Help with choosing a small setup for tracking bass at home

[hopeless_opus]

Happy New Year!

So I'm looking for some advice from fellow recording bass players on what direction to go in putting together a new small set up to track bass at home. I'm not new to recording, I had a decent little set up a few years ago, but wasn't really using it at the time, so I sold off most of my gear and bought an American Original jazz bass. No regrets, it's an amazing bass.

Right now I have a Focusrite Scarlett, which I use for silent practice and playing along to iReal Pro, etc. It's fine, def WAY better than budget gear from the past, but I'm starting to collaborate with a former bandmate who has a pretty serious project studio (Apogee converters, API pres, and other higher-end gear). I only have a budget of around $900, but I want to put together a 1-2 channel setup that's closer to the level of his gear. I would only be recording bass, an occasional bg vocal, or possibly reamping guitar tracks. 95% of the time it would just be bass. My DAW is Logic Pro X and I have some JBL monitors.

One limiting factor is my current computer, it's is a late 2013 MacBook Pro. It's a great machine, but getting near the end of its life-cycle.

I've been doing lots of research and it's been years since I looked at this stuff, but I think I've narrowed things down to a few options.

1. Audient ID14 and a Reddi (or other top-shelf DI): The ID14 seems like the best option in the budget range of interfaces. In particular, they have the reputation for having the best built-in pres, though you can't bypass them in this model. Could also save a few bucks and get an RNDI in place of the Reddi.

2. Focusrite Clarett (or Apogee Duet or Audient ID22) and a budget API or Neve clone: Looking at the GAP, Warm Audio, and Black Lion Audio range of preamps. The Clarett and similar mid-range interfaces should be a step up from the ID14, and allow you to bypass the preamps. If I found a good deal on a pre, I might be able to add an FMR comp as well.

3a. UAD Apollo Twin Duo X: The DSP and Unison preamp modeling seems really amazing and the Twin Duo X models spec out as a higher-end interface in comparison to the others. I'm not sure I'd even need much more than the included plugins.

3b. M1 Macbook Air and Apollo Solo: The solo specs out as more comparable to other mid-range interfaces (clarett, etc.), and the single DSP chip could be limiting, but my MacBook Pro still has some trade-in value, so I could get the Solo and a new computer for a little over my budget.

I'm a little stuck because I think these are all good options. I'd love some advice on which way to go, and any other suggestions anyone might have.

Thanks!

 

[pfschim]

just want to point out that with most modern interfaces you really don't need a DI unless you want it for some flavor it will add. The Interfaces you list all have pretty decent preamps and you can just plug directly into them and EQ/tweak in the box.

I'm a Windows guy but from all I've read about the M1 Air's, you might want to consider an Intel based Air or Macbook Pro because there are reports of the fanless design Air choking/throttling under load. M1 macs do seem very interesting and their performace gains over Intel CPU's is very impressive, but I would not want to gamble on 1st gen major technology shift stuff from any manufacturer. But that's just me.

Otherwise you seem to have a pretty good list of options for what you intend to use this for and will just have to choose and get to work tracking.

 

[armybass]

I am in the same boat. I am just looking to record bass track for friends around the country and wanted the best bang for my $. I just went with the MBP M1 but struggled between that and the Mac Mini which could save some money. I also just got the REDDI and two Focusrite interfaces and this setup is way more than I needed and nothing I’ll be doing is going to stress out that M1 chip. I think you are safe with the M1 chip as long as you are running Mac products or mostly Mac products. Please post your decisions.

 

[edthebass]

Happy New Year!

So I'm looking for some advice from fellow recording bass players on what direction to go in putting together a new small set up to track bass at home. I'm not new to recording, I had a decent little set up a few years ago, but wasn't really using it at the time, so I sold off most of my gear and bought an American Original jazz bass. No regrets, it's an amazing bass.

