Laptop bass

bassybass · #1 03-09-2009, 10:42 AM

Hi Justin,
My SVX post leads me to this: I recall you mentioned using Mainstage in BP, and I've been toying with the idea of, for sessions away from my little home studio, going in with bass, DI, and laptop(for amp sims and effects) Of course, if using an amp is feasible I love it, but it's a rare occurrence for me---I usually end up at glorified project studios at very best.
I use Logic (just have never played with Mainstage yet) and have a respectable and clean-sounding portable firewire audio interface(will prolly get the Duet soon). I know there could be latency issues to deal with but that's always fixable I like to think. I know you've rocked just about every angle out there, so I was wondering if you ever do this approach, or if it's something you're seeing pop up more with bassists and guitarists.

Thanks!

jmjbassplayer · #2 03-09-2009, 05:04 PM

It's not particularly popping up more often yet in studios; people are still very much enjoying the natural organic richness of good amps, or even junky, bad amps. For NIN, we use mainstage for keys, I've been THINKING about using it for my bass and guitar rigs, and for now, have decided against it.

If you showed up on a Rick Rubin session with a laptop and a FireWire interface, you'd be sent packing. ;-) But on a project studio type thing, it can be cool sometimes.

It hasn't proven to be as reliable as we had hoped. We may still use it for some keys, but we are also going to start introducing more hardware back in.

Guitar and bass? The most virtual I will go in a live setting is a POD X3, though that's my backup. My main is a Sans PSA 1.1 and a 2 channel Palmer.

In the studio, I might take a POD to a project studio session, but to a real record? Not usually. We did that with Garbage, but other than that, with all other clients or records of my own, it's all about great amps and DI's. At home I use everything and everything: Sans Bass RBI, PSA 1.1, POD X3, numerous vintage amps, several different DI's, and Native Guitar Rig. Just depends on what it requires.

JMJ

bassybass · #3 03-09-2009, 07:38 PM

Thanks for the insights!
I can see how it's just not "there" yet, and never any match for the real deal. I tried the SVX demo--it IS pretty cool. I will probably get lots of use out of it on demos and stuff. But it's funny, I actually prefer the sound of my humble B100r with cheap mic slapped in front!

JimmyM · #4 03-09-2009, 09:08 PM

Dude, a B100R is about as close to a 60's B-15 as you can get these days. It's a hell of an amp, probably my favorite that they make these days. If I didn't have a couple B-15's already, I'd get one of them. I'll bet it would sound excellent mic'ed up.

jmjbassplayer · #5 03-10-2009, 12:48 AM

I got a B100R too - it's DOPE.

carlo3874 · #6 03-19-2009, 01:55 PM

Hello,

I have a B100R too! I have been using a Focusrite Saffire LE and Ampeg SVX to record, but after reading this thread I'm inspired to dropped a mic in front of my B100R.

What would be the best way to go about this? I have mic pre's on the Focusrite and a Shure sm57 & Audio Technica AT2020 condenser?

Thanks!

jmjbassplayer · #7 03-19-2009, 06:31 PM

Just listen to each mic and see what you think. 57 should sound great!