Recording with effects - pedals or software?

If you can split your signal, and record both your bass clean and your bass with effect to separate tracks, you will always have the option to apply software effect, clean blend, etc, so your sound can work better in the final mix than with just an effected line that you are stuck with it.

 

Studio will probably have means to split your signal. If you can it's the best bet. Take a totally dry in, a wet DI off of the amp, and a mic (or two) on your amp. Use whichever blend works best in post.

 

I'm assuming your recording to digital which means plenty of tracks.
Depending on how they record, the worse would be 4 DI boxes
Unless you, the producer, or the engineer have a vision as to what your bass should sound like in the final mix, it's better to cut flat

OTOH, I'm used to having plenty of time in the studio
If you're on a budget and trying to get some quick tracks down with minimal mix time, us the effects and go for it!
(that's how we used to make records...)

 

You really need to record dry/clean track. If you are able to split your signal and record a wet signal as well, fine. If not, the sound tech will be able to work with your signal (re-amping it) after it's recorded...

I almost never use my compressor in studio.

 

I'll echo what the others have said.

Unless it is integral to your playing, better leave it off. Splitting the signal would be the best possible situation too. I feel things like Reverb, phasing, some (fattening) OD are best done in the box, unless you have a very specific sound going for you.

 

The studio should be prepared to record both a wet and dry track for bass possibly more. If possible contact the engineer/producer in advance to get the lay of the land to be best prepared for the session. If you are recording prepared band tracks then the ball is in your court as far as the sounds recorded. Using hardware is almost always preferred over virtual choices if practical but the virtual world is getting pretty durn good these days, but I still prefer the hardware especially if is is pedal sized.

 

For my last recording I splitted my signal from my Samsamp's paralel output. I recorded that clean sound through a tube mic preamp and the overdriven tone from the sansamp straight to the console.

In three songs I add some flanger .. the producer added it in the mix with some plug in which I don't remember. Playing live I use a Zoom MS60B

 

I’m in the studio way too much. Not sure what studio you are going to, but if they have really nice compressors (hardware)you can record into those. I love chains of light compression, but the main thing to understand is that compressing your signal after it hits the computer is not the same as compressing it before it passes through the converters and prints a WAV file.

So you want to have light compression going in and then get heavier it during the mix.

I see that he will split the signal, which is cool. Usually that is used when you want to distort one track or run it through an amp and have a DI’d clean track going in as well.

 

In the past I’ve always taken a dry signal but always had mics on my cab also so that when recording I catch the vibe for my sound, especially with original music. It’s really all about the performance more thany anything else....if your tone is off but the performance is nailed it won’t matter...the other way and it will matter.