wen recording bass guitar...
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Posted on May 27, 2006 02:01 pm
Denouncar
Member Since: May 24, 2006
Im farly set on micing the guitar cabs for recording but what is the best way to go when doing bass? I think that running strate in would be the bvest... my bassest is arguing with me because were sopposed to go to the studio today and he wants to bring his cab so it will sound more fulll... I say its a wast of space and that it will t urn out just as good if not better if just ran strate in and the better EQed... am i rong or is it better my way?
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May 27, 2006 03:36 pm A really good technique that I've used is a bit of a combo of both worlds. On the actual recording of the bass guitar I plugged in direct with a di box to give it that big crisp direct sound. After the track was layed I ran that signal through my bass amp with my normal blend of herbs, spices, and knob tweaks. If I can remember right we used a kick drum mic to mic close, and a room mic(in the drum recording room which had really nice high celings) for a little ambiant sound. The end result was a really powerful direct tone (the sansamp di box is a godsend) with the warmth and body of a mic'd tone and a hint of the room.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 27, 2006 04:27 pm OR can do both at the same time. Mic the bass cabinet and run a DI to another track. Record them as 2 seperate track and then mix to taste. In most cases I run just a direct signal, only doing to a cabinet mic if that tunrs sour on me. But usually it doesnt.
May 27, 2006 07:10 pm Have you ever tried the Bass POD Noize? In the future I was thinking of picking one up, I figure if anything it should be the single solution for recording Bass guitar. Because Bass doesnt need to have that precise tone and distortion that many people search for in guitar modelers.
May 27, 2006 08:47 pm I normally use both, a direct line and a mic. For one song on our upcoming disc I just used the mic. It was what worked best for that song, but it's rare for me to use just a mic on the bass. As a matter of fact that was the only song I ever did use just a mic come to think of it. I always have a Sennheiser 421 on the cab. For one song I also used an SM-57 with the 421. Unfortunatly I record on an 8-track analog reel to reel. So, I have to blend the two channels into one track. It has to be right when I lay it down or I'm screwed.
RigsbyUltra MagnusMember
Since: Nov 13, 2004
May 28, 2006 04:04 am "Unfortunatly I record on an 8-track analog reel to reel"
Nothing unfortunate about that at all dude.
I like the sound of an amp in a very enclosed space (no reflections) for bass, same with kick drums. I don't like DI bass for the most part, it's cool for rock, but that's not so much my thing, also i find bass frequencies hard to tame and my recording space is fairly live and reflective, so i use the duvet tunnel..
Have a look on rigsbysmith.blogspot.com - where you see the amp wrapped in a pink duvet.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 28, 2006 02:13 pm Goldenmean, I noticed that they had a model pack just for the POD xt to give it the bass model amps and cabs. For the money I may just go that route.
But my UX-2 has a pretty good selection of the bass models so I might just stick with whats in there. I did like them quite a bit by the way. They work great if ya ask me.
May 28, 2006 06:46 pm Yeah, I just found out about that model pack last night, I may pick that up instead in the future. I just completly upgraded my PODxt and the "Line 6 Edit" software is really pretty cool. Much easier to edit everything in one view as well. I was able to craft a nice solo template with the use of the parametric EQ.
But ewww, I still can't get anywhere near an acceptable metal rhythym guitar sound on the PODxt. Any other sound is fine. Do you know if the metal shop would be any good? Does it just make presets using the exsisting PODxt hardware, or does it add something on?
May 28, 2006 06:57 pm nvm about the metal shop, I listened to the demos and its got that same grainy ugly sound.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 29, 2006 12:24 am Oh ya, I upgrade every time it comes out. They seem to really make huge jumps when the send out an update for edit and the firmware. I love using Line 6 edit, it sure makes things easier to handle. The UX-2 gearbox interface is not as inense but can be manipulated to the same extent.
As for the metal shop model pack. I figured for the $99.00 price tag for the original 3 packs it was worth a shot. I dont use it much but there are a couple things in there I do use. The Bomber Uber/Bogner '02 Uberschall, Deity Lead/Diezel '03 VH4-Lead and the ANGEL P-Ball/ENGL® '02 Powerball all get some use. But as you stated, it does take some tweaking to get what I want out of them. But that is the whole key to the dang modeling thing. You have to spend some time with it. Because every guitar is going to sound a little differant with each amp model. And we all have a little differant taste in tone. So it is a great tool, just that it does take a good investment in time to get what we all want out of it.
I did work most of the grainy sound out of them, but I just started with the bare amp model and went from there. I hardly ever start with a factory patch any more as they all seem to have too much presenct set to them.
And the EQ definately helps get some good tones out of the thing as well.
May 29, 2006 06:44 pm Yeah, I like it very much for pretty much all model types. I know it takes a while, but I just know that I wont get that specific metal rythm guitar sound out of it. The GNX3 pretty much has it pegged in a preset. Its not quite as easy to edit the patches in there but I do have some control over it.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 29, 2006 07:36 pm I cant argue there, if you allready have what you want out of the one unit there is no sense trying with the other unless you are certain you can get what you want out of it.