Right now I have a Focusrite Scarlett, which I use for silent practice and playing along to iReal Pro, etc. It's fine, def WAY better than budget gear from the past, but I'm starting to collaborate with a former bandmate who has a pretty serious project studio (Apogee converters, API pres, and other higher-end gear). I only have a budget of around $900, but I want to put together a 1-2 channel setup that's closer to the level of his gear. I would only be recording bass, an occasional bg vocal, or possibly reamping guitar tracks. 95% of the time it would just be bass. My DAW is Logic Pro X and I have some JBL monitors.

One limiting factor is my current computer, it's is a late 2013 MacBook Pro. It's a great machine, but getting near the end of its life-cycle.

I've been doing lots of research and it's been years since I looked at this stuff, but I think I've narrowed things down to a few options.

1. Audient ID14 and a Reddi (or other top-shelf DI): The ID14 seems like the best option in the budget range of interfaces. In particular, they have the reputation for having the best built-in pres, though you can't bypass them in this model. Could also save a few bucks and get an RNDI in place of the Reddi.

2. Focusrite Clarett (or Apogee Duet or Audient ID22) and a budget API or Neve clone: Looking at the GAP, Warm Audio, and Black Lion Audio range of preamps. The Clarett and similar mid-range interfaces should be a step up from the ID14, and allow you to bypass the preamps. If I found a good deal on a pre, I might be able to add an FMR comp as well.

3a. UAD Apollo Twin Duo X: The DSP and Unison preamp modeling seems really amazing and the Twin Duo X models spec out as a higher-end interface in comparison to the others. I'm not sure I'd even need much more than the included plugins.

3b. M1 Macbook Air and Apollo Solo: The solo specs out as more comparable to other mid-range interfaces (clarett, etc.), and the single DSP chip could be limiting, but my MacBook Pro still has some trade-in value, so I could get the Solo and a new computer for a little over my budget.

I'm a little stuck because I think these are all good options. I'd love some advice on which way to go, and any other suggestions anyone might have.

Thanks!

I have the Audient iD14 which I specifically chose for the quality of the built in DI and convertors (at the price point). I think it's great and it allows me to add whatever color I want on the back end. I'm one of those guys that can't commit to adding too much on the front end, although I know everybody has talked up those REDDI so if that's your thing, there are worse ways to spend $700+. Just for some credibility, I've been in professional audio industry for 12+ years. If you're just looking to record a clean signal, I don't see why you wouldn't save the money. If anything, you could just buy the iD14, rent a DI, and A-B. Personally, I'd be surprised if there anything more than a nominal difference (again, if you're just looking for clean input). BTW, I get the whole stigma of recording to the interface but if you can't hear the difference...

The UAD Apollo seems like a really good option too. You can run DSP from the Apollo and take some stress off your computer. I have never used one so I can't really speak to it.

 

[pfschim]

I totally get using a nice DI or external preamp to flavor the input. I use either a Tech21 VT Deluxe (for Ampeggy type flavors) or a Noble DI (for sweet Fender-ish tube flavors) but you really don't NEED one to get a good working tone for tracks as there are so many good tone tweaking options built into most of the current DAW's (or VST options).

I work with a pretty wide variety of songwriters. Some want the flavors I can offer, and some just want really clean and solid level tracks they can adjust as they see fit.
I use my outboard devices in my live rig, so I would have them either way. IMO/IME it's nice to have the option to tweak the track on the input side if you want.

 

[hopeless_opus]

pfschim, thanks for the tip about the M1 macs, I did a little research and while pretty much everything is compatible with Big Sur, but companies are still getting things straightened out with the new M1 architecture. My mbp is still going fine, so I may hold off on the new machine for a bit.

armybass, how do you like the Reddi? I'm definitely interested in it for the specific color/tone it brings.

I have a BDDI, which I sometimes use as well in place of micing up my amp when I want that sound. Personally, I don't have any issues with committing to a sound on the way in, but I do like to capture a clean track as well.

 

[pfschim]

I feel pretty sure that the Apple silicon (M1, M1X ... etc) will deliver serious performance improvements and eventually be fully compatible with any current Mac capable software. FWIW, CPU speed is really not a huge bottleneck these days ... fast RAM, SSD's and fast ports (USB 4, Thunderbolt) as well as your interface through put specs usually represent more of the current system limits for recording.