Do you record with delay and reverb?

[Heroinsheep]

Currently playing in a new project that seemed to really benefit from tones that involve both short delay and reverb on most songs.

I never had reverb and delay as part of my setup but I heard some great players use them so I thought hey why not.

So now the studio tech told me prior to recording next week "yeah if it's an effect you use, record with it" but I'm hesitant because what if it turns to be problematic in the mix?

It's hard do decide because they do really change the way you play, palm muting, doin crazy slides and all that

So I thought hmmmmm... Talkbass Poll.

Cheers

 

[gh0st42]

If possible, do both at the same time!

Branch off through a DI before all your other effects for a completely dry clean signal, and odds are you have another DI out on your amp/preamp, or if they mic your rig, either of those will be wet/effected.

Then you can mix to taste between the two afterwards, with each recorded to its own track.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Sometimes. I like a hint of room ‘verb to add a little something something to the mix. I don’t record with delay much if ever since I don’t get a chance to do much of that Justin Chancellor thing in any groups I’m in. Typically, I use compression, a pre, and maybe reverb or drive.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I've always recorded dry. Get your part right. If something needs flavoring in the mix, add it then.

 

[Groove Doctor]

It's hard do decide because they do really change the way you play, palm muting, doin crazy slides and all that

Record both at same time.

You’ll play better if you hear your usual effected signal even if they only use the dry signal (dry or adding effects afterwards).

 

[arbiterusa]

I record dry, add everything later, but I like the approach that @gh0st42 takes above; you get a dry take, you get a live with effect take, and if that one happens to be awesome then you’ve got it.

 

[amphlett7]

I'm a recording tech so typically what I'll do is either capture the bass pre and post the effect or do the reverb/delay as an overdub.

Sometimes I'll have the bassist play the part again through the effect but lately I run the completely dry DI signal back out through the rig with the FX on.

 

[gh0st42]

I record dry, add everything later, but I like the approach that @gh0st42 takes above; you get a dry take, you get a live with effect take, and if that one happens to be awesome then you’ve got it.

Plus you get the “feel” of playing with the effect.

If it sounds good, crank it in the mix, if not, cut that track and add effects post.

 

[7615]

Kier Delay on drums - never heard of Reverb. Should I?

 

[HolmeBass]

I do, but very rarely. I think taking a di clean and a reverb/delay chn separately during the tracking is the way to go.

 

[TheDialog]

Do what sounds best.
In my current band, I only really use modulation effects: delay, verb, chorus, and vibrato.
It's all very subtle, but I only use it when it makes sense.

 

[Real Soon]

Totally depends on the part. If it's more of a "normal" bass part, I'm likely to record sans ambient effects so that I can take care to dial them to taste, with any effect filtering, etc I need afterward. It's tricky getting that stuff right while keeping the classic bass core.

If it's an unconventional passage, be it a break, a solo, an ambient style, etc, then it's worth laying it with the effects you're adept at using. Typically it's safe to dial them down a little bit from what you might be used to hearing, mix-wise, since the track is probably getting compression later (and thus leveling of dry & effect sounds).

Bass is much more than just a foundational root generator. Experiment!!

 

[RudyTardy]

I worked with Bryan at Saturnworks to design a pedal for this very thing. With the click of a switch, signal can be either 1. all pedals through the DI or 2. DI clean and pedals to the amp only. Delay and Verb would be an amp only situation. This gives the option to take one or the other in the mix, or split band them and blend at the console.

 

[Zbysek]

I always record dry. Effects can be added later...

 

[squarepeg]

Sure. I play lead guitar in a surf band so I use it all the time. On bass, not so much.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

Recording direct with reverb or delay becomes a problem if you want to punch in over an error. The effects' tails / repeats are much harder to match.

Best to record via mixer that sends your DAW a clean signal but allows you to monitor an effected version of your tone whilst playing. You can then concentrate on putting down a note and time perfect version of your part and add the necessary effects after either using plug ins or inserting them on your channel.

 

[CC7]

I think it depends on the song/part and how involved or crucial the delay/verb is to it, (or any effect really).
Take "One Of These Days" by Pink Floyd for example, with a prominent rhythmic delay like that on the bass, I think it would be weird and difficult to track it only dry.

And you might not be able to get the exact effected sound with plugins as opposed to your hardware pedal or rack effect that you like.

IMO the engineer got it right, if it's something you use in the song, then record with it.
I would record the dry and wet at the same time, that way you'll have options later at mix time.
That's just my opinion though, have fun with it!

 

[cnltb]

When doing duo things where I play mostly chords, I tend to use a littledelay for ambience.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

When recording bass, i never use verb or delay. I almost never use it in post production either though. Just feel like its real easy for the mix to get real messy when adding time fx to bass.

When recording guitar though, it almost always ends up with verb and delay on it. Sometimes i record dry, then add later. Or record with just delay and add the verb later.

A solid reason to use time based fx in post is that its way easier to accurately synch to the fx to the song tempo. And also the obvious; you cant remove or otherwise adjust the fx if you print them.

 

[JRA]

the studio tech told me prior to recording next week "yeah if it's an effect you use, record with it"

recording with effects ("to tape") is a no-no (for many reasons, some already mentioned). the advantage of adding efx, post, are myriad. this must be a low-budget studio endeavor in a low budget studio. also: monitoring the performance with effects is hardly a big deal in a real studio.

that said: good luck, OP!