Best Setup for recording through computer

sigmafloyd · #1 05-02-2011, 08:32 AM

Most of my playing today is relegated to headphones due to having a baby and apartment living. I'm looking for a nice setup to run my Bass into my MacBook Pro that still gives me options to EQ the sound (i.e. something a step beyond a generic usb audio interface). Suggestions?

Thanks

Toolmybass · #2 05-02-2011, 08:36 AM

I use a Digidesign Mbox Pro with my MacBook Pro and its great. I dont know if its considered "generic" or not.

Are you going to need 3 or more inputs for your playing/listening?

JWHALL · #3 05-02-2011, 09:21 AM

Apogee Duet or One, depending on your needs. The preamp is awesom, the converter is awesome; use GarageBand or Logic or whatever to EQ your stuff.

sigmafloyd · #4 05-02-2011, 10:01 AM

That apogee looks nice but pretty expensive. I was more thinking of something like the Tone Hammer, but I guess I would need to go Bass > Tone Hammer > Audio Interface

jbednarski · #5 05-02-2011, 10:04 AM

Seriously, I saved and got the Apogee Duet, there's nothing better.

fleabee · #6 05-02-2011, 10:05 AM

Apogee is really good stuff

BrianVengeance · #7 05-02-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

That apogee looks nice but pretty expensive. I was more thinking of something like the Tone Hammer, but I guess I would need to go Bass > Tone Hammer > Audio Interface

If you're considering spending $200 on a Tone Hammer, you should still also consider saving for the Apogee as well. For the money, you can't beat their AD converters and the integration with Logic / Garageband will make setup and usage much less painful.

longfinger · #8 05-02-2011, 10:25 AM

The EQ and sound shaping will all happen on the computer through software. For recording that is ideal, but for practicing, sometimes there is latency. So a strong choice is a interface card that has an analog through pass as well. This way you get one bass signal passing through the interface directly to your head phones without going to the computer, and then a few ms later the other bass signal coming from the computer with the sound shaping.

Though, have you tried just plugging the bass directly into the sound in port on the MBP, using the right adapters? It can work for some basses and people.

Stand alone boxes like the Tonehammer are unnecessary to combine with a laptop setup for options to EQ the sound as there will be redundancy in the tone shaping. With boxes like that you don't need the laptop and audio interface to practice, and similarly with the laptop and audio interface, you won't need external boxes with sound shaping options.

JWHALL · #9 05-02-2011, 03:31 PM

I've only had great results with Apogee Duet. I've used it in Logic and GarageBand with my MacBook Pro. I've had my bass in one input, a guitar in the other, a keyboard with USB midi running a Native Instruments B4 Organ, and GarageBand drums all recording at the same time--no latency issues. I've recorded two track (stereo) choir and organ with AKG C414s into the Duet and got a sound like you'd find on any major classical label. My brother owns an Apogee One and is daily blown away by the sound.

silky smoove · #10 05-02-2011, 03:54 PM

Yet another vote for the Apogee Duet or One. I use a Duet for doing mobile studio work and it's never let me down.

Calaverasgrande · #11 05-02-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

Most of my playing today is relegated to headphones due to having a baby and apartment living. I'm looking for a nice setup to run my Bass into my MacBook Pro that still gives me options to EQ the sound (i.e. something a step beyond a generic usb audio interface). Suggestions?

Thanks

On teh Mac side there are only two companies you should be thinking about. MOTU and Apogee. They both have solid drivers, decent user interface and sound quality. MOTU is cheaper, Apogee is better.
It sounds like you are not asking about a computer digital audio interface, even if your question seems to be phrased that way.
The answer is that while the macbook pro has very good audio quality for a laptop, it is still not very good when it comes to headroom and impedance vis a vis bass guitar.
You can use a box like a Radial JDI to shift the impedance and level of the bass guitar or you can buy a simple digital converter and make your eq and compression choices in the computer realm.
The MOTU boxes take a thrid path and provide onboard effects in some of their boxes. The 828MKIII and a few others have EQ, reverb etc built in. I believe there are some focurite interfaces that have EQ and such as well.

Also, if you do pick up an interface, check to make sure that it has an instrumetn level jack, and not just line level. There is a difference even if the plugs look the same.

Gaetano Paul · #12 05-02-2011, 04:34 PM

How bout that ampeg software? Anyone ever tried that?

John Wentzien · #13 05-02-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaetano Paul

How bout that ampeg software? Anyone ever tried that?

Yes...pretty darn good stuff!
I'm happy with my M-Audio MobilePre...it has a button for direct monitor ... no latency issues

edit..and Cheap!

ryano · #14 05-02-2011, 05:03 PM

Funny I just started heading down this road. I downloaded the free version of Amplitube. It's a pretty nice SW package with virtual effects as well as amp and cab modeling. It functions as a stand alone application and also works as a plugin to GarageBand.

So far I've been running a guitar straight into the Mac's audio input (1/8 inch adapter). Sounds pretty good even through the Macs little speakers.

