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Tracking my LB76

TheArchitect

TheArchitect

Aug 4, 2009
2,216
3,076
#1
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I have had my current LB76 since approximately 2000. In all that time I have a lot of experience recording drums and guitars but I have never been asked to record bass tracks until now and I am looking for some guidance in getting a good, solid recording chain together. I am thinking bridge pickup, flat EQ or maybe a small treble boost from the pre into a Dynacomp then to the DI/Interface. I have the POD farm app freebie that has a decent Ampeg sim. I thought maybe one track with the amp sim and a second clean with maybe a touch of chorus mixed together.

How are you setting up your instruments and what recording chains are you using? Gary Willis with Tribal Tech is a favorite sound but the songs in question are driving acoustic pop/rock tunes
 
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#2
The best way is bass -> DI-box (or any unit with balanced output) -> ADC. Compression is not necessary, modern 24 bit recording systems have a large dynamic range. Your direct signal is what any mixing engineer wants. BTW lots of free impulses sound better than sims from Line6 POD devices.

I always record clean from my Demeter VTB201 (love it!) and effected (choruses, phasers, drives, octavers etc.) from Radial JDI. It makes mixing engineers really happy :) And I rarely use mics and cabs.
 
#3
Dima B said:
The best way is bass -> DI-box (or any unit with balanced output) -> ADC. Compression is not necessary, modern 24 bit recording systems have a large dynamic range. Your direct signal is what any mixing engineer wants. BTW lots of free impulses sound better than sims from Line6 POD devices.

I always record clean from my Demeter VTB201 (love it!) and effected (choruses, phasers, drives, octavers etc.) from Radial JDI. It makes mixing engineers really happy :) And I rarely use mics and cabs.
Click to expand...

I am just working with the EQ of the OBP to start with. With everything flat, the mids feel a bit prominent. I have been working with trimming those back and boosting the top a little. Max cut on mids and max boost on treble with the bridge pickup sounds really bad ass on its own with a nice growl but doesn't sit in the mix well at all. The other avenue I want to pursue is bypassing the pre and running passive.

I have just started looking into the options with the neck pickup and both blended. Those options feel very boomy solo but I have not worked with them in a mix yet.
 
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#4
TheArchitect said:
sounds really bad ass on its own with a nice growl but doesn't sit in the mix well at all.
Click to expand...

Yes! So the best thing what bass players can do for producers and mixing engineers is make tracks flat and clear for maximum flexibility in the mixing and production process. An engineer will be able to use any EQ and effects! Reamping, modeling, software, hardware, etc.

Only one thing is critically important. It is your pickup balance. Nobody can fix it after recording. Bridge or "close to bridge" sound is universal for me. Always works. I use neck only if I sure because it is boomy and muddy. Its sound is hard to correct with EQ and compression if it doesn't sit in the mix.
 
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