Let's discuss Recording Techniques for Bass Guitar.

[simmerdown]

+1 for proper gain staging ...(DI)

just went and looked gainstaging up...which i was doing without knowing the name...the vid i just saw was saying to max out the master at -10...i had been doing -6...but, what would be a good max on the bass track itself? i think i had been recording a bit high....

[3dot...]

-10db peaks are acceptable..good for bass...and in general...
doesn't really matter..just don't clip on the input..

[Tone Deft]

before I record bass I turn off the monitors, put on headphones and enable the mic. then I set all my controls to off and twiddle them through their ranges while talking into the microphone. I go through all the combinations that sound good then I listen to the recording. what I don't do is mark the controls where the sweet spot is or write it down. probably because at that point I just want to play.

-10db peaks are acceptable..good for bass...and in general...

has to be at least -100dB!!

(I kid, I kid...)

[H20nly]

i'm no professional, but i just plug straight into my interface and enable record and hit play. i treat the bass afterward.

i've tried different things like adding effects or compression at the input, but i've found that once i find the sweet spot (least line noise) for my volume on the bass and the gain on the mixer the rest is just a matter of having fun with the recording. when you add a lot of variables it becomes difficult to identify issues and their causes so i go for the cleanest recording i can get first and foremost these days.

[Tone Deft]

^one piece of advice I heard that a recording engineer said, record everything with the tone controls wide open. after recording use EQ to get the tone just right. I don't do that because I'm not at that guy's level with mastering, but it's an interesting philosophy. I also just plug straight into the pre-amp section of my sound card, sometimes through a EH bass synth.

[shuutobi]

If you don't have proper environment and mics to record bass...
Stick your bass into one of these (without any active EQ crap), then add some speaker emulation, dirt, EQ and compression to taste...

[simmerdown]

^^^ that is how ive been approaching it (back to H2Os post)...mic'ing amp, preamp, always seem to add more shizz in the mix, so, probably a problem with how i had it set up...so i go direct for the most part, no nothin in between bass and Live, and im able to get a very clean signal, but the rhinofart tone of it is become tiresome..which is why was asking about fav fx chains ppl use

someone suggested i change out the pickup from the stock schecters to some EMGs

thx for the gainstaging clarification...i wasnt too far off w that

that avalon box seems killer, but that is just not in the cards $ wise...something for the wishlist though, swank

[shuutobi]

Any decent passive DI will do, along with a clean A/D...
I don't have the cash for one either, but I've used that (With the 1,2,and 3 settings) and a AD2022 in some studios before, and they definitely give your bass some "magical" weight from the start.

Can't go wrong with a Radial ProDI though. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProDI/


My Schecter Stilleto "Custom-5" has some of the low end passive EMGs, and I think they are just fine, as long as you don't use the active EQ to boost anything.
Here is my dream bass though, and can't find one "exactly" like it in stores... I'd have to custom order it.

[stringtapper]

Can't go wrong with a Radial ProDI though. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProDI/

This is what I use. Works great on my passive and active basses.

[masterblasterofdisaster]

Here's some discussion on active versus passive DIs:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/geekslut ... boxes.html

edit:

FWIW, all of my basses but one have active pups w/ onboard preamps.
Just put a set of Bartolinis (passive pups), and an Aguilar preamp in my 6 string, and the setup does sound nice to my ear.
I just go straight into a preamped channel on my audio interface, no DI required.
If anything, I need to be careful not to saturate the input.

[simmerdown]

good links! made some headway bc of this thread

[masterblasterofdisaster]

Here's my rig:
Schecter Stiletto (w/ active EQ) or a Fender P
Ampeg SVT-AV
2x10"
1x15"

I usually go straight into the amp, no pedals. Crank the gain, low at 12:00, mid at 3:00, high at 9:00.
On the basses, I usually keep the tone pretty neutral.
1 SM57 a few inches away from the edge of the 10", and another a few inches away from the 15".
I also run another line direct just in case, but usually don't use it unless there's a freq that's missing in the mics.

That's for a loud punk/rock sound in my band. For my solo edm stuff I like to make it not so grungy, and boost the low just to add depth to synth bass.

I've tried just going direct and using amp sims, but it's always missing that... edge... that a mic'ed SVT has!

I miss playing through my rig. There is nothing that beats pushing a lot of air and really feeling it. Maybe I need to get away from the computer.

[Sepp Ultura]

i always try to get as many sources as possible, so when recording bass i DI and mic the amp(and if there is a DI out on the amp that is post preamp, i'd tap that too)

^ That.

There's just nothing more beautiful than a proper amp miked withe some decent miks. And then I also get some DIs, preferably dry from the bass itself and from the amp, post amp/eq. A nice room mike is also nice to get some room in. I've just recorded the bass for our record and I ended up with a total of 6 tracks per take..

[Pasha]

What kind of bass do you have and what is the brand of the electronics in it, Pasha?

Just curious. I've never come across a bass that has a active/passive switch described as active/Full Range.

I've been using the Mark Bass amp and cabinet simulator plugin. While I have issues with some of the interface, it's been useful for quickly getting good tones.
I think GK makes a plugin as well. Anyway, this is assuming everything else is working ideally, of course. Like some others have suggested, I would check for an impedance mismatch which can dramatically thin out your tone. Also, don't discount the possibility that your bass preamp is fried, or that it needs a fresh battery (yes, I've forgotten more than I care to admit. ahaha.).

I am sorry I did not put those info in the thread from the start!

I have a Cort Curbow with Bartolini Pickup and Active (powered by a 9V battery) circuitry.

http://www.cortguitars.com/_webapp_4134767/Curbow41#

PICKUPS: Bartolini Active MK1-4
ELECTRONICS: Bartolini MK-2 EQ w/ slap switch

When The Slap Switch is on the signal actually bypasses the Active EQ and sound has more punch and roundness
and brilliance resembling some of the famous Mark King L42 sound..
Conversely when the switch is off the EQ is active and your Equalization (cut or boost) is inserted into the signal path. Overall the Bass does not work without the 9V Battery. I have checked with the reseller and the Bass is ok. Works as expected. What's strange is that if I switch the EQ on with center position for all knobs the sound has
less punch and roundness than the Slap position on, that's why I call the latter 'Full Range'.

So when I record as I play live (with EQ on to shape my sound) I tend to cut slightly the high freq and the middle freq to get that extra bass sound with a cut in the MID range.
However when I go mixing it, it drowns in the mud. When I use the slap switch (and not slapping) the sound can stand in the mix with no further intervention. In Live I add the 1976 Compressor preset and adjust to taste.

My signal path is Bass->Mixer (Instrument input)->Audio Card

- Best
- Pasha

[Pasha]

^one piece of advice I heard that a recording engineer said, record everything with the tone controls wide open. after recording use EQ to get the tone just right. I don't do that because I'm not at that guy's level with mastering, but it's an interesting philosophy. I also just plug straight into the pre-amp section of my sound card, sometimes through a EH bass synth.

Hi TD!
That is what seems to be my self learning experience...