Recording noob has question -- DI or mic the cab?

BartmanPDX · #1 01-21-2009, 01:52 PM

Howdy!

Tonight will be my first experience recording. It's a long story.

Anyway, I'm wondering what my fellow bassists like to use for recording -- a DI or micing the cab, or both?

The basic situation: We will be recording in my drummer's studio, which has decent equipment. The band is a four-piece -- vocals/guitar/bass/drums, and we will be recording our parts separately. We play cover rock mostly from the '80s and are working on a new demo that reflects our newer songs and has me playing bass.

My equipment: I will probably be using my Sadowsky PJ, and will also possibly use my Reverend PJ and/or my Steinberger XL-2. But I'll probably start with the Sadowsky. My rig is a Genz Shuttle 6 thru a Bergantino AE410. I can use the DI on the Genz, or mic the cab, or I can use my Summit TD-100 as a DI.

So what should I try first? the Summit as DI? The Genz DI? Should I mic the cab? Should I use both a DI and a mic?

Any helpful thoughts/comments are appreciated.

troyus · #2 01-21-2009, 01:57 PM

Usually both are done and then take a blend of the two. But over the years as my equipment has improved, I now pretty much just rely on the mic track. If you want a more 'tubey/ampegy' sound you probably want to use the DI and apply your choice of protools fancyness to it...

There's a really good DI box called a countryman 85, you want one of those.

But I would do both... DI and mic the cab. Good luck!

msiner · #3 01-21-2009, 02:15 PM

If you are recording your parts separately there shouldn't be any problem(i.e. not enough mics to go around) doing both. Record them to two different tracks. Then in editing you have the flexibility to use both straight, find a nice mix, or use only one.

Unless... are you recording your parts separately because you do not have multi-track recording capabilities? If that is the case, the DI is probably the safest and easiest option.

Beyer160 · #4 01-21-2009, 02:22 PM

Go ahead and record both if you can, but be careful when blending the DI and mic tracks together- if things get smeary or you suddenly lose all your bottom end, you have a phase cancellation issue. Delay the DI track very slightly (single millisecond increments) until things "focus".

uaudio · #5 01-21-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beyer160

Go ahead and record both if you can, but be careful when blending the DI and mic tracks together- if things get smeary or you suddenly lose all your bottom end, you have a phase cancellation issue. Delay the DI track very slightly (single millisecond increments) until things "focus".

+1 good advice

MNAirHead · #6 01-21-2009, 02:26 PM

Let the engineer decide.. this is not meant to be flippant.

The real answer depends on exactly the stuff the studio uses and what they're familiar with.

As a rule.. go direct.. manipulate the sound later.. everything added is more unintended sound.

T.

dreadheadbass · #7 01-21-2009, 02:27 PM

i mic from the cab that way i know its gonna sound like me as different speaker cabs will colour your sound too

sonic assassin · #8 01-21-2009, 02:37 PM

im a mic fan, but in case someone screws up, a DI is a nice backup.

but mnairhead is right.. whoever is mixing it should be in charge of this, as hes going to have to deal with whatever you use. if you have the track space, use both.

summit makes a good pre. does it sound better than your amp? are you looking for something completely uncolored or want the sound of your amp. i feel like taking the amps DI and using a mic might be redundant unless you do pre EQ. you'd need a split to run the mic and the summit as a DI

BartmanPDX · #9 01-21-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beyer160

Go ahead and record both if you can, but be careful when blending the DI and mic tracks together- if things get smeary or you suddenly lose all your bottom end, you have a phase cancellation issue. Delay the DI track very slightly (single millisecond increments) until things "focus".

Very interesting! I did not even consider that. Good advice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by msiner

If you are recording your parts separately there shouldn't be any problem(i.e. not enough mics to go around) doing both. Record them to two different tracks. Then in editing you have the flexibility to use both straight, find a nice mix, or use only one.

Unless... are you recording your parts separately because you do not have multi-track recording capabilities? If that is the case, the DI is probably the safest and easiest option.

Might as well. We should have the tracks available. I guess then we can decide what's best later.

Thanks to everyone for their advice! Since we're doing this at my drummer's place, we'll have time to monkey around a little. I'm looking forward to using the Summit.