Recording on the Cheap- New "Bassist" with Q's

[railfanespee]

Hi TalkBass!
My name is Joe, I'm 17, and I live in Iowa. I'm a guitarist who has recently started recording music. I've messed around with friends' basses for years, but when I got proper equipment for home recording (fostex 8 track recorder, SM57, etc), I decided also to get a Squier CV 60s P Bass (excellent) and play bass on the recordings instead of midi bass or having a friend do it. I always have loved a good bassline, especially ones that don't just ads rhythm to the song but provide a key part of the melody. An example (and the first song I'm trying to learn all the way through) would be Steve Harris' on Iron Maiden's Revelations.

I really want to learn to play bass properly, instead of simply playing the root note of whatever chord the guitar is playing. Since I wanted to get some music done quickly (the first song was finished within a few days of getting the gear and the bass), so far the parts I've done have been simple, and played with a pick instead of fingerstyle, which I prefer but do not have the chops for yet.
The recordings I've done so far are on my Soundclick. The problem to me is how the bass sounds and sits in the mix. Lacking a way to mic my bass amp (actually a '76 Fender Bassman 100 I bought for guitar, and a mystery cab with a Sunn 18'' speaker) or ever a decent DI box, I ended up recording the bass by plugging it into my Digitech guitar multifx pedal. It worked, but I don't think it sounds all that great, and doesn't sound nearly deep enough when in the mix (already tried post EQ. It helped some, but not enough).

I've decided that I need a better recording method. So far it seems like my best bet is a DI like a Sansamp Bass Driver DI or VT Bass pedal. Still, I thought I would ask here before I make any purchases. I have two great parents who support my music and make sure I have the gear I need (in other words, spoil me to a ridiculous amount), and I don't want to spend any more money than I have to. So far, it looks like we will have to spend at least $150 on a DI. I am wondering if there are any cheaper options that would get me a decent bass tone. Other DIs? Mics for the amps I have? Software? (although keep in mind I record on an 8 track recorder and only edit on my computer)

Thanks in advance! Oh, and if you have any other thoughts on the music, please let me know. I haven't been doing this very long, so any tips would be great.

[pasta4lnch]

I like using the SABDDI for recording even though I have lots of other gear. but I always run a clean DI w/ anything SABDDI, amp or whatever. I think if you got a good DI and also mic'd you bassman it'd be a killer tone - even w/ just a 57!

as for playing - go and buy standing in the shadows of motown. learn every song and then you'll be a bass player!! (not really, but it's a good start)

[mambo4]

a bass man through the SM57 Probably wouldn't sound all that bad.

If home recording is your thing, I'd suggest recording the raw tracks on the fostex but mixing and composing on a PC using Audacity and Reaper (both free)

[railfanespee]

Originally Posted by mambo4

If home recording is your thing, I'd suggest recording the raw tracks on the fostex but mixing and composing on a PC using Audacity and Reaper (both free)

I actually figured that out after the 3rd or 4th recording. I couldn't believe how much more I could do when I tried it.

As to using the SM57- I actually never tried doing that, since I had heard that using one to record bass was not a great idea. I'll give it a go tomorrow though!

[jimmyjames77]

The 57 can do ANYTHING you want it to to a degree. It's a horse of a mic. Especially if you're editing on a PC. You can REALLY change a tone then. I say try it out.

[Freaky Fender]

Agreed. I hear a phrase every now and again from my friends that record, "When in doubt, put a 57 on it". It's pretty true today.

One trick to learn is the importance of midrange. Boosting the bass might make the subs rumble in your car, but the mid-range (especially the low-mids) is where the bass is actually audible. Boosting mids are the key to a clear sound.

Also, usually bass has a little compression applied to it, sometimes heavier amounts. Don't go over board, it just smooths out the sound a bit.


It's great you want to be a bass player. If you want to be a better player, pick bands with bass players or bass lines you like and learn them, but I'd also recommend to learn those same songs on guitar, so you can go back and forth between them and see why they sound so good. If you don't have any experience in music theory I would highly suggest some, it just makes things easier to explain in music over all.

Hope this helped, good luck!

[pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by Freaky Fender

Agreed. I hear a phrase every now and again from my friends that record, "When in doubt, put a 57 on it". It's pretty true today.

http://www.mercenary.com/fltaabsmandh.html

I found this a while back - an interesting read . . .

[Charling]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

http://www.mercenary.com/fltaabsmandh.html

I found this a while back - an interesting read . . .

Amen, Fletcher knows the score, and 57's are a minor miracle in the world of useful-ness.