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Bass amp modeling / pre-amp pedals for recording

steverok

steverok

Oct 6, 2015
11
3
56
#1
Hello everyone.

I am looking to streamline my bass recording setup, and I was hoping to find some direction here. I strictly play bass for recording purposes, only, and never play bass live or with a group. Also, I am an old-school recording equipment sort of person, and do not use computer-based recording software, plug-ins, etc.

In my current set-up, I plug the bass straight into a Boss TU-2 chromatic tuner, followed by an ART Pro VLA II tube pre-amp, then a dBx166 compressor, and record the compressor output directly into the recorder. After I am finished recording my part, I send the direct bass track out to this old Peavey bass amp that I have, and record the bass amp speaker using an AKG D112 bass microphone. I then mix the direct and re-recorded bass tracks when mixing the song.

I would like to, at minimum, omit the bass amp from the equation, and possibly look into a pre-amp / compressor combo better suited for bass. I also have this Keeley 4-knob Compressor Plus guitar pedal, which may be designed for guitar only … not sure. Firstly, is there a bass amp modelling pedal that could replace the Peavey amp and mic deal that I have been using ? I know the old Line 6 Bass Pod used to model different bass amps and cabs, but I see those are no longer made. It would be nice to be able to get different amp sounds. Secondly, is there an alternative to the tube pre-amp / compressor arrangement that I have been using, which is better suited for bass ? Preferably, this would be a single pedal that had a pre-amp, compression, and maybe some EQ. Or, am I going about this all wrong ?? Am I making it too complicated ??

I could spend up to $500 to upgrade and stream-line this set-up. My primary motivator is to unload the amp and free up room in my house, but if I can improve my tone in the process, now is the time. Also, consider that I am not going to be trying this stuff out. I will probably just buy what I buy, and that’s what I will use.

I know I have come to the right place here. You all have been very helpful for me in the past, and I look forward to reading your inputs.

Regards,
Steve
 
#2
There’re different preamps on market. I had a Bass Pod XT and found it too synthetic and overdriven. Now I use SpectraDrive. If you don’t need preamp and compressor to be one unit, there’re many more choices and they all sound different.
 
#5
Does it have to be a pedal?

You could also just plug your bass directly into your interface and run it through a plugin.

That's probably the way to get the best bang for your buck. More amp and cab sims, way more tone possibilities for less money.

There's a bunch of good compressors in software too.

Nowadays you really don't need anything but a bass an interface and a computer to make your bass sound like whatever you want it to sound like.
 
#8
guts said:
Oh, my bad. Must have missed that when I was reading the post. Please ignore me and carry on.
Click to expand...
It's definitely out of the ordinary in 2019! Even 15 years ago when i was working in a studio that had a 2" 24-track machine, they would always run it into pro tools and sync them with a smpte track. Recording without a daw seems to be a lost art. More power to ya @steverok!
 
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#10
What’s the situation with recording everything else? Do you record guitar, keys, drums, vocals, etc?

There may be some opportunity to consolidate quite a bit. Even if you don’t use a computer DAW, you could certainly use a computer and audio interface with a VST host and be able to have an amazing Swiss Army knife that creates all sorts of possibilities, while still laying tracks down old school style.
 
#11
Given your limitations... dump it all for a Line6 Helix Stomp, no DI needed. Or if your recording desk has single ended inputs and the room/run is clean a Zoom B3n would also get the job done. If not, then the B3n and a DI would work.
 
#12
And I said:
Is your dbx166 one of the old original black faced ones or one of the newer silver faced 166xs models? If one of the newer ones, possibly the biggest improvement you could make would be to remove it from your signal chain.
Click to expand...

It's an older, black-faced one, bought in 2002.

I peeked at a couple of these little Zoom pedal boxes, that could do the trick. The Tech 21 also looks very capable. The Line 6 Helix may be a little extravagant for my purposes, but I will consider all of the suggestions here, so keep 'em coming !

I realize I am way old school, and I imagine, eventually, I will turn to computer-based mixing, at the minimum. It's getting harder and harder to do things the old way. Until then, I do enjoy how organic my recordings sound, with all the acoustic instruments, amps, and mics.

Cheers !
Steve
 
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#13
For compact/pedal type DI's, I'm a big fan of Tech 21. I've gotten good results from the Sansamp Bass Driver DI and pretty much every recording studio has one.

Also good is the VT bass DI, which is an Ampeg B15 emulator, and the Leeds pedal, which is a Hiwatt "clone" with a nice speaker emulator. It does provide a plausible Entwistle tone.

This is not a dismissal of any of the numerous other bass amp emulators. Ive used some of them with good results, but the bottom line is every one of them sounds different and what sounds the best to you is entirely subjective. There's no substitute for trying them out for yourself.
 

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