Advise on bass recording.

[Bret Music]

Just purchased a focusrite solo and gave protools first a try, then gave ableton live 10 lite a try. Then gave reaper a try which seems to be the friendliest to me. Anyhow no matter what software i use my bass tracks sound like the notes have no sustain or fade out. Thought it was a latency problem, but now i dont know for sure? In reaper my setup is 48khz 24bit 2/2ch 128spls~6.1/6.1ms ASIO. Could plugins do this to my tracks as well? When i use studio one 5 with no plugins it sounds fine. Starting to think my computer my be an issue as well? Windows 10, Amd fx8350 8GB Ram. Thanks

 

[AGCurry]

This is not an issue with your computer or with the DAW software. Both will faithfully record whatever source you provide.

Yes, plugins will affect your tracks if you record with them... since we don't know what you're using, we can't really advise. I think most people would say (I certainly do) that you should record without effects and apply them only when mixing.

Assuming your signal chain (bass to interface to computer) is correct and healthy, your issue is your playing, your bass (including strings), or both.

 

[Bret Music]

Yes, plugins will affect your tracks if you record with them... since we don't know what you're using

Amplitube 4 Ampeg V4B and 810AV cab model and sometimes use TSE Audio BOD which is like a sansamp di plugin.

 

[AGCurry]

Since you say you're happy with "Studio One 5" with no plugins, I think the first order of business would be to try skipping the plugins with the other DAW software and see what happens.

 

[Bret Music]

Since you say you're happy with "Studio One 5" with no plugins, I think the first order of business would be to try skipping the plugins with the other DAW software and see what happens.

I'll try that, i'm used to only using the DAW thats part of Amplitube 4. I always added the amp and cab models before the mix. Not sure how to add them later in the mix, but i guess i'll figure out how. Just started to learn these new DAW's. Thanks for the advise.

 

[pfschim]

It can be an eye opening experience to hear your bass straight into a DAW via an interface vs hearing it live thru your amp and cab .... in most cases it's a very different audio experience.

How are you monitoring ? via headphones or monitors ? Headphones, even great ones, will tend to be pretty flat/uncolored which my be what your experiencing. Are you using Direct monitoring (you get the sound of your bass right at the input of the interface) or DAW monitoring (you get what the DAW track sounds like with any processing applied plus any latency delay etc). Then as AGCurry said above, you may be hearing what your technique and bass really sound like without any processing. When I travel I use an iRig 2 HD interface into an iPad running Amplitube and monitor it with a pair of decent (but not great) Sennheiser HD280 pro headphones.

I always have to adjust my playing and expectations about how I sound with this set-up. It works fine for practicing new tunes, working out parts or even just general practice in a nice mobile package, but it definitely does not sound the same as my live rig (Cali76BC => Noble DI => Mesa Walkabout or WD800 => Berg NV212t).

good luck!

 

[Bret Music]

How are you monitoring ? via headphones or monitors ?

I use both head phones and monitor but not at same time. I dont have the best of either. Yamaha head phones and been using a fender rumble 15 for monitor sometimes and i was using my BA210 as monitor before using the aux input. I been using direct monitor cause i cant get interface to work without it. Could be technique as well, but to me it sounds like a processing issue. I'm pretty green when it comes to DAW. Right now i only use 2 tracks and i noticed on my Pro tools some of the already made sessions have like 24 tracks. Even a track for head phones and lots of returns for fx. To much for me to handle or control at the moment.

 

[pfschim]

just go step by step and you will learn as you go. Better headphones will give you better overall reproduction of the sound of your tracks. Bass tracks can be a challenge for headphones so do some homework on a decent set before you upgrade and you won't be unhappy with the money you spend on them when you get to that point.

I think someone (AGCurry) already said it, but try to go as clean as you can as far as tracking, then run fx/plugins to tweak the sound in the mix. Personally, if I am just practicing or learning songs, I do like to use a bit of the Amplitude processing capabilities (I grabbed their SVX bundle) to sweeten the sound in those situations rather than just going 100% clean. I find it just makes it easier to listen to the bass sound while practicing or learning tunes ... YMMV.

 

[spantini]

... Right now i only use 2 tracks and i noticed on my Pro tools some of the already made sessions have like 24 tracks. Even a track for head phones and lots of returns for fx...

Pay attention to the headphone track, that's probably a monitor mix for your phones that you can use to hear yourself better while recording. This is a great help due to many interface's computer/input monitor blends not being ideal for this.