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Recording and setting up Bass

M

musicman1705

Jan 8, 2007
3
0
#1
Hi,All

I have just bought my first bass to use in my DAW( Ibanez SRX500) at home.I only play in the studio at home. This is what i need to know.I am going to be playing mostly blues and rock.Problem One! i don,t have a Bass Amp, but i was going to invest in amplitube for Bass guitar.I am trying to stay away from Amps so i was thinking of Amplitube Good idea?.Otherwise i was thinking if i need to go to an Amp is there a good small Amp model that has good recording quaities that i could invest in?

One more question while i am still waiting to disside what to buy(Bass Amp or Amplitube) can i just go direct with the Bass with a little Pre-Amp and get good enough quaity tracks for now.I am sorry i have not introduced myself in the introduction thread first,So i will say hi to all now and i thank you all for your help
 
#2
I always go direct. I have tried micing my amp, coming out of the preamp out of my amp, and going direct. I prefer to go direct. I use my MXR M-80 which is a bit of a preamp, direct box and distortion pedal all rolled into one. Most studio work I have ever done involved me plugging directly into the board or using a direct box and then into the board. You can get a nice clean sound that takes to eq that way. Also when going direct you don't get the sound of your room.
There was a write up on the Ampeg plug-in in bass player magazine I will have to go back and read it.
 
#4
yes, welcome musicman! if you do a search you will find this sort of question has been asked many times before. there's a wealth of info here on this forum. but in a nutshell, unless you have a some good acoustical treatment in your studio, some goods mics, and a good amp, you're probably better off recording direct, like Edwcdc said.

personally i can't say enough about the sansamp bass driver di. it's a di and a pre-amp that SOUNDS TOTALLY AMAZING. i think it runs about $150 new.

the countryman di85 is a great basic di that is used by a lot of folks. great sound, vitually indestructible.

another option is a bass podxt, which seems to spark a lot of, shall i say, extreme views on both sides. some love it, some say it sounds completely and totally awful. i've used one in the past and thought it sounded good. you get a lot of flexibility with it if you want to twiddle some knobs and experiment.

if you go the amp route there will probably also be some kind of direct out on it you could use. as i mentioned before though if you go the amp mic'ing method you'll also of course need a mic at the very least. at most you'll need acoustical treatment in your room. and mic'ing an amp means you probably will not have total flexibility with regard to the times you play/record. meaning, doubtful you'll be able to play at midnite should the inspiration strike then.

you'll find there is no "best way." there are ways that are considered generally accepted practices but there are very few absolutes. the "best way" is the way that fits into your budget, space, and sounds the best to YOU. good luck and have fun!
 
#7
I am use PC /2.00 GHz /512MB.Dell 8200.I am using e-mu1820m soundcard.I would thing i would be using 1/4 inch plug-ins in the E-mu 1820M with pre-amp and Bass.I was thinking of investing in Amplitube for bass.I use this for my guitars with good results.but if there is a better and less expensive bass product that is software i am all ears.Thanks for everything so far.Its great to help from everyone and i thank you again.

P.S I have one of the one of those ART tube MP Pre-Amp.It,s smal but it sound pretty good.It is one in and one out.Do you think i could get desent results with this?
 
#8
musicman1705 said:
P.S I have one of the one of those ART tube MP Pre-Amp.It,s smal but it sound pretty good.It is one in and one out.Do you think i could get desent results with this?
Click to expand...

As long as you just want bass, and not bass tone to end all bass tones, than yes, it'll do fine. I've used it. Kinda boring sounding, but it was bass, alright.

A dedicated bass DI, like one of the inexpensive types described earlier, will work much better in the long run. Bass software emulation would only be necessary if you're looking for a distinct, classic, or hard-to-get bass sound IMO. Most of us just go DI, or a combination DI and mic'd cab.
 
#11
Thanks All you have give my a lot to think about.I really wanted to stay away from miking an Amp(In my small room) and it seems thats whats recomended here thats great. I hear alot of votes for Sansamp well i am really going to take a good hard look at it.I really like the overall price also you can,t beat that.
I must say i am amazed at how well the software programs are these days is hard to tell the diffence between a real miked Amp or ones that have been created though sound modeling.
Mind you i have only been playing with these sound modeling programs for the last few years and my ears are not use to hearing the difference between the real miked Amp or one of the sound models samples.As i am still a baby when it comes to producing and hearing whats best.

Thanks again all.
 

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