Recording an active bass

[NoSlapForYou]

So I'm trying to record my new active bass but I'm getting a lot of clipping. I have a Presonus USB96 and I'm going into Logic Pro X. I have the instrument input gain control literally all the way down (-10 dB). I know I can turn down my instrument too, but that seems to negatively affect the tone.

Is there some better solution? Would a DI box help? Do I need a better audio interface? There's no pad button on this one.

 

[Gigas444]

I use a Mooer Micro DI with which you can chose the output at 0 db added, + 20 db or -20 db, it has an integrated cab sim too and can fit almost in every pedalboard, with active hot signal instrument I found it works perfectly, and it's cheap too, in EU you can find it for sale at 40 € more or less

 

[seamonkey]

Are you sure it's clipping?

Are the meters peaking RED on the interface, or in the DAW?

Clipping usually doesn't sound 'bad' until you get up over 10%, so a little red flashing may be fine.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

It's flashing red on the interface and it sounds like crap.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I do have an Ampeg PF-50T amp head that can be used as a preamp. It can be run without a load. Not sure if that would help. I'm thinking it wouldn't because I had trouble with the recording levels being too hot on that even with a passive bass. Maybe I could run my instrument through the -15dB input on that with the gain on it all the way down?

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I use a Mooer Micro DI with which you can chose the output at 0 db added, + 20 db or -20 db, it has an integrated cab sim too and can fit almost in every pedalboard, with active hot signal instrument I found it works perfectly, and it's cheap too, in EU you can find it for sale at 40 € more or less

Yeah, I was thinking I might need a DI with a dB pad. A surprising amount of them don't. Radial's seem to as well, but the Mooer sounds like a good option because of its size.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I do have an Ampeg PF-50T amp head that can be used as a preamp. It can be run without a load. Maybe I could run my instrument through the -15dB input on that with the gain on it all the way down?

Update: I did this and it mostly solved the problem. There's still a little digital distortion coming from something, but the audio interface is no longer registering any clipping.

 

[And I]

I wasn't surprised to hear about clipping the input of this particular PreSonus interface. I had a PreSonus Firestudio and i found those preamps quite good / could handle whatever I threw at them. I have used a couple of the newer, smaller PreSonus USB interfaces, and they both had this problem--clipping way before I would expect them to.

Is the output of this bass so hot that it's unruly when plugged into the amp? if you need to run it through the -15db input with the gain all the way down, the preamp may be too hot. some preamps have a trim pot so you can adjust the overall output. if the pre in your bass has one of these, i would turn it down.

if not, and it sounds / works fine through your amp/cab, then i would suggest a DI with a pad for recording, the Radial JDI is a good solid choice. Alternatively, ditch the PreSonus and get a Tascam or Focusrite...

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I wasn't surprised to hear about clipping the input of this particular PreSonus interface. I had a PreSonus Firestudio and i found those preamps quite good / could handle whatever I threw at them. I have used a couple of the newer, smaller PreSonus USB interfaces, and they both had this problem--clipping way before I would expect them to.

Is the output of this bass so hot that it's unruly when plugged into the amp? if you need to run it through the -15db input with the gain all the way down, the preamp may be too hot. some preamps have a trim pot so you can adjust the overall output. if the pre in your bass has one of these, i would turn it down.

if not, and it sounds / works fine through your amp/cab, then i would suggest a DI with a pad for recording, the Radial JDI is a good solid choice. Alternatively, ditch the PreSonus and get a Tascam or Focusrite...

I'm thinking about upgrading my audio interface to a USB-C/Thuderbolt 3 DI anyway. Right now I have to use the Presonus with my older Mac because of connectivity issues with my new Mac. Any good suggestions for a reasonably priced USB-C audio interface?

My buddy has a Focusrite and he tends to use the same Logic bass sounds that I do with much better results. So maybe that's the way to go...

 

[NoSlapForYou]

As for the bass itself, I run it through the regular input on my amp with the gain at 10 o'clock with no issue. I sometimes use the -15 dB pad, but only for the benefit of my neighbors.

Thanks for all your input @And I .

 

[MonetBass]

That's odd. I've recorded my active Jazz bass (9v) into my Presonus USB Audiobox (direct) without issues. And the volume of the bass was on full.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

Like I mentioned above, I've even had issues with passive instruments and that interface. So I suspect the problem starts there. It's generally well reviewed online, so it surprises me too.

 

[kalle74]

Clipping usually doesn't sound 'bad' until you get up over 10%, so a little red flashing may be fine.

Clipping on what? 10% of what?

 

[seamonkey]

Clipping on what? 10% of what?

10% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion)
10% THD on a "Normal" interface, pre-amp, or amp is Not going to sound "bad". You'll see meters peak into red, or a clip indicator light up, but it's in the range that most people like.

You can do a loop-back test. See REW site for how to test an interface.
REW - Room EQ Wizard Room Acoustics Software

Maybe some brands of pres, interfaces, ... are horrible, most aren't.

 

[kalle74]

You'll see meters peak into red, or a clip indicator light up, but it's in the range that most people like.

Errrrm... Try going over 0 dBFS, see how it sounds like and report back. Depends on metering.

On analog-style meters, red usually indicates being near, or into overload. However, analog gear has headroom above 0dBu, so the sound might even benefit from this

On most digital meters, red indicates digital clipping (some meters go into red, say 3dB before 0dBFS), e.g. over "full scale". And digital clipping sounds spectacularly bad.

 

[seamonkey]

Errrrm... Try going over 0 dBFS, see how it sounds like and report back. Depends on metering.

On analog-style meters, red usually indicates being near, or into overload. However, analog gear has headroom above 0dBu, so the sound might even benefit from this

On most digital meters, red indicates digital clipping (some meters go into red, say 3dB before 0dBFS), e.g. over "full scale". And digital clipping sounds spectacularly bad.

Not it doesn't.
You can prove it to yourself and friends.
Get a o-scope VST, and a Clipper VST and actually clip a signal.
Then look at a signal you're claiming sounds spectacularly bad - the O-scope is going to show something else going on.