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What Exactly Do You Need For Recording?

Mr Cheese

Mr Cheese

Nov 8, 2019
453
619
Buffalo, NY
#1
What do you need to record your bass? I'd like to start recording, and I'm getting a computer for it. I know you need a DAW, (I've looked at Cakewalk, Reaper, and Garage Band) but beyond that I'm lost. An interface, a di...both? A mic? What exactly do you need, and what are your recommended products for recording bass? (Looking for an option that won't leave flies in my wallet.) I get 15% off any item over $49 at GC, but it only lasts a few more days, so I'd like to get one of the pieces needed to record soon.
 
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#2
The only thing you need is a way to get the signal from your bass into your computer. Most consumer interfaces will do that just fine. Just plug your bass into the instrument input on the interface and you're set.

The only reason to put anything between your bass and the interface is if you want to change the sound. You can put an FX pedal, a bass preamp, or a full SVT with a mic. Unless you have a good sounding room (treated with bass traps, broadband absorption and/or diffusers, I'd avoid micing an amp. The sound you get will be much harder to work with, and it won't sound like "your amp" anyway.

For interfaces, Audient, Motu, Focusrite, Presonus and numerous others all make good sounding units that are reasonably priced.
 
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#3
I recommend Reaper for sure - inexpensive and very easy to use. Logic is great for Mac, and comes with hundreds of high quality plugins - both effects and instruments.

I found an external pre-amp to be almost essential since a dry direct bass signal is kinda uninspiring to play. I'm using a Tech 21 VT-Bass DI. However, if you don't mind recording with a dry signal, you can easily add effects and eq in your DAW.

Some decent headphones and near-field monitors, while not essential, will really up the enjoyability factor, and improve your final product. Same goes for acoustically treating your recording room.

Do you have a budget in mind? Would help for gear recommendations.
 
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#4
@Mr Cheese I’m not a whole lot further down this road than you are, but I’m getting somewhere. @Frank Tuesday is correct that all you need is an interface, unless (I have found) you’re using an acoustic guitar pickup; even if you aren’t, though, you’ll probably want a preamp and/or DI for tone shaping. Since I am recording acoustic guitars using a pickup, I need something to get a usable signal, and have settled on the @tech21nyc SansAmp Para Driver DI. This one little box really does it all on an ordinary 9v power supply. Para Driver into interface into Reaper, and I’m sounding like a band. You can go a million ways with recording, but this seems like a great way to start.
 
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#7
I’m a big fan of the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, you can get them new for like $150. Great quality and it actually comes with some additional software, I believe Pro Tools LE and Ableton, but could be wrong.
I use an AxeFX for my main audio device (interface) but still use the Focusrite for anything requiring a mic. My wife just bought one for her voiceover work as well.

I’ll preface this by saying that I’m a huge Apple/Mac fanboy, due to years of working with PC’s that would die or need troubleshooting randomly. It’s been 14 years on a Mac and *ZERO* problems (just don’t update OSX’s unless you HAVE to!). Others have had wonderful experiences with PC’s and hats off to them.

That said, if someone were to ask me where to start with a DAW, I’d point them towards GarageBand, which is just a stripped down version of Logic. I was blown away when I opened it over the weekend while setting up my wife’s studio. I used to use it before I went to Logic and they’ve done quite a bit of work on it since then. It’s remarkably intuitive and has some basic plug-ins that you can use to start showing yourself the ropes. If you really enjoy it, it’s a breeze upgrading to Logic and you won’t have to start fresh, learning a new DAW.

The GREAT thing about recording direct is that you can tweak all your tones after you record them. There are tons of amp sims out there, I was using Amplitube 4 before I got my AxeFX, but I’d open 2 tracks, one for the amp sim and one for a DI, record them both at the same time and then tweak to taste. Until you print (bounce) that track with the sim on it down, you can tweak it anyway you want, change amps, add effects, etc. Until then, it’s a regular DI.

Building a studio was the best thing I ever did for myself as a musician. I learned more about myself as a musician as a result and had no clue I was capable of writing full songs on every instrument until I actually did it. If I’m not at work, I can be found in my studio until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.

Have fun, man!!
 
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#8
Mr Cheese said:
So your saying I should get an interface and a DI?
Click to expand...
Absolutely an interface (I have the Presonus, but I have nothing to compare it to), almost definitely a DI. I tried the MXR Ten-Band EQ and had things sounding okay, but the Para Driver just made everything so much easier.
 
