Need more midpunch for OD-ed bass, help?

d(r)umbass · #1 12-31-2008, 02:28 AM

So, my band is recording an EP on our own. So far, it's going really good, the drums turned out very well, now for the bass.

I am using the following: Peavey Cirrus 5 USA, Tech 21 Sansamp Programmable BDDI, Kustom Groove 1200 Head, Kustom Groove 410H and I run 3 channels: DI from the BDDI, Audix d6 on axis of one of the speakers about 21cm away from the grill and a Shure beta 57A as close as possible to the tweeter.

I'm having problems with my OD sound. I am aming at that Billy Gould drive/overdrive sounds - you know, the ripping your wallpaper sound

and I really get it in the room, it's there, but when recorded it's lacking those cutting through mids. Is it just the EQ-ing thing or should I use perhaps some other mic? I found the d6 to be pretty good for bass freqs, but severely lacking in the mids. Should I try adding the d4 maybe? Help please

Oh yeah, we did all the phase things

sonic assassin · #2 12-31-2008, 02:54 AM

the d6 is INCREDIBLY scooped. im not sure why the 57 is aimed at the tweeter.. but id aim it at the speaker cone and use it to add the mids back in. when mixing, id cut the lows and highs off, then use it as just a mid mic. it will sound awful by itself, but i imagine that it would sound alright with the other mic.

or you can try to add it in with the DI. the stuff you're likely looking for rests between 500hz and 2khz.

d(r)umbass · #3 12-31-2008, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

the d6 is INCREDIBLY scooped. im not sure why the 57 is aimed at the tweeter.. but id aim it at the speaker cone and use it to add the mids back in. when mixing, id cut the lows and highs off, then use it as just a mid mic. it will sound awful by itself, but i imagine that it would sound alright with the other mic.

or you can try to add it in with the DI. the stuff you're likely looking for rests between 500hz and 2khz.

Tnx a bunch, I'll try that. Concearning the 57, it really worked well with the tweeter - added the definition, but not in the harsh DI fashion. Anyways, I thought the d6 would give enough of the 'body' itself.... obviously NOT

sonic assassin · #4 12-31-2008, 04:03 AM

well the d6 will give you oomph. tons of low end in those little guys. but it will come BACK up likely somewhere between 2 and 6khz, because it was designed for kicks, and it was designed for metal, and thats what people want to hear in a metal kick.

personally, i prefer a 421 because the scoop isnt as heavy. i also crank my high mid something fierce to get a lot of bite.

as for your tweeter.. well do you really need that track? im sure it sounds good to you, but do you think it will actually be heard in the track? if its really worth saving, find another dynamic mic and get it.

or... get a good condenser and put it a few feet back. you'll likely get a sound that is a lot more natural. do you listen to your amp 3 inches away? you said yourself that you get a good sound in the room, so mic the room. you dont have to use a ton of it in the mix, but a little bit would likely go a LONG way.

d(r)umbass · #5 12-31-2008, 05:19 AM

Mah, the tweeter thing was really just an experiment (it turned out OK, though) and I probably won't insist on it. I'll fiddle around a bit with the beta positions. What's your opinion on d4?
And I will definitely try with the room mic, thanks again. I think we have an SE condenser somewhere...

Yup, it's the SE2200A

sonic assassin · #6 12-31-2008, 08:04 AM

ive not messed with much of the audix stuff. i heard the i5, and TBH, it wasnt much better than a 57. i have never used the D6, but ive heard it, and ive seen the frequency response charts, and ive talked to a lot of engineers who will attest to it being a VERY scooped mic for very aggressive modern kicks. so ive not used the D4.

the SE appears to have pretty flat response. doesnt seem to be very hyped in the highs like a lot of condensers are these days. low end looks god. assuming your room sounds good, this could help out a lot. make sure there are no distant rattles, buzzes, noises of any kind. if theres a fan on the amp, it will get picked up. id experiment with the distance, but id say a good rule is 3-6 ft before the sound starts getting obscured. put on some headphones and walk around with it. see where it sounds good.

kalle74 · #7 12-31-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d(r)umbass

Mah, the tweeter thing was really just an experiment (it turned out OK, though) and I probably won't insist on it.

What's your opinion on d4?

don´t leave it out, you might later decide you need it, after the guitars have been mixed in...

compared to a D6, the D4 is much less scooped. kinda like a 421... I´ve used it many times when a 421 was not available, and I like it very much, although it gets a bit "middy" at times... give it a try!