I've struggling to get the bass sound I want. I am recording bass directly in and trying to apply effects to get a rich and punchy sound while keeping the sound of the plucked string. I have tried various combinations of effects (all freebies) and I just can't seem to get the sound I want.
I am looking at my bass amp and see that I have XLR out that can be configured for either pre or post pre--amp and am thinking that my be the way to go but would have to purchase a cable. Before I do that I would like to give the vst approach one last try and would appreciate any ideas (or even configurations) that others use for rock bass sound.
Thanks much...
Dialing in my bass...
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flanneljammies flanneljammies https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=19969
- KVRist
- 462 posts since 5 Apr, 2004 from Madison WI
Blockfish, baby!
At home, he's a tourist...
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- KVRAF
- 1820 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
preamp out or direct box>interface>tracktion>compressor(wtf ever you like)>equalizer(wtf ever you like)....experiment with different plugins. not all plugins are created equal.
try using another bass, try using different strings, try using different plugins, try playing with a pick, try playing by using your fingers. there are a million different variables in how to get a sound. go try some of them. but definitely, get that cable and use the preamp out for starters. remember, whatever you do to the signal feeding it into the DAW, you will be committed to, including eq and compression, so go light or not at all. my recommendation is to record as untouched as possible so that you have as many options at mixdown as possible.
mic the strings of the bass up close at the 12th fret to get the finger/plucking/slapping noise. it's a beautiful way to do bass. now, try mix/blending the two tracks.
alternatively, try using the two channels eq'd as though they were a crossed over signal, do the direct channel with nothing but lows, and use the mic'd channel as a mid and highs channel, or try the direct channel with a little low-mid to round it out... you have to experiment with this. the settings may be different for your bass and preamp config. and the room you're in has a little to do with it. so go experiment.
and have fun.
try using another bass, try using different strings, try using different plugins, try playing with a pick, try playing by using your fingers. there are a million different variables in how to get a sound. go try some of them. but definitely, get that cable and use the preamp out for starters. remember, whatever you do to the signal feeding it into the DAW, you will be committed to, including eq and compression, so go light or not at all. my recommendation is to record as untouched as possible so that you have as many options at mixdown as possible.
mic the strings of the bass up close at the 12th fret to get the finger/plucking/slapping noise. it's a beautiful way to do bass. now, try mix/blending the two tracks.
alternatively, try using the two channels eq'd as though they were a crossed over signal, do the direct channel with nothing but lows, and use the mic'd channel as a mid and highs channel, or try the direct channel with a little low-mid to round it out... you have to experiment with this. the settings may be different for your bass and preamp config. and the room you're in has a little to do with it. so go experiment.
and have fun.
Last edited by lharless on Wed May 04, 2005 2:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 488 posts since 2 Mar, 2004
Thanks Lee... I can definately get the sound I want when playing live through the amp (Yorkville Bassmaster 200 with a 2nd 15" cabinet). For recording I use a Tascam US122 which does a great job of getting the sound to the PC. I would think that with the right set of plugins and settings I should get the sound I am looking for (I realize that many components go to make the sound and cabinets have a large influence on the overall sound as well). I have tried several compressors including both single and mutiband compressors, various eq's (I like Tracktion's native eq the best), and even varying amp sims but I just can't seem to get even close. I have considered mic'ing but the room I use has terrible dynamics and a lot of noise and it just wouldn't work.
I guess I just have to keep plugging away. and I'll try direct from the amp as well.
I guess I just have to keep plugging away. and I'll try direct from the amp as well.
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- KVRAF
- 1820 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
mike the bass up close with the amp off. and then do a track with the bass amp on and direct record out of the preamp, for another alternative. the slight variance in your performances could have a cool effect.
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- KVRAF
- 1820 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
i have never liked the sound i ended up with by micing a bass amp speaker cabinet. ever... but that's just my opinion. and don't let me keep you from trying it. but i have never liked it wholely. maybe once.. so it's not ruled out from my bag of tricks, just not at the top of the pile of shit in it.
