• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Making fingerstyle sound decent on a home PC. Do I need a preamp?

Marston

Marston

Aug 20, 2013
28
5
#1
I have an Ibanez SR505 (converted to passive) and an old Toneport GX. With my very limited knowledge of DAWs and gear I can make it sound passable when I play with a pick. However, I'm more interested in fingerstyle and it sounds lame as hell on that setup. From what I understand, I need a preamp. Is that correct?

I tried my friend's Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and it sounded as bad as my Toneport. I want to keep it simple and only buy one piece of equipment if possible. My budget is about $250. For reference, this is the kind of sound I want. Just good ol' Fender Jazz Bass, although some overdrive (like the Boss ODB-3) wouldn't hurt as an extra feature.

 
#2
Do you want to enhance the sound for recording? Or, for practice? Or, for just playing along recordings?

I use a virtual amp software like IK Multimedia Amplitube and I barely ever plug my bass to a real amplifier anymore.

With virtual amp software, you get access to amp heads, amp cabs, pedals and rack effects with one tool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bullshark, dbsfgyd1, franklindayala and 2 others
#3
Marston said:
With my very limited knowledge of DAWs and gear I can make it sound passable when I play with a pick. However, I'm more interested in fingerstyle and it sounds lame as hell on that setup.
Click to expand...
You answered your own question. You need more knowledge, not more gear. The good thing is that it's free and you can start learning how to do this immediately. Watch some bass mixing tutorials on YouTube as a place to start.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bullshark, Wasnex, FullumMusic and 2 others
#4
Marston said:
I have an Ibanez SR505 (converted to passive)
Click to expand...

Marston said:
I want. Just good ol' Fender Jazz Bass
Click to expand...
Does your bass lack the tone you're looking for through an amp and live situation? If so, perhaps it's not the interface. Maybe dump the Ibby and get a Jazz bass. Perhaps convert the SR back to an active bass? I've had a few different interfaces over the years, and a couple different DAWs and what goes in sound/tone wise comes out same (unless altered). As posted above, youtube is a good place to start to learn some bass mixing tips. Maybe some modeling effects or plug ins will get you what you want. There are a bunch of free and or inexpensive plug-ins out there.
Best of luck, I hope you find what you need.
 
  • Like
Reactions: InhumanResource and JRA
#6
Can we hear a recording? Even a short sample will give us a lot of context.

No context question: how old are your strings?

I don't record as often as I should, but after messing with Logic a bit more recently, I've found that it isn't anywhere near as tough as I thought (at least in terms of equipment) to record something that sounds pretty good. My recording setup is relatively simple, just bass --> Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 --> 2018 iPad Pro. Logic includes a "bass amp designer" plugin, and your DAW may include something similar. If you need a free option, you can probably use something like Neural Amp Modeler to do anything you need. The biggest trick I've found is to start with everything flat in whichever plugin you're using; it's not usually worth tweaking the built-in presets.
 
#7
LoTone said:
Do you want to enhance the sound for recording? Or, for practice? Or, for just playing along recordings?

I use a virtual amp software like IK Multimedia Amplitube and I barely ever plug my bass to a real amplifier anymore.

With virtual amp software, you get access to amp heads, amp cabs, pedals and rack effects with one tool.
Click to expand...
And that type of software keeps getting better. Amplitube is very nice, and I also like the Ampeg stuff.
 
#11
Amp sim or EQ. These can be done before interface and DAW or from within the DAW post recording. I usually record straight bass to interface. That way you get a clean uncolored recording to play with and you don't have to "undo" anything you decided you didn't like when recording. That said, I sometimes throw a Tech21 BDDI between the bass and interface if I know what I want.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TOOL460002, Brandon Shea and funkinbottom
#12
TBH, to me, this sounds like a technique thing.

You mention you dont play alot of fingerstyle so.. Keep practicing. It takes a while to get the right attack, release etc etc etc.

If the problem is unwanted sounds, a fretwrap will help. A Limiter, compressor and EQ might help too. These can be found either as software, or as pedals.
Except the fretwrap, thats basically a glorified sock.
 
#14
Marston said:
I have an Ibanez SR505 (converted to passive) and an old Toneport GX. With my very limited knowledge of DAWs and gear I can make it sound passable when I play with a pick. However, I'm more interested in fingerstyle and it sounds lame as hell on that setup. From what I understand, I need a preamp. Is that correct?

