Recording a 5 String

[kyral210]

I plug my signal path into my friends firebox to record in Ableton Live, and I have a problem.

I hit any note on my low B string, and you just get fuzzyness and overloaded signals.

1) Why is this?
2) How can I get over it
3) What is the best way to record a 5 string bass with effects running (including overdrive and fuzz)

 

[joebingo]

I plug my signal path into my friends firebox to record in Ableton Live, and I have a problem.

I hit any note on my low B string, and you just get fuzzyness and overloaded signals.

1) Why is this?
2) How can I get over it
3) What is the best way to record a 5 string bass with effects running (including overdrive and fuzz)

1) dunno
2) try cutting lower frequencies on an EQ
3) add them post production.

 

[fullrangebass]

Have the bass properly set up (I cannot stress harder this important issue of playability and sound). If the pickups favour the bass strings you will always over load the signal. Try adjusting your technique when playing the B string (the wet-noodle feel doesn't help either).
If all fail then try using a compressor (personally I hate any kind of effect, but it looks like here is needed).

 

[lemur821]

Just use your B string when you're figuring out a good input level. The Firebox has gain knobs for both channels, right?

But it sounds like the larger issue is that your B string is much louder than the others. Do you have some funny EQ going on? I would think that your overdrive and fuzz would keep your peaks in the same place all over, and you could just set the gain so that you never clip.

 

[DocBop]

5-string I believes the B-string is down around 40hz and that is pushing the limits of a lot of gear. Maybe a limitor or compressor to even out the signal. Personally I would record the bass dry get solid clean notes, then add the effects later.

 

[fenderhutz]

Use a compressor/limiter.

 

[lemur821]

5-string I believes the B-string is down around 40hz and that is pushing the limits of a lot of gear.

Lower. But 30Hz at -6dB won't tax your gear any more than 40Hz or 1kHz at the same level will. Either his bass is extremely bottom heavy (setup issue) or he's got too much EQ on it in an attempt to add a bunch of low end during the wrong part of the recording process.

He can fix this issue with a compressor, but his tone will probably be better across the board if he fixes the underlying problem.

 

[petersenbass]

I use a Peavey Mixer with USB to send my signal to my computer with Live. When I first started, the same noises you described happened to me. All I did was go to the monitoring icons on your live audio track that you're recording and change the monitor from Auto to Off.

This fixed my similair problem because I was using direct monitoring through my mixer. If your monitoring directly through the firebox, this might be a fix.

 

[Big Willy!]

Ableton, Logic, DP, Tools, Nuendo or any other DAW will not be your problem. The input level is variable on most audio interfaces. Turn it down! Use your B string (hit hard) as your peak input level reference & adjust the input trim until you're under peak level.

The most used piece of gear in a real studio is a compressor. Grab a dBx 160 or 1066. Even a Behringer Composer (if you're on a student budget) will work. Run your bass directly (or post preamp) into the compressor & level off the high amplitude input a bit. It'll help you play more naturally as well because you won't be thinking "Oh crap...am I going to overload the input again?".

Also, if you have EQ onboard your bass, center it. Excessive highs or lows coming out of the instrument can overload input levels. You can add all kinds of EQ later to make your bass sit right where you want it to be in the track.

Hope this helps.

 

[janek65]

Ableton, Logic, DP, Tools, Nuendo or any other DAW will not be your problem. The input level is variable on most audio interfaces. Turn it down! Use your B string (hit hard) as your peak input level reference & adjust the input trim until you're under peak level.

The most used piece of gear in a real studio is a compressor. Grab a dBx 160 or 1066. Even a Behringer Composer (if you're on a student budget) will work. Run your bass directly (or post preamp) into the compressor & level off the high amplitude input a bit. It'll help you play more naturally as well because you won't be thinking "Oh crap...am I going to overload the input again?".

Also, if you have EQ onboard your bass, center it. Excessive highs or lows coming out of the instrument can overload input levels. You can add all kinds of EQ later to make your bass sit right where you want it to be in the track.

Hope this helps.

+ a zillion. Check your levels and get some comp/lim. If you're gonna buy one, get a good one as you're probably going to use it a lot

 

[petersenbass]

Yes it could be your levels, but I had the EXACT same problem and switching the monitroing fixed it. So try both