Guitar as Bass?
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Posted on Dec 23, 2003 12:37 am
St. Dave
Member Since: Dec 23, 2002
I'm recording an album over Christmas (I know, madness!). My buddy's away, so I don't have a bass to borrow. I was thinking about using an electric guitar and shifting the pitch down an octave. My only problem with this method is that I'm already using MIDI drums, so I don't want it to sound too 'fake.' Does anyone have any tips for processing I could do to make it more bass-like? I'm assuming I have to do *some* EQ-ing, but am at a loss -- pre- or post-shift, what frequency, and so on?
Has anyone tried this before? Any insight you guys have would be great!
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MinkusMazBane of All ExistenceMember
Since: Mar 27, 2003
Dec 23, 2003 01:43 am www.homerecordingconnecti...d=2749&frm1
jues says:
[quote]Here's what I do
Play in the bass line on your guitar and then pitch-shift it down an octave or 2, it works suprisingly well![/quote]
www.homerecordingconnecti...d=2823&frm1
flametheband says:
[quote]i liked that thing you sugested, jues, about playing on the bassline on guitar then dropping it an octave...tried it with my acoustic and it worked a treat!
worked better than the bass itself, come to think of it![/quote]
and jues replies:
Quote:
Yeah, I found that too, it gives a really pure sound without the mud or boom you usually get.
i am having a blast with this search function. the quote function too.
Dec 23, 2003 02:13 am i like this technique of pitch shifting because it's so very easy to do. but unfortunately i've always experienced a lag when i try to do it in realtime...most pitchshifters seem to produce that lag. so i guess if i do it again i'll have to do the processing afterwards.
dude, congratulations on committing to a project over christmas! the madness can be a rush. i love it when i get involved with people who want to make something happen really quick because alas, i cannot summon adequate motivation by myself. so, catch the buzz and happy holidaze.
Dec 23, 2003 04:03 am as a bassist, i'm agreived.
heresy i say!
Dec 23, 2003 04:45 am So aggrevated that you'll send me your bass in order to prevent me from commiting this crime against your craft? ;-)
A guy can wish, can't he?
Dec 23, 2003 05:22 am I am a bass player as well, it doesn't bother me so much, The Doors had some of the greatest bass parts on their albums and they didn't even HAVE a bass player...so hey, whatever works for ya...
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Dec 23, 2003 05:44 am it works really well that technique...try it with an acoustic too - top!
Dec 23, 2003 06:07 am no dave, you can't have it! (nice try though)
wasn't the doors stuff all keyboard? excuse extreme doors ignorance.
i can see how the acoustic'd work better, more resonance n that.
are we talking DI here, or what?
i've got to try and record a baglama, a turkish lute/balalaika thing soon. that's gonna be amusing. it's got 7 strings, 2x2 and 1x3 sets. awkward sucker to tune!
Dec 23, 2003 06:53 am Ya, The Doors were mostly keyboards, tho they brought a bass player into the studio quite often, live it was usually keyboards...still, they are some of the grooviest basslines ever...
tonyd1970The fat one always watches us.Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002
Dec 23, 2003 07:10 am they did have a bass player for morrison hotel
and a harmonica player, jim played the harmonica and it was horrible. so they sent him off to the bar brought a guy in who did a great job and never told jim till after it was released.
TheTincanbugsloppy dice, drinks twiceMember
Since: Aug 05, 2003
Dec 23, 2003 07:27 am I've never had good luck pitchshifting to this extent with an outboard unit... always sounded metallic and hollow afterward. If you have gear/software good enough to handle it without adding unpleasant artifacts to the sound, why not go for it? The only thing that matters is the end result, and if you're happy with it, then it was a worthwhile endeavour. :)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 23, 2003 07:26 pm The pitch shifter in SoundForge and Sonar work really well for that exact purpose. I use them all the time, for vocs and for guitar parts.
And I will agree, running them in real time you had better have one very fast PC and plenty of Ram.
Jan 06, 2004 07:58 pm I've used an accoustic electric just tuned down (really tuned-no pitch shift) a ways before lol. It actually worked really well. I used a weird flange effect with it that gave it a really warbly sound and you really couldn't tell it wasn't just bass lol. Being an accoustic helped I think.
But this was a loooong time ago.