I tried my friend's Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and it sounded as bad as my Toneport. I want to keep it simple and only buy one piece of equipment if possible. My budget is about $250. For reference, this is the kind of sound I want. Just good ol' Fender Jazz Bass, although some overdrive (like the Boss ODB-3) wouldn't hurt as an extra feature.

Click to expand...



What DAW?

If it does plugins, I'd use a plugin that emulates an old Ampeg. The two cheapest, easiest and simplest to get going:

PLUGINS4FREE

PLUGINS 4 FREE - Free Audio Plug-ins and Archives
plugins4free.com plugins4free.com

You want some old fridge plus a tube head sound? yeah.

The other option:

TSE Audio - Software

TSE AUDIO
www.tseaudio.com www.tseaudio.com

It's a bass driver basically.

Free. Easy. To use them, install. Plug Bass directly in. Put either plugin on the track. Tweak. Make sure you're monitoring post effects. Play and record. You can technically play and record a performance and switch plugins if you want to experiment.

If you want more pro version with IR and all that... can still do for free but it's more work. If your interested, I'll link it up if you respond.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Brandon Shea
#15
Marston said:
I have an Ibanez SR505 (converted to passive) and an old Toneport GX. With my very limited knowledge of DAWs and gear I can make it sound passable when I play with a pick. However, I'm more interested in fingerstyle and it sounds lame as hell on that setup. From what I understand, I need a preamp. Is that correct?

I tried my friend's Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and it sounded as bad as my Toneport. I want to keep it simple and only buy one piece of equipment if possible. My budget is about $250. For reference, this is the kind of sound I want. Just good ol' Fender Jazz Bass, although some overdrive (like the Boss ODB-3) wouldn't hurt as an extra feature.

Click to expand...


A lot of people get by with using a Scarlett direct into a DAW, with maybe a bit of compression before the Scarlett. My own chain when recording is Bass > MXR bass compressor > Radial DI > Scarlett 6i6 (discontinued) > DAW. The sound engineer I work with is happy with that setup when I deliver tracks. That's when I'm going for a clean 'straight into the board' approach.

Note that the Scarlett interfaces come generally come with preamps on their inputs, at least the mic ones. (I think? - you might want to check the Focusrite site to be sure...)
 
#16
For all the headache it could save you, I honestly would get an interface that specializes in recording guitar/bass direct. It's just so much easier.

Line 6 Pod Express Bass is a great option. Right into the DAW of your choice (Garageband, etc.).
 
#17
Without hearing examples it's tough to say what you need or don't need.

If this is your first time recording direct, one thing that can be alarming at first is how much stuff you hear on playback that you'll never hear coming out of an amp playing with a band. Finger noise, occasional fret clang, maybe even some uneven response across the strings/pickups that has been accounted for by EQ'ing an amp. IME soloed bass tracks that were DI never sound like "me", but they aren't supposed to sound like a live rig. They have to sit well in a recorded mix.

When I was home recording stuff on the cheap, I would always use a Sansamp BDDI or VT Bass for tone shaping. Even on a lo-fi setup, those little boxes impart some magic.
 
#19
Marston said:
. From what I understand, I need a preamp. Is that correct?
Click to expand...
No, A Toneport IS a preamp.
You do not need more gear,
you just need to use the gear you have properly

I think any decent instrument, played with decent technique ,
will sound perfectly decent through the Focusrite' s preamp.

so +1 to checking your knob-fu and ensuring you are setting signal levels correctly between Toneport >PC > speakers/headphones
and +1 to checking your technique

Have you tried fingerstyling through an alternate amp / signal path that you know is solid?

Also maybe check your expectations. Do you know what a good fingerstyle signal sounds like?
 
#20
mambo4 said:
No, A Toneport IS a preamp.
You do not need more gear,
you just need to use the gear you have properly
Click to expand...

Marston,

The Toneport is loaded with amp sims, preamp sims, effects…are you using any of them?

And what DAW are you using?

I have never had any problems connecting direct to an audio interface and into a DAW. If you aren't familiar with what a DIed bass sounds like, it's easy to think the tone sucks. I practice using my audio interface as a headphone amp all the time. It sounds great to me without any processing at all.

That video doesn't mention how the bass was recorded. Probably they used a miked amp. As I'm sure you know both the amp and the mike used to record colors the sound. Even if was recorded direct it probably went through either some processing whether outboard or in the computer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MonetBass

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back