How would one go about setting up a stereo rig?

Cygnusx2112 · #1 12-22-2007, 11:26 PM

Alright, Chris Wolstenholme from Muse uses a lot of effects on his bass and a lot of them are in stereo (if not all.) I would like to run a set up like this where I could put effects in at any balance in the stereo feild. Is this possible? I know that I can do it with Guitard Rig 2 and it sounds really neat, but it's software based and im a bit leery of that. I would prefer hardware any day over software.

I'm assuming that I would need an amp (or amps?) with two or more inputs right? Where would you go from there. From the ground up pretty much, if it's possible.

Thank you guys very much in advance!
Trav

canshaker · #2 12-22-2007, 11:29 PM

2 amps (for best results, one on each side of the stage.)

Cygnusx2112 · #3 12-22-2007, 11:46 PM

Yeah, I was actually referring to a set up in stereo for recording, and DI if possible (as in not miking cabs.) However, that is a good idea!

thombo · #4 12-23-2007, 12:01 AM

well, a quick search for "Chris Wolstenholme gear" led me to this...
http://www.musewiki.org/Bass
effects like line 6 delay modeler, radial bassbone, and the boss cbe-3 will give you a stereo signal. two amps/di's are a must.
there are many ways to get a stereo sound in a studio... talk to your producer.

Cygnusx2112 · #5 12-23-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thombo

well, a quick search for "Chris Wolstenholme gear" led me to this...
there are many ways to get a stereo sound in a studio... talk to your producer.

I'm my own producer!

I'm doing records (basically just covers of songs with my vocals and bass) from home, with almost pro results, because I some of the tricks to recording and mastering. And I mean some, im no pro by any standards, but I know a good mix when I hear it. I've read a couple of things here and there on mastering and talked to a really cool producer guy as well.

Specifically, I would like to make a Big Fuzz go to the right, and a distortion in chorus or something nuts like that, to get close to the Hysteria sound Chris gets.

JanusZarate · #6 12-23-2007, 12:42 AM

Stereo can be a messy thing... most stereo effects pedals are stereo-out, but not stereo-in. That can complicate your setup. That doesn't bug most pro bassists, though - they usually have each channel doing something different anyway, so whether or not an effect is stereo isn't always that important. Wolstenholme is an example of this... one rig's being used for a clean tone, and another for most of his effects or overdrive. Both are mixed together for the final result.

All you need is a signal splitter (Y-box) after the bass to start your parallel effects chains into two separate rigs (read: two amps, each with its own cabinet), and some mixing magic at the board to bring it all together. You could mike each rig or use the amps' DI outputs, or a mix of both. Whatever you prefer!

Another approach would be using a DI box instead of a second amp, for just a clean bass tone by itself to run parallel to the effects and rig.

Just to warn you, Wolstenholme's "Hysteria" tone isn't just fuzz. It'd be worth reading a few threads here on that song in particular, just to get an idea of what can work well for that tone.

Cygnusx2112 · #7 12-23-2007, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Stereo can be a messy thing... most stereo effects pedals are stereo-out, but not stereo-in. That can complicate your setup. That doesn't bug most pro bassists, though - they usually have each channel doing something different anyway, so whether or not an effect is stereo isn't always that important. Wolstenholme is an example of this... one rig's being used for a clean tone, and another for most of his effects or overdrive. Both are mixed together for the final result.

All you need is a signal splitter (Y-box) after the bass to start your parallel effects chains into two separate rigs (read: two amps, each with its own cabinet), and some mixing magic at the board to bring it all together. You could mike each rig or use the amps' DI outputs, or a mix of both. Whatever you prefer!

Another approach would be using a DI box instead of a second amp, for just a clean bass tone by itself to run parallel to the effects and rig.

Just to warn you, Wolstenholme's "Hysteria" tone isn't just fuzz. It'd be worth reading a few threads here on that song in particular, just to get an idea of what can work well for that tone.

Thank you very much, Mystic Boo, for the load of info! Wicked, man!

thombo · #8 12-23-2007, 10:59 AM

i have no idea where you stand with this, so please excuse me if you already know this stuff.
no matter what method you use, it really comes down to having 2 tracks, and panning them hard right, and and hard left when mixing.

here is an example of how i did it using a sans amp bass driver di as my split:
bass
V
sans amp --(distorted signal)--> m-box
V
(un-effected signal)
V
alembic f-1x preamp --(clean signal)--> m-box

i have also used a line 6 delay modeler ping effect in stereo

bass -> line 6 ==two lines out==> di boxes ==> m-box

whether you are using an effect on the line 6 or not, you can add other effects into the chain so that one channel uses a big muff and the other channel is clean...
obviously, both channels would be effected by the line 6 if it were engaged...

you can also track one bass normal (di?), copy the track, and effect the tracks differently (w/ plugins or running it out and back in).
in the example above, the producer ran my tracked bass signal through a POD to get some different tones when needed.

Bofee · #9 12-23-2007, 11:21 AM

Record the bass dry (You always want to have that.) then bounce that track onto two other tracks, adding the effects you want.

Wren and Cuff · #10 12-23-2007, 11:27 AM

if you're talking recording, you can do it in a very easy way.

Split your signal using any stereo pedal in bypass. just run 1 di into your computer, I'll pretend it's an mbox. use a little compression to keep your levels under control, no need for a DI box. I use a ross-type compressor.

run the other line to your amp, put the fuzz on this track (my opinion). send it in to input #2 on your mbox.

obviously use two mono tracks.

record.

When you get your signals up, check them in mono to make sure there's no phasing. If you mute one track and things get louder, than you are phasing (I'm oversimplifying but thats a start). Invert the signal with a plug-in if it is phasing.

Now, put your fuzz track on a MONO delay plug-in. Set it to 100% wet.
set the delay time to very quick. way shorter than a slap-back, around 60ms if memory serves (experiment!). now pan the tracks L and R, about 80-80 is my preference.

Put a modler on your DI if you want, or EQ, more compression whatever.

your stereo field will be huge!

good luck,

matt