-audio is on a USB 2.0 channel. If I'm stuck with that I would just like to know how I can still record with it. Right now I play the drum loop and record the bass, and then try to move the clip 'up' to match the drums. Sounds very inefficient.-
- KVRist
- 37 posts since 11 Mar, 2005
oops - double post 
Last edited by JumboNewJack on Wed May 04, 2005 11:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 488 posts since 2 Mar, 2004
The bass is passive... I don't like active pickups on the normal guitar side so I didn't think it would be something I would want on the bass side.
I really appreciate all your tips here... Especially the points on splitting the signal and eq'ing... I'll try all that tonight...
I really appreciate all your tips here... Especially the points on splitting the signal and eq'ing... I'll try all that tonight...
-
- KVRian
- 991 posts since 16 Feb, 2005 from USA
i think it may be th USB. It's just not that fast compared to a firewire interface. I'd reccomend a presonus firebox. I have uner 10ms of latency. 1 1/2 seconds would be unworkable for me.
yes, Id lower the gian on your MAudio. I'd set up the bass so the volume is at max and then adjust the Maudio until you get no clipping.
You will get better gain structure if you get a DI box in between the 2.
yes, Id lower the gian on your MAudio. I'd set up the bass so the volume is at max and then adjust the Maudio until you get no clipping.
You will get better gain structure if you get a DI box in between the 2.
-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 488 posts since 2 Mar, 2004
I split the signal for most of my guitar stuff, but I had never thought of splitting it for the bass... I have even done it for drums, but doing it for bass never (and I mean never) crossed my mind. Funny how that is...