What do I need to record bass?

[Aenema]

I'm new to recording and met a local producer who needs bass tracks for all styles of music. Is a unit with compression, a noise gate, and DI good enough to record with?

Also will the noise gate cancel out the hiss from my pick ups?

[topper]

Noise gate will cancel hiss while you're not playing but won't filter it out when you are. A gate is either open or closed.

Any producer or studio engineer you work with ought to add effects including noise gate, compression etc. after you lay down the tracks.

You should just show up with your bass.

[lambro]

if you are going to a studio ask them what gear they already have

you should have a good DI at minimum, I like Radial JDI passive, but they likely have mic pre with a nice DI already

do they want to mic a cabinet as well? if so wos amp and cabinet?

forget about the noise gate

hum from hyour pickups/ what kind of bass & PU?

[Sir Edward V]

I agree with them. I have never done any professional recording, but my understanding is to just show up with your bass and amp unless the specifically request something, they should have everything else that they want to use. I would say just to make sure, you should call them before and ask if there is anything else they want you to bring, this way you make sure you have everything. I don't know if you have an effect board but if it were me I would bring mine, but leave it in the car and bring it out if it seams they need something.

[rrr_o_bbb]

Just a DI, and as others have said, the studio should have a decent one on hand. I have a fairly inexpensive Studio Logic (~ $150) that works fantastic with any decent bass. I used to use compressors, tube preamps, Bass Pod Pro, etc. DI has been best so far, process after a decent take is captured.

[Rattman]

When I lay down bass tracks vs. guitar in the studio, all I have to bring with me is a Boss GT-3 which I use for a very clean EQ boost, a robust, well-made instrument cable and the bass of course. Our Producer does the rest with his audio mixer and his Cakewalk recording software. I can't see any use for either a noise gate or a compressor IMO.

[Hphazard]

Avalon U5.

Nuff said.

[Aenema]

Im using a schecter gryphon 4. It has the diamond series pickups. The hiss stops when I turn the treble all the way down. Can the slight fret click be EQ'ed out? Is that from high mid?

[Nick Kay]

Fret click is around 2-3kHz, so yeah, high mids. It can be EQ'd out, but good technique and a good setup results in minimal fret clank except when you really dig in.

Try to isolate the source of noise from your bass before you go into a session. If it's because of poor quality electronics, it might be a good idea to replace what you can before you go in.

Back on the topic at hand, I like to have a DI and that's about it when I go in to record, because my tone doesn't really call for a lot of rig-based colouration. Effects, EQ, distortion, amp modelling, whatever, all of that can be done later, and it's better to leave those decision to the engineer and producer, in this situation. If possible, bring a few different basses in. Last time I went in to record bass for someone else, I brought an old Stingray and an active PJ with flats. Lots of versatility there.

[jar240]

Bass -> Ampex 350 -> Pultec EQP-1A (if money's no object).

Seriously, bring these always -- keep them in your gig bag:
- a good set of flatwound strings that have already been broken in (buy used)
- a 3/4" x 3/4" x 4" piece of closed-cell foam, like the heavy-duty black stuff used for weatherstripping (to use under the strings near the bridge for a more upright-like tone)
- a quality 10' patch cable
- a couple of rigid felt picks of different thicknesses
- big ears

And maybe either of these if you can afford them:
- Avalon U5 preamp/DI, as Hphazard says (~$500 used), OR
- Groove Tubes The Brick preamp/DI (~$320 used)
- Countryman type 85 active DI (~$120 used)

Hum/noise reduction strategy:
Have your bass fully shielded for EMF using adhesive copper tape. You can do this yourself for about $10, or have a pro do it for you. This can make a big difference, especially using a Jazz bass.

A great book:
Studio Bass Masters (check your local library)

If the studio has really good preamps Avalon, Neve, Manley, etc., you really only need the things in the first list. If it's more of a home studio, definitely get either the U5 or Grove Tubes The Brick (or other high-quality preamp/DI).

And lastly...
Have fun, and try to relax while you're there!

Chris

[bikeplate]

Hi

Id check with the producer. Ask him how he likes to record. He might already have a formula he prefers. You might only need to bring your bass.

Does the bass hum because of single coils pickups? If so, you might want to consider installing a hum cancelling set. Most companies offer them and they sound great.

Again, check with him. Im sure he has good cables, a great DI, etc.

Rob

[phatbass30]

last week a got a call from a friend, a drummer of a popular band here. we laid down 2 tracks in a studio with an upcoming band here. i just brought with me my sadowsky ms5 and let the engineer do all the rest of the job. i also brought with me my fulltone bassdrive just in case but we didn't use it. i went straight to the mixing board, no amps. i was really surprise with the outcome, it sounded beautiful.

i think the most important things in recording are:

a very good bass guitar (fresh strings if possible)

a good sense of taste depending on what kind of music you gonna record (be ready with what the producer wants!)

a good sense of touch, i dig heavy when i play live but in the studio i played light to stay away from those fret buzz. the rest is the engineers job. hope this helped!