I thought there was already a thread for recording Bass Guitar.

ffaudio

ffaudio

Member
Aug 17, 2006
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Seattle, WA
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But I guess I can't find it or it doesn't actually exist.

Anyway. I've learned a lot about recording guitars and drums here, and now my main downfall is turning out to be bass guitar. I always seem to end up with just a lot of low end that's unusable and no midrange.

So let's make a clayman thread for bass now.
 
Hah, its funny you guys mention LB. My band was just discussing how they were really good at what they did, and were successful because that is the music they wanted to make. I'm not ashamed to say I do still enjoy listening to some every now and then. They aren't the greatest of musicians, but the production is really good, the songwriting is catchy, and the music is honest. If the media picked them for stardom, well done.

Anyway, I agree that they did get some pretty good bass tone.
 
bass tones that i love:

sharlee d'angelo(arch enemy) - wages of sin
peter iwers(in flames) - clayman
ICS vortex(dimmu borgir) - PEM/DCA
troy sanders(mastodon) (he's the bassist right?) - Remission
colin edwin(porcupine tree) - in Absentia
jonas Björler(the haunted) - One kill wonder/Revolver
peter theobalds(akercocke) - words that go unspoken...
 
But anyhow on the subject of recording bass guitar:

I personally like to record both a DI and the amp itself with a mic. I used to use a sm57 but really like the d112 more after getting it (pointed right at the dustcap). Some people have said that there are phase issues (well for them I guess) but I have yet to have and problems.

In regards to speaker size, I say 10" all the way, more punch and more definition witch is good for this genre.

If you use the balanced DI out on the amp make sure there isn't any bullshit hum or buzz in the line or it is pretty much a practice in futility.

There are quite a few in here that like the sansamp, I haven't used one so I can't vouch for it. It probably sounds good but like most things DI a big ass amp dialed in right probably sounds better. (don't hit me)

Make sure your bass isn't a piece of shit either, this pretty much means anything below $300 new is going to sound like crap.

Record at a good level and float the amp so it doesn't rumble the fuck out of your floor giving you resonant freqs (if your a home DIY guy like myself).

I was supposed to post some samples of a couple of basses, sorry for not doing so yet. I will when I get the chance. Everytime I think of it it's 11pm and noise orders say I can't :(.
 
Best metal bass sounds I've heard.

Decapitated - Three Dimensional Defect (2:40)
Ion Dissonance - You shouldn't be alive (0:17)

The ID bass tone sounds like a software modeller, but seems to sit in the mix nicely.

I haven't had many good bass amps to work with in my time so I tend to just use the DI line for everything. I split it, and run one through ampeg svx for my core low end sound, then another split I run through GuitarSuite for the growl element. It's worked ok here and there... depending on the quality of the DI track.
 
I prefer the DI over the amped track as my main Bass track to be honest. A great DI like the Sansamp Bass Driver is all you need because it gives you a shitload of controlled low end. From there you can mult that track and send it through an amp sim and into a speaker impulse. I use guitar cab impulses because that will bring out the mids. Distort that track and filter it up to 800hz or so and remove anything after 2-3k. Then listen and tweak the EQ for that nice "pong" midrange sound that will pop the bass out of the mix.I EQ first BTW before the tone hits the amp sim.

After that, I buss everything to a main bass Aux and use RBass to focus the low end at 80hz. I also EQ this buss pretty scooped in the mids.

I think mixing bass is just tough, and is an art. You have to be very patient and try a lot of different distortions before you get it just right. The input tone with the sansamp dialed up right is a great start though...that DI will get it done if you know how to use it.

The best metal records I have heard in the studio sound amazing before they are even really mixed...that is definitley something to keep in mind.
 
Tool - 10,000 Days: fine example of mic'ing multiple rigs. He uses a blend of DI, two amp setups (one clean with all his fx, and one that's always distorted). Really grindy, but very clear and powerful.
 
Nice to see this thread here. I'm killing myself with trying to get a decent bass sound on my current project...We have straight DI from the bass, Bass POD, Tech21 Landmark 600 DI, SM57 on axis on dustcap of a Madison8x10 and a Beta52 on the cab, too...So, 5 tracks to sort through to find the best tones. I think having too many coices is preventing me from concentrating on what sounds best...And, to be honest, I'm not jazzed on any of the tones...Maybe the bass DI itself and the Bass POD and that's it. I tried Slate's advice in his bass mixing thread, and it made everything too muddy and indistinct...I'm ready to go crazy over here!
 
nwright said:
Nice to see this thread here. I'm killing myself with trying to get a decent bass sound on my current project...We have straight DI from the bass, Bass POD, Tech21 Landmark 600 DI, SM57 on axis on dustcap of a Madison8x10 and a Beta52 on the cab, too...So, 5 tracks to sort through to find the best tones. I think having too many coices is preventing me from concentrating on what sounds best...And, to be honest, I'm not jazzed on any of the tones...Maybe the bass DI itself and the Bass POD and that's it. I tried Slate's advice in his bass mixing thread, and it made everything too muddy and indistinct...I'm ready to go crazy over here!
Click to expand...

Nate, make sure you aren't getting phasing from all of that. I would dial up a nice DI sound first. Get something that is nice and round with some solid attack, but doesn't get too harsh in the highs. Then take a copy of that, EQ it and either reamp it or send it through an amp sim like your Pod or AmpFarm.
 
BattleTits said:
Nate, make sure you aren't getting phasing from all of that. I would dial up a nice DI sound first. Get something that is nice and round with some solid attack, but doesn't get too harsh in the highs. Then take a copy of that, EQ it and either reamp it or send it through an amp sim like your Pod or AmpFarm.
Click to expand...

Good point! I didn't think of phasing issues....Going to check right now...

I will say I decided to forego the mic tracks and just focus on the POD, DI and Tech21 DI. they sound the best anyway.
 
Lately I've been tracking bass with a D112, a SM57, and a direct signal. I find myself most of the time using the SM57 in the mix, usually running the SansAmp Plug-in on it to give it some grit and natural compression. D112 sounds better solo'd but in the mix it usually sounds too boomy to me. But then again I could be tracking with too much bass on to begin with..haha...

I always struggle getting the bass right...it's that balance of having a nice solid low end for power..but not making the mix too boomy and keeping the bass heard throughout the whole song.
 
the new DevilDriver album, track 8 'Monsters of the Deep'.

Tell me that bass doesnt sound fucking siiiiick. =)

I always, always, always struggle with a bass sound. All the distortions I use just suck. Too ratty. Even with extreme HP and LP filters.

I need to get a Sansamp to reamp bass DI's into. Would this be worth it you think?
 
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