Banished to the DI Zone

[JimmyM]

Well, since we are all putting up videos of our bass sounds, here is one of me playing bass on Johnny Rawls' new cd, I'm Still Around. I'm going out of the DI on my Genz Shuttlemax12.2, and my cab, a Schroeder 15PL, which was mic'd in a separate room. Trying for the old Stax sound, and I'm quite happy with the bass in the mix. Don't ask me what mic it was, I totally forgot. I like the DI/Mic sound, at least in the studio, for what I am doing.

Cool tune. Bass sounds really good, too.

 

[jnewmark]

Cool tune. Bass sounds really good, too.

Thanks, Jimmy !

 

[beans-on-toast]

I’d be interested in knowing how the song was recorded in terms of track order or was it live?

 

[alotabass]

A quick and dirty DI sound test I did at home. No amps were used.

 

[JimmyM]

A quick and dirty DI sound test I did at home. No amps were used.

Sounds good but you never broke each one out and used them separately, eh?

 

[alotabass]

Sounds good but you never broke each one out and used them separately, eh?

I have yes. They all have different personalities. Can't say one is better than another. It all depends on what sound you are looking for. The Avalon V5 has the most headroom and is the cleanest brightest sounding of the 4. The REDDI has the most amp-like feel. When you push it hard it responds like a bass amp and gets dirty too which is cool for rock tones. The Noble is warmer and also amp like but you can't push it hard like the REDDI. The Teergarden is similar to the REDDI but it has a Saturation knob which adds a nice density to the bass.

 

[jnewmark]

I’d be interested in knowing how the song was recorded in terms of track order or was it live?

Beans, the basic tracks were done for the entire CD back in May, in two days. Don't remember the order, but as I recall, this one was a one or two take track ( bass, drums, guitar , keys, scratch vocal ). Typically, Rawls likes to get all the basic tracks down asap, if he can. The rhythm section usually plays live. He pretty much does not want to waste any time in the studio.
Edit: Found my notes from the sessions. This was the third song we did.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Beans, the basic tracks were done for the entire CD back in May, in two days. Don't remember the order, but as I recall, this one was a one or two take track ( bass, drums, guitar , keys, scratch vocal ). Typically, Rawls likes to get all the basic tracks down asap, if he can. The rhythm section usually plays live. He pretty much does not want to waste any time in the studio.
Edit: Found my notes from the sessions. This was the third song we did.

No pressure there. Everyone is looking at the new guy to not screw it up.

That’s the way it was done in the old days. You went in and recorded in a short time making quick decisions and keeping the performance fresh.

 

[jnewmark]

No pressure there. Everyone is looking at the new guy to not screw it up.

That’s the way it was done in the old days. You went in and recorded in a short time making quick decisions and keeping the performance fresh.

Yeah, he usually books the studio for 4 days. What saves a lot of time is that he will do rough demos of the songs, then email them to us a couple of weeks ahead of time. This way, everybody knows what's up by the time we get to the studio. Johnny plays bass, guitar, keys against a drum machine, in his home studio. I usually work with the same rhythm section so we are all comfortable playing together. This was my third project with him.

 

[JimmyM]

I have yes. They all have different personalities. Can't say one is better than another. It all depends on what sound you are looking for. The Avalon V5 has the most headroom and is the cleanest brightest sounding of the 4. The REDDI has the most amp-like feel. When you push it hard it responds like a bass amp and gets dirty too which is cool for rock tones. The Noble is warmer and also amp like but you can't push it hard like the REDDI. The Teergarden is similar to the REDDI but it has a Saturation knob which adds a nice density to the bass.

Well I meant in your demo vid but that's how I've always heard the ones I'm familiar with so it's all good, though not familiar with the Teegarden or Noble. Have heard demos of the Noble, though...sounds very good but I always hear a mid scoop on it. What do you think?

 

[alotabass]

If I need a DI that projects the mids best the REDDI and Teergarden would be the first choice so maybe the Noble has a slight scoop. Noble is no slouch though. The built-in EQ does fatten things up nicely but it would be interesting to see how the others would sound with the same eq circuit.

 

[_Some Dude]

(I did hear a rumour that there was a SansAmp model added to Helix recently).

A modeller, that models another modeller, modelling an amp that the initial modeller already models?

Bizarro!

$1500 for a box that digitally models a $200 analogue box....

 

[Downunderwonder]

$1500 for a box that digitally models a $200 analogue box....

Like driving an SUV to get the groceries. But when you need to go cross country you can't take the Golf GTI.

 

[Wisebass]

But when you need to go cross country you can't take the Golf GTI.

Why not?


Wise(b)ass