Wanting a Sterile Tone

[epimetrius]

Howdy y'all. Sometimes lurker, first time poster.

I was watching the Arthur Rizk Gear Gods video and was wanting to get the same-ish tone on bass. I have a Fender Rumble 40 that I plug up into a Focusrite Scarlett. So I'm able to get a pretty nice, or arguably "quality" tone. But what I need now is a "sterile" or tinny tone to link up with the better sound.

Do to my situation, I can't really mic up an amp, so preferably something with a preamp out that still sounds sterile.

 

[epimetrius]

Another way to describe the tone I want would be "thin." In a way, I want to hear your bass amp un-recommendations. Cheap crap that's not gonna give a good low end.

 

[definenredefine]

Have you tried plugging straight into your interface? You can EQ out the "good" tone...

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Why not just go direct into the Scarlett with no post processing? Should be fairly sterile and unassuming.

 

[SJan3]

Sterile, tinny, cheap, thin crap..
Are we seriously talking bass here?

 

[epimetrius]

Have you tried plugging straight into your interface? You can EQ out the "good" tone...

Why not just go direct into the Scarlett with no post processing? Should be fairly sterile and unassuming.

So, I'll do that, I just ordered a DI and I'll play with plugins and amp sims

Sterile, tinny, cheap, thin crap..
Are we seriously talking bass here?

Yes, to layer it with a superior sound for character

 

[rodl2005]

Not a Super Bassman then

 

[johnpbass]

As others have said, sounds like you want to run a direct dry signal and then just EQ out what you don't want in that signal. That approach is used a lot in recording.

 

[definenredefine]

So, I'll do that, I just ordered a DI and I'll play with plugins and amp sims

Yes, to layer it with a superior sound for character

Not sure about your particular Scarlett interface but I wanna say a lot of them have a 1/4" jack for recording guitar/bass directly. I've done that with the Tascam I have and it works pretty well, and no need for a DI.

 

[buldog5151bass]

E.Q.?

 

[Al Kraft]

E.Q.?

I would think that recording direct and employing "typically unthinkable bass guitar EQ settings" would do the trick.

 

[Killing Floor]

I would not describe them as thin but PJB amps are very natural sounding. They are not coloring at all.

 

[Guitalia]

Yes, as said above, just plug directly into the Scarlett interface and select "Instrument" in the input screen.

 

[REV]

When I think of sterile I think of uncolored. Is this what you mean?

 

[Element Zero]

So taking a good sound and a bad sound will give you a good sound when you put em together?

 

[Runnerman]

You don't say what bass you are playing. Going to be easier to get a more sterile/hi-fi sound from an active bass.

 

[mcnach]

Another way to describe the tone I want would be "thin." In a way, I want to hear your bass amp un-recommendations. Cheap crap that's not gonna give a good low end.

not getting it... couldn't you just EQ the low end out?

 

[mcnach]

Why not just go direct into the Scarlett with no post processing? Should be fairly sterile and unassuming.

Actually the DI sound from a Scarlett is a pretty good full sound, not lacking low end. It's not very 'coloured' if you don't use a preamp/FX pedals to add flavours, but it won't be lacking low end unless you remove it at the bass.

 

[mcnach]

So, I'll do that, I just ordered a DI and I'll play with plugins and amp sims

Yes, to layer it with a superior sound for character

Ah, I think I know what you mean now.

Your Scarlett is all you need, it will give you a relatively uncoloured version of your bass, and then use your favourite DAW/plugins to make it sound the way you want it. It's a very common approach because it allows you to play around with the bass sound after you've recorded it: you can EQ it, experiment with FX...

 

[two fingers]

Going out on a limb here. I THINK what he means is that the Rumble is very round and warm and colored. And what I THINK he wants is to blend in a clean bass tone with that. But he said it in a very awkward way.

Yeah, OP, just record the track both running through the Rumble and another line sent straight through the interface. If I'm understanding you that oughta do it.

Sterile, tinny, cheap, thin crap..
Are we seriously talking bass here?

E.Q.?

I would think that recording direct and employing "typically unthinkable bass guitar EQ settings" would do the trick.

I would not describe them as thin but PJB amps are very natural sounding. They are not coloring at all.

When I think of sterile I think of uncolored. Is this what you mean?

So taking a good sound and a bad sound will give you a good sound when you put em together?