Question - Getting An 'Artificial' Sound

[Raiztee]

This question probably isn't worth a thread, but I'm really curious about this so yeah.

I can't explain it well so I'll just put out some examples. I've just started playing bass and when I do play, it kinda sounds like this.



Here are the things I want to do:
-Get rid of the 'thump' sound when my fingers strike the strings
-Have each note blend into the next one so it kinda sounds like 'dururururu' rather than 'dun dun dun dun'.(LOL sorry I can't really put it any other way) so minimal pauses wouldn't be as obvious.
-Have the bass sound blend into the studio stuff.

How do I get this 'artificial' sound? Do I have to play normally through an audio interface and manually tweak the sound to get it? Do I have to get a better bass? A better amp? Pedals? Do I have to use three fingers to produce a more consistent sound with notes blending into each other better? Is it impossible to get rid of the 'thump' sound your fingers produce? Do I need a good audio interface? Are unrecorded/recorded sounds that different?

Many thanks!

 

[Hobobob]

Honestly, you just need to practice. Figure out more ways to strike the strings, and develop a method to get the sound you're after.

 

[Einherjar]

I didn't listen, but unless the other one was using some kind of effects, what you're describing is probably just symptomatic of not knowing how to play the bass well yet. Get a teacher if you don't have one yet. Practice lots. But make sure you're practicing right and not creating bad habits.

Also, the type of bass you have, strings you're using, fingers vs pick, and amp you're playing through will all effect your sound. Some sounds you just can't get with certain set ups.

 

[BassyBill]

You're not a million miles away from getting that sort of style going. Take more care with left hand fingering - at the moment, you're having to jump positions and as a result you're fractionally late fretting the string cleanly when you change notes. Hence the thump or fret buzz on the first pluck of the new note. Pay VERY close attention to the balance between your right hand plucking force and your left hand fretting force and PRECISELY when these forces act (slow down to do this - just comparing the effect of varying the two forces on individual notes - and then speed up gradually).

Also, try a new set of good roundwound strings (with a decent setup job if necessary) if you want something closer to the tone in the second video. I bet if you heard that bass track isolated there'd be a whole load of finger and fret noise in there, but that stuff does tend to get buried in a mix. As a real classic example in a different genre, check out these two vids - the first is the original, then it's the isolated bass track.