recording with bass preamp and four track

[lo-end]

Can I plug a bass preamp directly into a 4 track recorder? Im thinking of buying an ampeg preamp and my friend is letting me borrow (long term) his 4 track. Do I need a mixer or some kind of impedence matcher or what

 

[KingOfAmps]

Can I plug a bass preamp directly into a 4 track recorder?

Sure! Take the line-out from the pre and stick it in a line-in on the recorder and see how it sounds. Optimally, your 4-track has a channel other than the mic-pre channels so that there is no need to "double-pre" since you are using your Ampeg pre to bring your instrument's level up to the line-level that your 4-track wants. Not to mention the fact that the Ampeg pre does a better job altogether; the 4-track's pre will just degrade your signal. Usually, the less in the signal chain the better.

So hopefully your 4-track has a channel with no extra gain. Most mixers will have at least one stereo channel (typically two 1/4" jacks, one marked L and one R) that will accomodate this. Usually you'll plug into the Left channel if you have a Mono source (which you do).

Another option worth trying (just for the experience) that's easy is with a plain old cassette deck with RCA ins. You'll need a special cable called a "Y" cable. Not an "insert" cable. That's tricky cuz all the Banjo-Mart employees who truly know-it-all will assume you want an insert cable. You will have to explain it to them like this: I want to put a Mono signal in two different places! They'll get real confused and say, "Why?"

The Y-cord will allow you to record your bass to the left and right on the tape deck. It's the simplest and cheapest way to practice getting your bass recorded well.

 

[Sloom]

Hosa makes that Y-cable, and it's at Guitar Center. I'm sorry...

Nothing else to add.