Low B into Tascam DP-008

[rydin4lifebass]

I'm finding that my Low B is hard to mix using my Tascam unit. The other strings come though fine but I have to keep the record level down, even with the trim level set accordingly. If I don't keep it down, it "buzzes" when recorded. I've adjusted the input sensitivity on low, medium, and high and use the guitar and mic/line inputs. Any suggestions to help the B string stay up in the mix without getting "fuzzy"?

[silky smoove]

Buzzes sounds like an instrument setup or technique issue.

Fuzzy sounds like something is being overdriven.

Can you be more specific, or provide an example?

[rydin4lifebass]

more fuzzy than anything. The instrument just had a set up and is playing well but it sounds like the recorder can't handle the low frequency. I can't turn the volume on the bass or the track volume down too much or you can't hear it at all..maybe just work to eq the bass track going in? I don't want to take too much of the low out or it kinda defeats the purpose.

[silky smoove]

Well, if it's not fret buzz on the low B from a poor setup, or an overly aggressive technique, and sounds "fuzzy," I'd suspect that you're overdriving the channel.

The fader, assuming the Tascam behaves like most consoles and DAW's, works after the signal hits the input. In other words, pulling down the fader control, which is what I assume you're doing, won't prevent the front end of the channel from clipping, only the output bus. I would try reducing the input gain (ie record at a lower level, or reduce the waveform in post) to remove the clipping, and that will allow you to bring the fader up and get more of the signal into the output bus.

If you can mix the bass on everything but that string, you might also need to consider compressing and EQ'ing to reduce the dynamic between the strings. If that's not desirable, you may have to physically play that string differently to make it work.