So my next test is to put a USB/Firewire interface between the guitar and computer. That way I can go guitar -> interface -> Amplitube -> (back to) interface -> amp. My worry here is latency. If the latency is low, this may be my new setup. If I really like it I may spring for an Apogee One as the interface. I hear nothing but good things about them.

I'm really hoping this works well. It would be nice to have all the recording SW and virtual effects on my MBP.

There is also an effects store that you can launch through Amplitube. They let you buy effects/cabs/amps/mics/rack units ala carte. Like the app store for effects. You can even sample the effects for a day or two. Pretty slick.

I should have mentioned if you have a MBP with separate audio input output, you may like the sound well enough to skip the interface.

sigmafloyd · #15 05-02-2011, 09:41 PM

I guess my big fear is that all the tone is coming from software modeling. I have a fender mustang amp that I play my guitar through and just get really sick of the sound. The apogee looks great, but then aren't you still left with the amp simulators to control the sound?

Does anyone run an amp head into the audio interface after the effects loop and just record what is coming in? That seems like the best of both worlds because I could then buy a cabinet and a get the same sound live. Of course this would be extra expensive.

John Wentzien · #16 05-02-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

I guess my big fear is that all the tone is coming from software modeling. I have a fender mustang amp that I play my guitar through and just get really sick of the sound. The apogee looks great, but then aren't you still left with the amp simulators to control the sound?

Does anyone run an amp head into the audio interface after the effects loop and just record what is coming in? That seems like the best of both worlds because I could then buy a cabinet and a get the same sound live. Of course this would be extra expensive.

My TC RH450 has a great headphone amp built-in...sound is fantastic!
the DI has a jensen transformer in it...best I've heard.
I use it in all of my Pro recording sessions.
Its absolutely great sounding from the DI to my M Audio interface when I record at home.

Calaverasgrande · #17 05-02-2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

I guess my big fear is that all the tone is coming from software modeling. I have a fender mustang amp that I play my guitar through and just get really sick of the sound. The apogee looks great, but then aren't you still left with the amp simulators to control the sound?

Does anyone run an amp head into the audio interface after the effects loop and just record what is coming in? That seems like the best of both worlds because I could then buy a cabinet and a get the same sound live. Of course this would be extra expensive.

I have tried that with every amp I have ever owned and while it may sound okay, it never sounds great. I would rather mic an amp to get the amp sound, or run a straight DI box to get the bass sound.

JPSBassist · #18 05-02-2011, 11:19 PM

I have a $50 Behringer USB to guitar interface for my tablet and my laptop. It's a little white box about the size of an old flip-type cell phone.

It has one guitar jack input, a headphone jack and volume control for the headphones and an impedence switch for high and low. It has a clipping/blow-out warning light for the levels. Best $50 I ever spent.

I have an M-Audio interface that honestly doesn't sound any better at 5x the cost.

It came with a "lite" version of Native Instruments GuitarRig.
I've since upgraded to GuitarRig4 Pro...

And I use it 95% of the time. I can record, etc... create my own sounds from the dozens of amps/heads/effects, etc... save presets and even better... pull in songs and play them inside GuitarRig while playing along "live" and recording a new bass (or guitar) track.

Add in the tuner feature (which is pretty good) and a bunch of free settings you can download from bassists such as Justin Meldal-Johnsen, etc... and it's really, really powerful.
---------------------

BTW: I have a Boss ME-50B and an AMPEG SVT-450 head that I can pre-amp into this input and record "clean" from using Pro-Tools or SoundForge (I have both PCs and Macs in my office)/ And that sound is what you would expect from an expensive pre-amp and effects modeller.

I've honestly found that to make a digital sound recording in Pro-Tools or in SoundForge, I can get the same tonal quality and range using the GuitarRig4 Pro interface and software as I can using the Pre-Amp, pedal box and M-Audio box.

The difference isn't when I play what has been recorded through either method... the difference is what I play it through to hear it... meaning computer speakers/headphones can never sound as good as a true amp. But run that amp into the computer and take away the "real-world" output through my 410 cab and you get the same sound quality (recorded and coming through the computer speakers or headphones)... if that makes any sense.

R Baer · #19 05-02-2011, 11:28 PM

I'm using an E-MU 0404 USB into my MacBook Pro with good results. The mic pres in the E-Mu sound really good with bass, as long as you don't push them too hard. I run through my Demeter Compulator first and then into the E-MU. Also has good headphone monitoring and no detectable latency, as far as I can tell.

E-MU Systems - 0404 USB 2.0 - USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface

Calaverasgrande · #20 05-02-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

I have a $50 Behringer USB to guitar interface for my tablet and my laptop. It's a little white box about the size of an old flip-type cell phone.

I have an M-Audio interface that honestly doesn't sound any better at 5x the cost.

Maudio makes decent midi gear (used to be called Midiman actually!) But they have rarely been lauded for the sound quality of their gear. Heck, their big brother Digidesign gets dissed for audio quality all the time, and that stuff costs way more than the maudio stuff!

Actually some of the best stuff you can buy right now is Black Lion Audio. They do not make an audio interface but they do make Mic Pres and AD converters.