Tips for the Studio...

[bass12]

My apologies if any of these points have already been mentioned.

- If you have bass options try out each one as part of your sound check at the studio. Your favourite bass (or the one you think should work best) is not always the one that WILL work best. And sometimes it's not just a matter of tone, it's a matter of how the bass in question sounds with the parts you're playing. I recently had to re-record some parts because the bass part I'd laid down needed more space between the notes and the fingering was tricky. So I replayed the part with a more modern-sounding bass (one that wasn't as "pillowy") and this helped the bass part sound punchier and better defined.

- Recording yourself direct before the session is a great idea because there's all kinds of stuff you can get away with live (or when you're not under a microscope) that you can't when recording direct in the studio. Is your fingering clean (I've had to change fingering on the spot because I realized that what I'd being playing in live settings wasn't clean enough in the studio)? Are there moments when, let's say, your pinky is accidentally depressing the g string and producing unwanted noise (the action on your bass - or the types of strings you're using - could be an issue)? Do you have a habit of hitting the strings with your plucking finger between notes to "keep the groove" (that kind of thing can add unwanted noise to your track)? Are you sliding excessively across the strings creating unwanted noise?

 

[Wolfenstein666]

My apologies if any of these points have already been mentioned.

- If you have bass options try out each one as part of your sound check at the studio. Your favourite bass (or the one you think should work best) is not always the one that WILL work best. And sometimes it's not just a matter of tone, it's a matter of how the bass in question sounds with the parts you're playing. I recently had to re-record some parts because the bass part I'd laid down needed more space between the notes and the fingering was tricky. So I replayed the part with a more modern-sounding bass (one that wasn't as "pillowy") and this helped the bass part sound punchier and better defined.

- Recording yourself direct before the session is a great idea because there's all kinds of stuff you can get away with live (or when you're not under a magnifying glass) that you can't when recording direct in the studio. Is your fingering clean (I've had to change fingering on the spot because I realized that what I'd being playing in live settings wasn't clean enough in the studio)? Are there moments when, let's say, your pinky is accidentally depressing the g string and producing unwanted noise (the action on your bass - or the types of strings you're using - could be an issue)? Do you have a habit of hitting the strings with your plucking finger between notes to "keep the groove" (that kind of thing can add unwanted noise to your track)? Are you sliding excessively across the strings creating unwanted noise?

We've all been checking our playing out under the magnifying glass. I'm sure random things will pop up in the studio but we're doing our best to minimize that.

The extraneous noise is something I'm worried about. I'm using my Rickenbacker 4003 to record, and those things can make a racket. I'm bringing my GL Jazz bass with as well just in case, but I'd really like to lay it all down with the Ricky. Unfortunately the only way I'm going to be able to tell which sounds better is when I'm sitting in the booth.

 

[ATLbassist]

I'm using my Rickenbacker 4003 to record, and those things can make a racket.

Does it have Rick-o-Sound? Lots of fun studio options there. Last time I recorded with it, we split the neck pickup signal between the cabinet and DI and then DI for the bridge pickup as well. With one more split, you could lay down 4 bass tracks at once - DI and amp for each pickup!

 

[Wolfenstein666]

Does it have Rick-o-Sound? Lots of fun studio options there. Last time I recorded with it, we split the neck pickup signal between the cabinet and DI and then DI for the bridge pickup as well. With one more split, you could lay down 4 bass tracks at once - DI and amp for each pickup!

Indeed it does have Ric-o-Sound, and I didn't even THINK about the options available to me in the studio with that.

Nasty ass bass tone incoming!!!

 

[Atshen]

Not sure if it's been mentionned, but if possible, have your bass recorded simultaneously direct and mic'ed. It opens up your options at mixdown.

 

[BboogieXVII]

The only recording I've done was with microphoned, live band sound. No click tracks, nothing fancy, no dubs or overdubs. We were prepared, 13 songs total took about 5 hours I think. It wasn't a note for note perfect recording but it was pretty close.

I wouldn't expect a band new to recording to be able to make the best recording with the most advanced techniques the first time out. . Have fun and good luck!

 

[Sav'nBass]

Record your parts on your own computer to get used to it.

I am able to play a part flawlessly 5 times in a row but the moment I know I am recording, it is a complete mess until I stop recording.

Here I thought it was just me. Our guitarist as a studio in his house and we started recording last week.

 

[ThatGingerMojo]

The only recording I've done was with microphoned, live band sound. No click tracks, nothing fancy, no dubs or overdubs. We were prepared, 13 songs total took about 5 hours I think. It wasn't a note for note perfect recording but it was pretty close.

I wouldn't expect a band new to recording to be able to make the best recording with the most advanced techniques the first time out. . Have fun and good luck!

I think this falls under the "stop stressing over the small stuff" way of thinking about this. Keep your expectations realistic and all be be groovy.

 

[bassboysam]

do that many people use click tracks in the studio? we've recorded 3 albums and have never felt the need.

 

[Atshen]

do that many people use click tracks in the studio? we've recorded 3 albums and have never felt the need.

Unless you're recording live in the studio with the whole band, the click helps a lot.

 

[bassboysam]

Unless you're recording live in the studio with the whole band, the click helps a lot.

I guess, but once the drums are recorded why would you need a click?


for the last couple we, played recorded live but only the drums got recorded. then we went back and recorded everything else individually. The first album was all live off the floor with additional guitar overdubs after.

 

[Atshen]

I guess, but once the drums are recorded why would you need a click?

You don't, until you have drumless parts. Even then, the drummer can keep time on the hi-hats and you can edit it out at mixdown.

 

[Korladis]

I'm heading to the studio to record for the first time in June with my band. We're doing our first album (finally). I've been practicing my ass off (2-3 hours a night, band practice 3 times a week) in preparation to have the process go as smoothly as possible as it pertains to my bass playing.

My question is this; does anyone have any tips, no matter how mundane they might sound to help out? Anything to make the process to go smoother.

Thanks guys!

Make sure your bass (if that's the one you will be using) is in good shape. You don't want to have technical difficulties wasting time in the studio.

Know when it's time to take a walk. Not as in quit, but when you're not actually needed in the studio. You don't need to be there for everything, and quite frankly, it's really boring listening to other people record. As well as putting more performance pressure on them.

Practice to a metronome/click track at home.

Put new strings on and when you record, do so with your tone knob all the way up. While the high end might sound harsh for some parts, it can be edited out if it's not wanted, but you can never put it back if it wasn't there to start with.