Advice wanted on recording a distorted bass track

[Hank Scorpio]

First off, thanks for taking the time to read this, any advice & pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Recording live tomorrow, completely DIY so no producer/engineer, and looking to ensure I'm setting myself up for the best possible sound. We're going to DI for a clean track, and mic the dirty.

I've got a distorted sound I like - VT Bass preamp, and a Fuzzrocious Rat/Cat Tail - but obviously recording is a different requirement entirely. My current thought is to use the DI for clean lows/highs, and focus the distorted track more on mids. Does this make sense, or should I EQ the dirty track differently?

 

[filmtex]

First off, thanks for taking the time to read this, any advice & pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Recording live tomorrow, completely DIY so no producer/engineer, and looking to ensure I'm setting myself up for the best possible sound. We're going to DI for a clean track, and mic the dirty.

I've got a distorted sound I like - VT Bass preamp, and a Fuzzrocious Rat/Cat Tail - but obviously recording is a different requirement entirely. My current thought is to use the DI for clean lows/highs, and focus the distorted track more on mids. Does this make sense, or should I EQ the dirty track differently?

I would record both tracks flat-no equalization. EQ in the mix as required for full (song) balance. I'd just be sure to get good levels on both. YMMV

 

[kevindahl]

You can EQ the distorted track how ever you want. It really depends how you want it sound and how it sits in the mix in relation to the other instruments. More mids may work or they may not and yes get good levels.

 

[RickyT]

I always record the dirty track just a little dirtier than normal. You can always mix it out if it's too much.

 

[dannylectro]

Or reamp. Or use plug-in effects when you mix. Depends on how married you are to the distorted sound you get from the amp. It just about never sounds as “massive” as you think when you record it.

 

[Ender_rpm]

I usually do parallel DI and dirt, then crossover somewhere around 100hz with LPF/HPFs. The clean DI is more low end, the dirt is for bawls and to tie into the guitars/other instruments. I prefer the DI to be pretty heavily compressed, the dirt usually adds enough compression (for a rock tone with fingers/picks, not for slap). compressing the low passed signal IME gives you a THICK bottom end, then the other signal provides more definition. The upside is you have time to experiment if youre going DIY. HAve fun with it.

 

[knumbskull]

Clean highs with distorted mids sounds weird to me but if you have time to experiment, might be worth a try!

Also agree you can mess around with EQ to your hearts content once it’s recorded.

 

[kalle74]

I always record the dirty track just a little dirtier than normal. You can always mix it out if it's too much.

I always record the dirty track just a tad cleaner (less drive) than I would normally have. Adding more distortion later is easy, removing excess is not.

 

[NorthSoundAudio]

I haven't tried this yet, but it was an idea I had. I have a Darkglass Microtubes B3K pedal, and when it's engaged, it cuts out a lot of LF, even with the Grunt switch on. So my thought on tracking with grit AND rumble: Bass in to my clean DI. Connect the DI Thru to the pedal input. Pedal output to another DI. Mix to taste! Alternatively, record clean bass, and then re-amp through a pedal(s) to a separate track.