DI Into a digital board - suggestions?

[Madlister]

I'm being very thorough in my efforts to get my first bass amp/cab - but in the meantime, a bandmate and I are going to be doing a good bit of recording before the gigs start up in a few months.

What are some good options for running a no frills 2001 Mexico (yes yes, I know) P-Bass direct into our digital recording console?

I want some good tone, something with balls enough to carry some straight ahead rock (Stones to Petty to Cracker) but able to get a decent sound for the occasional song that needs a little slap/pop. Doesn't have to supremely excel at either, but make for a good solid recording all around.

Should I go with a few pedals/rack mounted DI/effects? Just expedite the purchasing of the amp/cab and run something, just for example, like an LMKII direct into the board? Will that sound worth a damn? Is that even doable? (Don't have the LMKII's specs on hand right now, been a couple of weeks since I played around w/ it at GC).

What would our studio-minded types suggest for this kind of application?

 

[billfitzmaurice]

What would our studio-minded types suggest for this kind of application?

Run straight to the board with a cord and nothing else. EQ, compress, add effects, etc. when you mixdown. If you start with a pure sound you can add to it later, but anything you use on that first track can't be removed.

 

[Madlister]

Run straight to the board with a cord and nothing else. EQ, compress, add effects, etc. when you mixdown. If you start with a pure sound you can add to it later, but anything you use on that first track can't be removed.

Will that work well on the tracks that need a bit brighter slap sound?

Most of the tracks have been turning out in the range of 'acceptable' for tone so far. Nothing great, but I know I'm still too new to the game to have the Tone-Master title yet.

But For the life of me no matter how much I fight the tone settings on the bass running direct into the board, I can't get any remotely good slap tone.

Will a somewhat muffled tone from the direct line pick up some more life if we run the track through a good EQ (the stock one in the board is okay but not great - but that's what the bus is for)?

Should I be posting this in another place than in the amps forum - since it looks like it's migrating toward studio tips?

 

[JimmyM]

You really need a DI, especially if you slap. Bass sounds weak into a recorder or board without a decent DI. You can use the DI out of pretty much any amp made and get a good tone, or you can spend as little as $30 or as much as $2000 for a standalone DI. If you're on a budget, the Whirlwind IMP 2 isn't a bad DI at all for $50. But most amp DI's will sound better and cleaner. A couple really good ones at a more modest price point ($150-200) are Countryman and Radial. You don't need anything real fancy but you do need one.

 

[bongomania]

A couple really good ones at a more modest price point ($150-200) are Countryman and Radial. You don't need anything real fancy but you do need one.

+1

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Will that work well on the tracks that need a bit brighter slap sound?

About the only thing you can safely boost with the initial track is the high end, since you can always roll it off on mixdown if you have to. But one of the great things about digital recording is that what's on the disc is what normally goes into an amp, and you can add the amp tone later. Google 'reamping'.

 

[Madlister]

Great tip on the reamp, by the way.

Done a bit of research over the last week or so and learned a whole new approach to tracking. Thanks for that.

 

[cmhgreg]

You really need a DI, especially if you slap. Bass sounds weak into a recorder or board without a decent DI. You can use the DI out of pretty much any amp made and get a good tone, or you can spend as little as $30 or as much as $2000 for a standalone DI. If you're on a budget, the Whirlwind IMP 2 isn't a bad DI at all for $50. But most amp DI's will sound better and cleaner. A couple really good ones at a more modest price point ($150-200) are Countryman and Radial. You don't need anything real fancy but you do need one.

+1, and I will add the Sansamp BDDI to the list, simply because it is a DI, as well as a preamp and overdrive pedal all in one. It is versatile for both recording and for performing. It ain't cheap ($200 new for the basic model) although you can score one for a good price on eBay from time to time. You can uncover more info than you likely will care to read about them right here on TB.