No it's not. It's a nice effect, if you like that kind of thing, but it's not a necessity.
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No it's not. It's a nice effect, if you like that kind of thing, but it's not a necessity.
ok, let me rephrase,
i find a cab sim to be an effective tonal shaper when going direct.
the one i use has balanced out that i feed into a mic pre on my Audient id14.
it is especially nice when playing live into a PA with my onboard J-Retro and Aguilar preamps.
i like the results.
there, i think that's worded better.
i find a cab sim to be an effective tonal shaper when going direct.
the one i use has balanced out that i feed into a mic pre on my Audient id14.
it is especially nice when playing live into a PA with my onboard J-Retro and Aguilar preamps.
i like the results.
there, i think that's worded better.
Lots of good words here about DI's and preamps.
The only thing I can chime in with is try to get the sound you're looking for at the source. I realize that one of the current flavours of the day is to just get a clean signal in and then fix it in the mix. I have found that if you start with the correct tones it saves hours of screwing around on the computer and usually coming up with a compromised result.
The only thing I can chime in with is try to get the sound you're looking for at the source. I realize that one of the current flavours of the day is to just get a clean signal in and then fix it in the mix. I have found that if you start with the correct tones it saves hours of screwing around on the computer and usually coming up with a compromised result.
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I've tried lots and lots of different ways to record bass direct.
One of the best has been this Genz Benz GBE 250c combo amp.
It has the most quietest and good sounding D.I. outs I've ever experienced so far,
and there's a bunch of different sounds in there so it's highly versatile too.
Usually I prefer to monitor through the 2x10's in the amp. But if it's too late
at night or I want to stay silent I'll unplug the speakers and monitor through
headphones.
One of the best has been this Genz Benz GBE 250c combo amp.
It has the most quietest and good sounding D.I. outs I've ever experienced so far,
and there's a bunch of different sounds in there so it's highly versatile too.
Usually I prefer to monitor through the 2x10's in the amp. But if it's too late
at night or I want to stay silent I'll unplug the speakers and monitor through
headphones.
I'm in the same boat with recording, and can only do it direct too. Within the past year, I've tried a host of different DI's, and decided to roll with the Ampeg SCR-DI. I primarily use a Fender Deluxe Active Jazz V, and play both finger style, and with a plectrum. In my opinion, for $200 the Ampeg is very hard to beat. I don't use a cab sim, and still get a very solid sounding, and well balanced tone from it. There's a small thread about them here.
Ampeg SCR-DI
Great points in this quote! People often forget why they are recording in the first place.
With an active bass, I don't think you need anything. Between the bass' preamp and the board, you should have as much EQ as you need. The signal from the bass should be plenty. I've recorded passive basses straight to the board and they sounded fine.
i completely agree.
i have 3 basses now,
Fender Jazz FSR passive with Fralin hum cancelling pups
Bacchus Woodline 24 DX-JHCB dual coils with Aguilar OBP2
Godin A4 fretless - mag/piezo/preamp
all sound great through my DSM OmniCabSim DI into the board/PA/interface.
but what fun is that?
LOL, that is what it is about, now, isn't it.
+1 on the WA76 providing real audible benefits. The transformers add some character and seem to make things just a tad more articulate. And the way the compression can clamp down with fairly large amounts of peak reduction without making the signal sound like the life's been squashed out of it is so helpful when it comes to the mix - I find myself having to draw considerably less volume automation moves on vocals and needing little if any volume automation on bass.
If you're going for a straight DI, I'd definitely recommend the Avalon U5.
I have one in my studio and it gets used on every session. I could literally use the DI's completely clean in a mix and be happy because it sounds so tight. It also has microphone and line level outputs, meaning you can completely bypass the preamp in your interface (by going from the line level) or using it as a DI into another microphone pre. Or both!
If you're looking for a preamp to give a bit of colour that also has a direct input I can't recommend the Warm Audio WA12 enough. Anything API 312 style is a perfect fit for bass but the Warm is just so cheap and so good!
I have one in my studio and it gets used on every session. I could literally use the DI's completely clean in a mix and be happy because it sounds so tight. It also has microphone and line level outputs, meaning you can completely bypass the preamp in your interface (by going from the line level) or using it as a DI into another microphone pre. Or both!
If you're looking for a preamp to give a bit of colour that also has a direct input I can't recommend the Warm Audio WA12 enough. Anything API 312 style is a perfect fit for bass but the Warm is just so cheap and so good!
Yeah I usually record bass direct in. If I want a really clean signal I'll just use a processed DI signal, and I'll only use and amp/cab simulator if I want some grit.
Completely context dependent.
on our newest album I ran direct. Ran through my compressor and duality fuzz then to a sans amp rbi. The RBI has a dry/thru 1/4" out which went to a darkglass b7k ultra. Used the xlr out of the sans amp to one channel on an API and the xlr out of the b7k ultra to an Avalon vt727sp which is a high end tube pre and used its eq to dona slight cut at 500hz and a slight boost at 30hz and 60hz and that went to another channel on the API.
The album is still not mixed and mastered but here's a sample of my clean tone without the dirt from the fuzz or b7k distortion switch on.
The album is still not mixed and mastered but here's a sample of my clean tone without the dirt from the fuzz or b7k distortion switch on.
