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What's wrong with my recording setup? HELP!

T

tombaker

Jul 10, 2008
147
1
Melbourne, Australia
www.myspace.com
#1
Hey guys,

I've been trying to record bass for at least half a year now and have had no luck. I bought a Line 6 UX1 interface 5 months ago and only just worked out how to use it (damn thing doesn't come with instructions :rolleyes: )

So I'm currently running Bass > Effects > Warwick ProFet 3.2 > Line Out (on amp) > Line 6 UX1 (instrument 1/4" jack) > HP Pavilion dv6 using POD Farm and Reaper 3.65 64 bit. The recording goes distorted especially anything below a low G. It is hopeless on the low B aswell. I originally ran the setup as Bass > Effects > Warwick Profet 3.2 > DI Out (on amp) > Line 6 UX1 (Mic input) > HP Pavilion dv6, but that seems to distort a bit more then using the 1/4" jack. Mind you, I havn't used any effects when I'm recording. The clean signal is whats distorting.

I'm using a Warwick Taranis 5 sting and Warwick RockBass Corvette 4 strings both in standard tuning.

Is there something I'm missing in my setup? Is the Line 6 UX1 simply a rubbish interface? Should I look at getting a pedal DI (maybe the output on my ProFet is too hot?)? Or should I get a decent bass microphone such as a Shure or Heil?

Please help me guys. This whole recording thing has wasted hours of my time and I've gotten nowhere. Any input would be really appreciated.

Thanks,


Tom
 
#4
My first guess is that the line out level is too high.

Start troubleshooting by removing all unnecessary units in the chain. Plug your bass directly to the instrument input of the interface. If the distortion goes away, the problem isn't with the interface.

Next, if you want to use the amp in there, try connecting the amp from the DI out to the interface with a xlr cable. In general, this is the output you use. Line out signal is intented to go into a line level input.

After that, add the effects one at a time an make sure they aren't giving too much of a boost.
 
#5
I've used a UX2 for years and it's generally a pretty good unit. I've found a couple things when recording bass: don't over use the compressor fx, it sounds bad and causes distortion, I usually take it out altogether; try using the preamp models instead of the bass amp models, they sound pretty good for tracking - the only bass amp model I like is the Eden. In fact I mostly use the ux2 as a clean preamp and then do my shaping once the track is down using Amplltube or Sonar plug ins.

After re-reading your chain I would definitely do as above and don't use the effects or line-out of the amp but go straight in to the ux1, you don't need that much signal. At the very least ditch the line out and keep the gain levels down on the effects.

If you have an active bass make sure that level is down too. You've got lots of gain stages going on.
 
#6
Thanks for all your responses guys. I really appreciate it :)
I tried plugging my Warwick Taranis (passive electronics) straight into the instrument jack and it seems to record fine. Doesn't sound the greatest but thats probably due to the dead strings and the fact that the only EQ going on is from the bass itself. So thats good. Now I know the UX1 isn't stuffed :)

I'm yet to do the whole eliminating thing yet but I will either tonight or tomorrow and get back to you.

I'll have to get a decent plugin aswell. POD Farm and GearBox don't do it for me. I tried looking at the Sonar plugin but couldn't find it. @blipndub reckon you could link me? I'll download amplitube now and have a muck around on it.

Cheers guys, I'll get back to you soon :)
 
#7
The Sonar plug in's i refer to are within the Sonar DAW that I use. I don't know about Reaper, just be sure to find out if you need VST type plug ins or RTAS before you purchase anything, Amplitube might have both versions. The type is like back in the days of word perfect, some documents were made for MS Word and others were made for WordPerfect and you couldn't open one with the other. I think plug ins are like that. Although my experience is really limited only to Sonar, which uses VST plug ins. RTAS is the standard for ProTools.

The direct tone in to a soundcard will probably never sound "right" but that's what the effects are for, it's easier to record a modified or amplified signal with a better interface than the instrument in jack on your on-board soundcard (unless it's a quality card like M-Audio or something). I use a simple M-Audio card that has RCA inputs. I run everything into a mixer and then send those outs in to the soundcard. Easier to control levels with a mixer in the chain.
 
#8
seems the DI from the amp to the XLR input on the UX1 is working better now :S
im running it straight without POD Farm or GearBox aswell. theres a bit of unwanted distortion on the lower notes but no way near as much as before. but it still doesnt sound great.
I might try bringing my bass, laptop, UX1 and cable into a music store and try using the DI on an Aguilar Tonehammer to see if that reduces the gain levels.
 

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