Comments on recording setup

[monkeyfinger]

I am going into the studio in a few weeks. So I am reviewing my recording options. I would like your input please.

Basses: Fender Roscoe Beck V with a Fender Am Dlx Dimension V HH as backup

My idea is to record two tracks of bass. Track one will be DI straight off the bass, (dry). Track two will be going through my effects into a Reiner, (JGR), 12ax7 tube pre with post EQ DI out to the board, (wet). For the dry signal am thinking of using bass into y splitter into fdeck HPR 3 into Radial JDI. The HPF has a 10 mega-ohm input impedance, so there should be practically no load on the bass or the wet path. Plus I can use a battery on the HPF3 so no worries about electrical noise. Given that my goal for the dry side is a very detailed recording with very little coloration, how do you think this would work out?

 

[BazzTard]

yep sounds like a good idea, a dry DI'd and a tube pre will be nice.

What music style will you be recording?

A bit of the dry sound will depend on the mixing desk but if you are using a nice Di that should be fine.

good luck with it all

 

[monkeyfinger]

Foo Fighters style modern rock originals. It should be fun.

 

[silky smoove]

That will work just fine.

Even though both tracks will be sent via a DI, the change in frequency response will still create differences in the phase of the two tracks. Make sure and adjust for that in post as best as you can. It's always a game of compromise trying to compensate for phase between two tracks, so do the best you can, or make sure the engineer does, and you'll be much happier with the results from multi-tracking the bass.

 

[Dima B]

Yes, many people believe that if they record lots of parallel tracks (direct, preamp, couple of cabinets with bush of mics) it would be a perfect solution. But really it will be a phase mess

 

[monkeyfinger]

Good points.

 

[monkeyfinger]

So I have upped the anti a little with my recording setup. I will be using the following:

1. A-Designs REDDI
2. Radial JDI
3. Reiner 12AX7 preamp with jensen x-fer DI
4. Mic into API board

I am not sure what mic I want to use. I have access to the usual suspects, RE-20, SM7, Heil PR40, U47, etc. I may even use a D.W. Fearn preamp if is does not go the vocalist and/or kick drums. So I am looking for suggestions on what to use where. I am thinking bass into REDDI as channel one. Bass into effects into JDI as channel two. Bass into effects into Reiner as channel three. Bass into effects into Reiner into mic as channel four. What do you think?

 

[silky smoove]

For me that setup is totally overkill. I like to record with my effects in the chain. I would grab a neutral DI prior to your board to use as a safety copy that will hopefully never get touched at mixdown unless something absolutely has to be reamped. The JDI would be a good choice for this. I would then grab a DI immediately after the board that captures your performance along with all of your effects. The REDDI or the Reiner would be good choices for this. I would then throw an RE20 about 12-18" in front of your cab and grab that as well. If all goes well, the engineer might only use the post-DI, or the mic track. He might combine them in some clever way (i.e. DI for the low end, mic for everything else). I tend to be happiest when I can get it done with a single track, but the DI/mic combination works well for a reason. Anything more than that for bass guitar is overkill.