Bass Guitar Recording tips please

PeterWright wrote on 6/10/2004, 11:57 PM
I have just finished recording and mixing 3 songs in Vegas, and one thing I would like to do is get a better Bass Guitar sound.

I am recording through an MAudio Quattro USB sound card.

I have tried Line in (through Behringer MX802A) and miked amp, and so far it's been "medium", and I'd like to crisp it up.

So, do you favour Line in or Amp/Mic? Or a bit of both?

If Line in:
- what settings on mixer EQ - what order to set gain/volume on mixer, including guitar controls,

If you use Amp and Mic:
How to make the best Bass/Treble control, Master or Channel Volume settings,

How do you minimise amp hum? (I have a Fender valve amp)

How far away do you put the mic? (I have a Rode NT1 and a Shure SM58)


Questions after recording:

What do you do to Bass guitar after recording it? - I'm after a warm but crisp sound (to go with a spunky Aussie acoustic six string called a Fat Lady, by Cole Clark)

Compression ? If so, which setting - which preset is closest ...

EQ - how do you go about setting this for bass guitar?

Any other FX? Please describe their effects.

(Incidentally - the Bass is a Vantage VS650B)

Thanks for any ideas to throw into the pot.

Hopefully the responses will be of interest to a few.

Thanks

Peter

[for more on Cole Clark's wonderful guitars: http://www.coleclarkguitars.com/
.... the Fat Lady is the Cutaway in the centre ]

Comments

heinz3110 wrote on 6/11/2004, 2:03 AM
>>have tried Line in (through Behringer MX802A) and miked amp, and so far it's been "medium", and I'd like to crisp it up..So, do you favour Line in or Amp/Mic? Or a bit of both?<<

Problem is,the line in is (often)not matched to the impedance of the bassguitar,so this can result in a somewhat "duller"recording..For direct recording you can try an
-Bassguitar -> DI box ->line in MX802A, or
-Bassguitar -> Bass Amp with line out -> line in MX802A or,
-Bassguitar -> (bass-)guitar fx processor->mx802a

..I use the latter (fwiw).I made a couple of presets:one pretty dry (just for "impedance matching",thus getting a more "ballsier" sound compared to direct-line in)) and one with some extra brightness in it.

Works for me...this way(or method #1,even better,actually) the bass does fit easier in the mix while recorded(and played back),making adjustments on eq easier afterwards.

After I recorded the bass I rolloff some lows,add compression(or not,depends on the song and how even/uneven my attack was),tweak the eq a little,but it all depends(for me anyway) what kind of song it is,which instruments are clashing frequency-wise ,etc.
.
YMMV,ofcourse.I reckon there are more ways to tackle this,and I'm sure other people here sure have valuable tips to share!




PeterVred wrote on 6/11/2004, 4:39 AM
i have owned an 802, and the EQ is extremely grainy, not good for bass.
i now have a ub2442fx and it is somewhat better, but it ain't no mackie.
however i like the small footprint on my desk.

back to bass-ics. i use a line 6 bass pod, it's expensive ($400 new) but has tons of usable presets for bass. i got mine w/a rebate for $100. highly recommended as an easy fix, bass players like toying with it too.
Cold wrote on 6/11/2004, 10:21 AM
Bass => DI => Preamp => AD converter
I use this as a primary bass sound, using different DI boxes and preamps for different tones. The pre in your berhinger may not be adequate for the sound you want. Active DI's also tend to sound brighter than passive DI's.
If you love the tone of your bass, take the above route, if the bass is passable but no more, try some of the moddelling boxes.
As a secondary sound mic up your bass cab with the large diaphram mic (back at least a foot, I normally go 2 or 3, but it depends on the sound of your room) and use this to reinforce the sound from the DI chain. Be carefull of phase issues, and perhaps realign the mic track to the DI track post recording to maintain phase coherency.
You could also record the DI track first then send it out to the amp from vegas, mic the amp output, phase align post recording.
These , of course, are simply suggestions, there are many ways to skin this particular cat.
Steve S.
PeterWright wrote on 6/11/2004, 6:27 PM
Thanks for the ideas guys. I'll be trying them out tomorrow.

I also have an MAudio Audio Buddy preamp box, so I shall try that instead of the Behringer and see if a better sound comes through.

I'll also try Guitar > Audio Buddy > Behringer > Quattro

Thanks again

Peter