If could only have 3 pedals for recording

[40Hz]

I’d go in with zero signal processors such as a compressor or DI and let the studio handle that for me. They can afford (and probably have) better compressors and DIs than I could justify spending money on.

Whatever pedals I did bring would be more along the lines of an unusual preamp or OD (e.g. Ictineo, Linden EQ, Unit67 et al.), or what I think of as “effecty” effects such as delay and/or modulation. But only if they were essential to a song I was recording on.

If the studio didn’t have a B-15N in house I’d also ask if I could bring mine along. I’ve yet to have any studio that didn’t have their own pass up that offer.

 

[Real Soon]

Rock out with that MXR; they're thought to be a lot of pedal for the money. If your noise floor is nice and low when plugged in and ready to record, it's doing what you need.

 

[Hardbassjunkie]

Rock out with that MXR; they're thought to be a lot of pedal for the money. If your noise floor is nice and low when plugged in and ready to record, it's doing what you need.

I like the sounds of that haha

 

[GMC]

Hardly budget friendly. =D

That really depends on value vs budget. If they are the last and only three pedals you'll buy...you will only do this once. The H9 Max is expensive, but the other two cores are quite cheap comparitively (they max up once plugged into a laptop with the max).

 

[DanGroove]

I am recording bass and I would like to keep things cheap and simple. Right now I am just plugging my bass into an interface and editing the tone and EQing on garage band. I been told that have pedals will improve the sound. I'm pretty happy with what I can do an garage band but I'm always looking to improve things.

I only want to get three pedals. I want to keep it simple and not pay hundreds for a pedal chain. I'll use a piece of wood. What three specific pedals would you guys use? And what order would you out them in? There is a Boss compression sustainer cs-3 for $70 and a CS-2 for $100 I'm thinking of.

I'm asking for suggestions that are budget friendly ($150 or less) but not super cheap and crappy. I currently have an MXR bass di plus as a preamp but do I need it if i can EQ on garageband?

for around the $450 top end price that 3 pedals at your price point would cost I’d get a Line6 HX Stomp. It’s $499 but gets you a plethora of pedals and effects, amp and cab sims, ability to load IR’s etc. Plus you can parallel process and keep a direct signal as well so you're bottom doesn't drop out with fuzz and filter effects. I think it even works as a recording interface like its big brother the full Helix, but I'm not 100% on that.

 

[matante]

I use Garageband as well and everything you need for a decent recording is already included. Learn to use it and you'll find the built-in pedalboard designer and other effects are all perfectly useable. The only reason to go into better stuff would be for a more serious recording, like if you wanted to release an album. If you get to that point you'll be with a recording engineer and using the studio's effects.

Also, a lot of people on talkbass either misuse the term DI or don't really know what a DI does. You absolutely do NOT need one for home recording. At home, you're able to plug straight into your interface with a short cable -- it doesn't get any more direct than that. The purpose of a DI box is to transform your signal from an unbalanced one to a balanced one, so you can run long cables without picking up noise. That's needed at a gig (or recording studio) where the mixing desk might be 50 feet away. It's not needed if you're recording in your bedroom.

Also, remember that countless professional recordings are done without amps or amp sims, just the bass, a little compression, and a little EQ. It all depends on the sound you want so don't feel obligated to use any effects at all.

 

[adamaarts]

You don’t need a DI if you have a usb interface. Those essentially are doing the same thing. But a tone shaping preamp/DI could be useful. If you’re just beginning, I’d try out plugins that do the effect you’re after and really see if that’s something you want to go and buy a pedal for.

if I had to choose 3 for myself, it’d be a tuner, Neve RNDI, and Shift Line Olympic. Tuner is self explanatory, if you’re not in tune nothing else matters. RNDI adds a warmth and sweetness to bass that I just won’t record without. Olympic I use to record a separate ‘tube amp’ sound and blend that as necessary. Now, I record a ton and have spent years optimizing my signal chain. I’ve essentially gone to the best I could find without concern for budget, so it’s not easily attainable for everyone, and I understand that.

Just have fun, experiment, learn, and put in the work!

 

[Rabidhamster]

I am recording bass and I would like to keep things cheap and simple. Right now I am just plugging my bass into an interface and editing the tone and EQing on garage band. I been told that have pedals will improve the sound. I'm pretty happy with what I can do an garage band but I'm always looking to improve things.

I only want to get three pedals. I want to keep it simple and not pay hundreds for a pedal chain. I'll use a piece of wood. What three specific pedals would you guys use? And what order would you out them in? There is a Boss compression sustainer cs-3 for $70 and a CS-2 for $100 I'm thinking of.