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#9
Riff Ranger said:
Absolutely an interface (I have the Presonus, but I have nothing to compare it to), almost definitely a DI. I tried the MXR Ten-Band EQ and had things sounding okay, but the Para Driver just made everything so much easier.
Click to expand...
Sorry for all the questions (I'm a complete noob on recording) but what cords do you need for the interface and DI? And what order do you plug in? Is it bass into interface into DI into computer?
 
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#10
Mr Cheese said:
What do you need to record your bass? I'd like to start recording, and I'm getting a computer for it. I know you need a DAW, (I've looked at Cakewalk, Reaper, and Garage Band) but beyond that I'm lost. An interface, a di...both? A mic? What exactly do you need, and what are your recommended products for recording bass? (Looking for an option that won't leave flies in my wallet.) I get 15% off any item over $49 at GC, but it only lasts a few more days, so I'd like to get one of the pieces needed to record soon.
Click to expand...
Hey Doc!

Here is what I recommend.
  1. Watch this youtube video series:
  2. Buy a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen, $120
  3. Buy a microphone: SM58® - Dynamic Vocal Microphone - Shure $100 ( I have a few)
  4. Get a decent set of headphones -or-
  5. Invest in some decent mixing monitors (Look at Presonus Eris for example) $100
  6. If you really want better vocals or acoustic recording get a decent condenser mic:

Download a DAW (Reaper is popular and fine. I use Pro Tools)
Dive in and have fun! It is a rabbit hole. I live there now.
 
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#12
You don't need a DI in addition to the interface. I've recorded my basses going directly into my interface (Presonus USB) with good results. But as you get more into the recording process, you may find you want a DI to go between the bass and the interface.
 
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#14
Riff Ranger said:
Absolutely an interface (I have the Presonus, but I have nothing to compare it to), almost definitely a DI. I tried the MXR Ten-Band EQ and had things sounding okay, but the Para Driver just made everything so much easier.
Click to expand...
You know, I haven't used a DI as I think the preamp in the Focusrite is great. At least for my ears. At some point I'd like to try a decent standalone DI, but so far haven't found the need.
 
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#16
Mr Cheese said:
Sorry for all the questions (I'm a complete noob on recording) but what cords do you need for the interface and DI? And what order do you plug in? Is it bass into interface into DI into computer?
Click to expand...
For the setup I described above, you need the following cabling:
  1. Unbalanced 1/4 for instrument (i.e. bass)
  2. XLR microphone cable ($12)
  3. A mic stand ($15)
If you buy a set of monitors you will need (at a minimum)
  1. A set of balanced 1/4 TRS cables (left, right and subwoofer if you buy one)
 
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#17
Basslice said:
You know, I haven't used a DI as I think the preamp in the Focusrite is great. At least for my ears. At some point I'd like to try a decent standalone DI, but so far haven't found the need.
Click to expand...
Ah, the Presonus has no preamp. The Focusrite sounds like a really good buy.
 
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#18
Mr Cheese said:
Would you say I should get the solo USB, or the 2i2 USB?
Click to expand...
I have both - you don't need both, but I bought the 1st gen 2i4 years ago. Here is the rub, if you ever think you will need two XLRs or two instrument recorded simultaneously, the Solo will not do it. The Solo is great, but has one XLR input and one 1/4 input. The 2i4 and 2i2 have XLR/1/4 inputs that can take either.

So if you are say recording an instrument and vocals at same time, the Solo will do fine. If you are miking and instrument and want to mic vox at same time you need the 2i2 or better. Really depends.

I have been tracking constantly with the Solo for the last few weeks and have not run into any problems.

Sorry I thought you were the Doc at first. In any case ,I have seen you around here on TBL plenty too!
 
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#20
Basslice said:
I have both - you don't need both, but I bought the 1st gen 2i4 years ago. Here is the rub, if you ever think you will need two XLRs or two instrument recorded simultaneously, the Solo will not do it. The Solo is great, but has one XLR input and one 1/4 input. The 2i4 and 2i2 have XLR/1/4 inputs that can take either.

So if you are say recording an instrument and vocals at same time, the Solo will do fine. If you are miking and instrument and want to mic vox at some time you need the 2i2 or better. Really depends.

I have been tracking constantly with the Solo for the last few weeks and have not run into any problems.

Sorry I thought you were the Doc at first. In any case ,I have seen you around here on TBL plenty too!
Click to expand...
Ok, looks like I'll go w/ the solo. Don't really need to record 2 things at once yet.
 
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