Recording Program

skywalkerla5 · #1 08-17-2007, 07:59 PM

No, I do not need any recomendations for one, I just have a question about them. Alright, well I'm recording for the next two weeks doing a four song EP. The producer/engineer is making me run through a sansamp D.I. and into the computer. When I play along to the rhythm guitar, drums, and click-track I get the flattest tone I've ever heard. I ask the producer/engineer, "Can I get some more character, or more of me in the track?" to which he responds, "I'm keeping it flat right now so that during post-production we (me and the producer) can get a tone that you like."

Now don't get me wrong, I love how much this guy know's what he's doing with everybody elses tracks and his fountain of knowledge that he calls his brain is adding to our songs, but I love my tone when I run my Musicman SUB into my ashdown Mag 4x10 head and cab. Is it possible for me to shape my tone, using his amp program, enough to sound like the live sound that I love so much?

P.S. Sorry for the long post.

GreyBeard · #2 08-17-2007, 08:28 PM

It all depends. You'll be able do eq you sound any way you can possibly like. You'll be able to compress you bass in ways you've probably never even thought of. You'll be able to add all sorts of tube amp plugins and cab plugins that will add all sorts of character to your sound. But, will he be able to get the same sound you get from your amp. Maybe yes - Maybe no. It just depends.

skywalkerla5 · #3 08-17-2007, 10:10 PM

But I will get some nice flavor then?

Dave Martin · #4 08-18-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywalkerla5

No, I do not need any recomendations for one, I just have a question about them. Alright, well I'm recording for the next two weeks doing a four song EP. The producer/engineer is making me run through a sansamp D.I. and into the computer. When I play along to the rhythm guitar, drums, and click-track I get the flattest tone I've ever heard. I ask the producer/engineer, "Can I get some more character, or more of me in the track?" to which he responds, "I'm keeping it flat right now so that during post-production we (me and the

Yet another reason I dislike the practice of recording each instrument separately is that the 'engineer' can say stuff like this and make you believe it.
If the whole band recorded together (you know, as a BAND), you'd know what you needed to hear, aand how your bass needs to sound. Quite frankly, I've come to believe that the folks who own the computers do it that way because they don't know how to handle recording a whole band at once.

Ground Pounder · #5 08-18-2007, 05:06 PM

If you're paying, and recording, something that you want to be the way you want it to be, don't let the engineer dominate your recording. He is there to provide a service, PERIOD.

Simply tell him (nicely) that you have a very distinct sound you want to capture. If he insists on trying his method first, play a 20 second part, and have him shape and manipulate it right there, and you be the judge. If he can't duplicate it when you're there, playing, giving him the live example of the sound you want, how the heck is he gonna' do it "later"?

!Rob! · #6 08-18-2007, 08:20 PM

s**t in....s**t out

"you can't polish a turd"

That's what I was always taught.

On input you need the best level you can get, you should put in the sound you want, and produce it from there to make it better.

mingustoo · #7 08-18-2007, 09:06 PM

2cents
listen to the engineer. You already implied he knows what he's doing. Maybe that 'great' sound you get from your Musicman Sub doesn't work so well in a recording. Could be more of a 'live' bass if you know what I mean. You can always redo the bass later if it doensn't workout

csholtmeier · #8 08-18-2007, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Is it possible for me to shape my tone, using his amp program, enough to sound like the live sound that I love so much?

If by "amp program" you mean Ampeg SVX, your tracks are gonna sound great. That amp sim sounds absolutely fantastic.

spc · #9 08-19-2007, 03:36 PM

This kind of thing pops up a lot around here...the engineer "making" me use this or that...or the engineer always records the bass "this" way only...

The hell with that. Your money and recording, be polite and try what you want. He is working for you, not the other way around. There should be no reason he can't take his di and mic your cab or whatever you want.

shawn

GreyBeard · #10 08-19-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywalkerla5

But I will get some nice flavor then?

I'm just guessing of course but it is up to him to capture your sound. That's why they call it RECORDING. But, like others have said, what sounds so good live can often not translate well to recording. Just 2 different things.

skywalkerla5 · #11 08-20-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csholtmeier

If by "amp program" you mean Ampeg SVX, your tracks are gonna sound great. That amp sim sounds absolutely fantastic.

actually i do think it is! that is quite reassuring, but my sound is very growly (cranked mids and such) can I get close to that sound?

hunta · #12 08-23-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywalkerla5

actually i do think it is! that is quite reassuring, but my sound is very growly (cranked mids and such) can I get close to that sound?

I don't see why when you're recording he can't do a 2 track recording. Run one signal through the sansamp into his interface, and one signal through your rig and output that to another track. Record both simultaneously. Pick the one you dig later. Or, blend them together. Since you're recording individually, even with the crappiest (2 input) recording interface in the world you can do this. If you were recording live and had limited inputs I could see why you'd have to choose one or the other, but in this day and age there really is no reason. Heck, run one line into the sansamp, another DI out from your head, and mic the amp. The sky's the limit here.

He may be a good engineer, and in the end his way may be the best, but I'd ask him if you can do this. You are paying him for his time and expertise, but ultimately the one who needs to be happy with the recording is you and your band. Let him do whatever he wants, but if you have an extra track recorded with "your sound" then you can always A/B the tracks later and tell him you like your sound better, if that's what happens.

I've found there are quite a few engineers out there who simply have a different idea of what the bass should sound like than I do.

Personally, the best quality "pro" recording I have was recorded in the studio with the whole band live (direct out into the board from my WT-300), and it sounded pretty damn good without any tweaking or mixing, the bass was nice and fat too. Once it was mixed/mastered it sounded even better.

Perhaps the worst quality recording I have is when we did a 1 day full band cd recording blitz with my old cover band (8 piece horn rock). After the engineer (buddy of our band leader) did some preliminary mixes, the bass sound was garbage. I ended up having to go back in and basically tell the engineer what to do, and re-record ALL of my bass tracks.

So... Don't let that situation happen to you

Edwcdc · #13 08-23-2007, 10:39 AM

If you are recording your bass by yourself I'm pretty sure the engineer will have at least two tracks he can dedicate to bass. If this is the case it is not much extra work to run two signals and mess with either one or even mix both. If he can't give you two inputs then you need to come record at my place.

Jeff Martinez · #14 08-23-2007, 10:48 AM

It's been my experience that the perfect live bass tone does not always work well when recording. A flat tone is like a blank canvas, it makes it much easier to choose the right coloring during post-production. When recording a whole band, sometimes we need to "take one for the team" in order to make the BAND sound good on a recording. Believe me, I hate recording this way (my live sound is very wet), but I'm always pleased with the end result. Trust the engineer's opinion. If it sucks, don't ever use him again.

Jeff Martinez · #15 08-23-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwcdc

If you are recording your bass by yourself I'm pretty sure the engineer will have at least two tracks he can dedicate to bass. If this is the case it is not much extra work to run two signals and mess with either one or even mix both. If he can't give you two inputs then you need to come record at my place.

+1

:tangent:
Even better, record both tracks seperately. Nothing beats a true chorus sound.
:end tangent:

csholtmeier · #16 08-24-2007, 06:14 AM

Quote:

actually i do think it is! that is quite reassuring, but my sound is very growly (cranked mids and such) can I get close to that sound?

Definitely. Try the SVT first, then give the B500 a try.

I have quit putting mics in front of bass amps now. Ampeg SVX nails it so much better than I can.

You'll want a good compressor after it though. It can tend to get HUGE sounding. I like the Waves SSL Channel Strip for this.