I'm asking for suggestions that are budget friendly ($150 or less) but not super cheap and crappy. I currently have an MXR bass di plus as a preamp but do I need it if i can EQ on garageband?

The preamp boosts the signal improving signal to noise ratio and is impedance matched for your instrument.

If you don’t know what you want why get anything?

 

[The Rage]

I’d go in with zero signal processors such as a compressor or DI and let the studio handle that for me. They can afford (and probably have) better compressors and DIs than I could justify spending money on.

+1

On a budget a zoom B3n is hard to beat.

 

[And I]

The purpose of a DI box is to transform your signal from an unbalanced one to a balanced one, so you can run long cables without picking up noise.

If we're being technical, a DI box converts a high impedance signal to a low impedance signal. Your recording interface probably has an instrument level input so I agree you shouldn't need a DI.

As to the OP's question, it depends on what tones / sounds you need for the song. Effects like an envelope filter (I use the mxr m-82) can give you that sound in an authentic way. Also I might reach for a good bass overdrive if the song calls for it. I use a SolidgoldFX beta.

 

[Paulabass]

None. I would put on my effects in post.

 

[40Hz]

None. I would put on my effects in post.

I might or might not. But either way I’d generally prefer to split my signal and send one dry and one wet to the console. That would allow for the engineer to mix and match, or add effects post, or optionally have a source track to reamp it later on.

 

[Standalone]

I’m a passive bass player and would really only want something like a preamp with a high MOhm input to really help my pickups sing

 

[lz4005]

For recording, all you need is a way to get your signal into the DAW. With plugins, you don't need external pedals.

There's still a place for external compression in front of the interface. Particularly if the part you're recording has a lot of dynamic range. Like if you're doing slapping and finger style in the same take. Or building in intensity from relatively quiet to very loud.

Not that it needs to be in the form of a pedal. Rack gear would be just as good if not better.

 

[bassbrad]

I am recording bass and I would like to keep things cheap and simple. Right now I am just plugging my bass into an interface and editing the tone and EQing on garage band. I been told that have pedals will improve the sound. I'm pretty happy with what I can do an garage band but I'm always looking to improve things.

I only want to get three pedals. I want to keep it simple and not pay hundreds for a pedal chain. I'll use a piece of wood. What three specific pedals would you guys use? And what order would you out them in? There is a Boss compression sustainer cs-3 for $70 and a CS-2 for $100 I'm thinking of.

I'm asking for suggestions that are budget friendly ($150 or less) but not super cheap and crappy. I currently have an MXR bass di plus as a preamp but do I need it if i can EQ on garageband?

I’m a passive bass player and would really only want something like a preamp with a high MOhm input to really help my pickups sing

Southampton Ictineo will make you bass tone sit up and take charge in any track you record. It also works great on other instruments. Any other effects you need you can add in your DAW.

 

[Standalone]

Southampton Ictineo will make you bass tone sit up and take charge in any track you record. It also works great on other instruments. Any other effects you need you can add in your DAW.

I tried my EHX Battalion live last night second set and really enjoyed playing it. Great sound, subtle compression. Really brought the whole band together

 

[tedsalt]

Rupert Neve RNDI. Or maybe the studio has one.

 

[skydivingninja]

I am recording bass and I would like to keep things cheap and simple. Right now I am just plugging my bass into an interface and editing the tone and EQing on garage band. I been told that have pedals will improve the sound. I'm pretty happy with what I can do an garage band but I'm always looking to improve things.

I only want to get three pedals. I want to keep it simple and not pay hundreds for a pedal chain. I'll use a piece of wood. What three specific pedals would you guys use? And what order would you out them in? There is a Boss compression sustainer cs-3 for $70 and a CS-2 for $100 I'm thinking of.

I'm asking for suggestions that are budget friendly ($150 or less) but not super cheap and crappy. I currently have an MXR bass di plus as a preamp but do I need it if i can EQ on garageband?

I typically EQ in my DAW to make the bass sit better in the mix so I don't think you need a pedal for that. Besides your preamp I say go for what the song needs. For me that's a fuzz (Earthquaker Cloven Hoof), modulation (MXR bass chorus on the flanger setting), and a delay or reverb (MXR Carbon Copy).

 

[Mikey F]

Rent an svt and get a tuner.

 

[getBAK]

I'm a firm believer in recording a clean signal and adding effects later. The effects chain is like adding salt to scrambled eggs, easy to get in, impossible to get out.
So - all I want:
Invalid Link Removed for my DI. It's got an amazing tube emulator that will sweeten up the sound.

Spend the rest of the money on a good set of closed-back headphones like Invalid Link Removed