How do you record your bass?

Rufes · #1 08-29-2012, 03:06 PM

I am start to record my new album and this time I want to record it at home, no more at the studio.

What would you recommend me to use for recording my bass?

Somebody heavily suggested me the Avalon U5 but I think Jaco recorded everything with just the cable and the bass so I don't know if I really need it. Would it be enough if I just plug the bass to the audio interface? (Edirol UA25 --> Logic Studio)

I will record something similar to the late Jeff Beck, Michael Landau.... everything with my '68 Jazzbass.

Thanks guys!

4StringShooter · #2 08-29-2012, 04:08 PM

Directly into my Boss BR8, no effects.

robbotbass · #3 08-29-2012, 04:10 PM

Avalon is a great way. lots of guys like the SansAmp stuff. They have a plugin for protools as well you could just use an RBI or RPM or paradriver or BDDI.

I've done both of these and was pleased with both!

dincz · #4 08-30-2012, 09:40 AM

Straight into the UA25 should be fine - but make sure you select high impedance.

darren1970 · #5 08-30-2012, 11:36 AM

I have an old Johnson J-Station Amp simulator.

This plugged direct into my digital recording gear sounds pretty decent.

nick98338 · #6 08-30-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rufes

I am start to record my new album and this time I want to record it at home, no more at the studio.

What would you recommend me to use for recording my bass?

Thanks guys!

I go Bass -> Eden WTDI -> Audio Interface

hazmatt · #7 09-03-2012, 01:35 PM

i use the balanced line out (post-eq) on my markbass amp straight into my mixer/digital interface. sometimes i add a compressor up front or in chain between amp and mixer.

prd004 · #8 09-03-2012, 01:47 PM

My bass goes into my BSS-Audio AR-133 DI where it gets split.
The direct out into Focusrite Track Master and into my DAW
The through goes into my Ampeg B-100R mic'd with an AKG C414 about 2-1/2 to 3 feet away into a tube pre
Bliss!!!!! I need to do this more often, it's been a while!

Profania_bass · #9 09-03-2012, 02:01 PM

Warwick Corvette > Line 6 UX1 > Macbook pro running Logic/Reason. Sounds awesome :-) use cab modeling from Line 6 unless I'm at the rehearsal room then there's my svt4 pro and 8x10 cab through an sm57 before it gets to the UX1 :-)

sonic assassin · #10 09-03-2012, 10:46 PM

at home i just run it DI into my firepod then use a logic amp sim. when it matters, i'll throw up a 421 and maybe run a split to an overdriven guitar amp

KingRazor · #11 09-03-2012, 10:57 PM

P-bass straight into my M-audio FastTrack Pro.

Kupoback · #12 09-04-2012, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

P-bass straight into my M-audio FastTrack Pro.

I'm using the same interface, not Pro, but just Fast Track. I'm trying to figure out how I can listen to myself as I'm playing instead of just sitting here thinking I can hear it until play back. Maybe there's something I'm missing? I'm using Audacity.

thumbknuckle · #13 09-04-2012, 09:13 AM

As much as possible I record the bass, as well as the rest of the band, all together with a pair of modded Oktava 219s. I'll blend in some spot mics if I'm not getting what I want out of the stereo pair.

This:

http://soundcloud.com/robert-edge/thumbknuckle001-1

is 90% the Oktava's with a little bit of AT4033 on the bass amp, a smidge of RE20 on the guitar amp, and a fair amount of D112 about 2 feet in front of the kick drum. No compression, a little bit of channel EQ on the spot mics. Mixed on a cheap analog board (Soundcraft LX7). Nice big room in an old factory building.

My interface is an M Audio Delta 1010, using the direct outs on the Soundcraft for preamps. DAW is Ardour on a Linux machine.

Sounds pretty much like what we actually sound like.

Biggbass · #14 09-04-2012, 09:16 AM

I use a Line 6 Bass Pod in the studio.

Mushroo · #15 09-04-2012, 09:17 AM

Straight to the DI/audio interface for me.
Depends on the sound you're going for obviously--some players prefer to mic a cab for example.

jg42 · #16 09-04-2012, 09:25 AM

depends on music/desired tone I guess.
usually sansamp RBI or line out from AMPEG BA-108 - either goes to dbx386 and then to computer via SPDI/F.

KingRazor · #17 09-04-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kupoback

I'm using the same interface, not Pro, but just Fast Track. I'm trying to figure out how I can listen to myself as I'm playing instead of just sitting here thinking I can hear it until play back. Maybe there's something I'm missing? I'm using Audacity.

That's what the "mix" knob is for. Turn it one way for playback only, the other for monitoring yourself only, or in the middle for both. I leave it in the middle if I'm playing along to a pre-recorded track so I can hear the original recording and my own playing at the same time.

jmattis · #18 09-04-2012, 01:36 PM

I've been really happy with my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. They're around $150, but sound really nice, much better so that the old mboxes.

Kupoback · #19 09-05-2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

That's what the "mix" knob is for. Turn it one way for playback only, the other for monitoring yourself only, or in the middle for both. I leave it in the middle if I'm playing along to a pre-recorded track so I can hear the original recording and my own playing at the same time.

Yeah, I've messed with that but I get nothing out of it.

Unrepresented · #20 09-05-2012, 08:41 AM

Nothing goes direct except the scratch tracks for me.

For our upcoming album, everything was recorded with two parallel amp rigs: one for "clean" the other for "effected" tone.

We put five mics between the two, and blended the signals in the mix for the desired tone for each song.

Overkill? Almost certainly, but my doesn't come straight out of the bass.