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- KVRAF
- 6740 posts since 25 Mar, 2002 from sheffield, england
I have had good results mic'ing a bass cab.. it helps if you have a mic with a healthy low-end response (dedicated kick drum mics can sound suprisingly good) and you might get a better result from a good dynamic than from a condenser.. my favorite for that kind of job is the old silver ex-BBC Beyer M88 I picked up second hand..
but if you've only got a '57 its still worth trying it: just record a DI signal aswell so you can blend the two together if needed, or lowpass filter the DI signal to add the missing bottom end.
but if you've only got a '57 its still worth trying it: just record a DI signal aswell so you can blend the two together if needed, or lowpass filter the DI signal to add the missing bottom end.
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Or SansAmp. There's a bass model, but even the one for 'guitar' pulls off a very impressive SVT sound, from the online soundclips I've heard.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 488 posts since 2 Mar, 2004
Timmyo/Lunch...
Sure but I didn't really want to spend any money on this (correction I want to spend as little as possible) and was hoping to be able to get the sound I want with some free plugins... I'll play around with this again tonight...
Sure but I didn't really want to spend any money on this (correction I want to spend as little as possible) and was hoping to be able to get the sound I want with some free plugins... I'll play around with this again tonight...
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flanneljammies flanneljammies https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=19969
- KVRist
- 462 posts since 5 Apr, 2004 from Madison WI
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- KVRist
- 164 posts since 3 Apr, 2005 from Roanoke, VA
I would agree that Blockfish is a nice VST for bass; also, I'd encourage recording a DI/mic combo if you can. Way back when dinosaurs ruled the earth & I was an intern at a recording studio, 
we used to do this: DI between the guitar & the amp input, DI between the amp out & speaker cab (you have to use a DI that will handle this much power, BTW) and then a large diaphragm mic on the speaker, which was in an isolated booth. Some combination of this would usually get what they were after, for all kinds of music.
Go ahead & try whatever mic you have, & don't worry so much about the noise - or stick the speaker in a closet, or shield the mic from behind with something to minimize the noise. Record this, along with the output from your preamp & see what you get. If you have the tracks, try some of what I described above too, like a DI straight from the guitar along with the other signals. Then, play to the strengths of each track: if it has good bottom but lacks high-end articulation, then use that for your bottom-end & add in the highs from the other track(s) - you can exagerrate the sounds on individual tracks, and mix them to get the good blend.
we used to do this: DI between the guitar & the amp input, DI between the amp out & speaker cab (you have to use a DI that will handle this much power, BTW) and then a large diaphragm mic on the speaker, which was in an isolated booth. Some combination of this would usually get what they were after, for all kinds of music. Go ahead & try whatever mic you have, & don't worry so much about the noise - or stick the speaker in a closet, or shield the mic from behind with something to minimize the noise. Record this, along with the output from your preamp & see what you get. If you have the tracks, try some of what I described above too, like a DI straight from the guitar along with the other signals. Then, play to the strengths of each track: if it has good bottom but lacks high-end articulation, then use that for your bottom-end & add in the highs from the other track(s) - you can exagerrate the sounds on individual tracks, and mix them to get the good blend.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 488 posts since 2 Mar, 2004
The closest I've got to the sound I want has been with the following....
Blockfish--->TracktionEQ--->MDA Combo--->Baxxpander.
I have swapped MDACombo with JCM800 and the Rednef. I have also added Betabugs Crayon Filter set up as notch. The interesting thing is that with Crayon Filter I can get dial in a pretty good sound in certain parts of the tune but it falls apart in other. Thinking out loud here... If I were to automate some of the parameters here I might be able to get the right sound across the whole song... Part of the problem is that in certain parts of the song I am using a drop-d on th bass so the sound is getting pretty low... Hmmm... Maybe I should just forget about the drop-d and bring it up an octave!
Blockfish--->TracktionEQ--->MDA Combo--->Baxxpander.
I have swapped MDACombo with JCM800 and the Rednef. I have also added Betabugs Crayon Filter set up as notch. The interesting thing is that with Crayon Filter I can get dial in a pretty good sound in certain parts of the tune but it falls apart in other. Thinking out loud here... If I were to automate some of the parameters here I might be able to get the right sound across the whole song... Part of the problem is that in certain parts of the song I am using a drop-d on th bass so the sound is getting pretty low... Hmmm... Maybe I should just forget about the drop-d and bring it up an octave!