Recording Direct in studio Next Week (Avalon U5, Great River MP2nV & Sansamp)

[JCdub]

I am going to the studio next week and tracking to 2 inch tape. I am playing mostly reggae/rock stuff (Think Very subby, warm, Eric Wilson SublimeBass Tone)

I will have my pbass, jbass and others

For recording I will be recording direct and I want to get that warm, bassey, punchy tone

I will have an avalon U5 (Too sterile on its own), a Great River MP2nv and a sansamp on hand.

Anyone have any reccomendations or experience with this stuff?

Thanks a million!

[Andy V.]

I don't find my U5 to b sterile with my pj.
But, in this case, I'd recomend bass>bddi>u5.

[punkbassistfc]

WHen i record, which is at least once a fortnight, I try to get the best sound out of my rig as well as a sansamp and tem mix them together. The reason for this is the whole sterile thing. Although the bass may sound ok with just a di, it sounds a hell of a lot better with the sound of air of your casbs as well. Good luck with it

[SoComSurfing]

I've never used a U5, but from my experiences a few years ago, the Great River puts out exactly what you put in. I would suggest a blend of tracks, as the above poster said. If you can't blend a DI with your rig, then go for a blend of one of the very clean pres (U5 or GR) and the colored tone of the BDDI.

[Charling]

i dont have any first hand experience with that gear in particular, but my advice would be that you should really push for micing a cab for that sort of music.

all you need is 1 alright mic and your amp, and if you are recording vocals, brass etc then you should have a good mic at the studio anyway.

are you recording 1-track-at-a-time? if so then micing a cab is as easy as di'ing (pretty much). if you are recording at once then its still pretty easy, as most instruments will be high passed in the mix anyway so there wont be much spill, especially if your going for a dubby tone. just make sure theres not too much spill onto the kick mic (which should be easy enough) and you'll be away!