Home » Forum » Recording and mixing »
BASS PLAYERS - How are you recording?

BASS PLAYERS - How are you recording?

btkircher posted on Jan 11, 2013 #1
btkircher
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Dec 22, 2012
I use FL Studio 10 with a DI.

Here is my biggest issue - I am finally learning how to fine tune my sound with EQ and Compression - However, after I have done this, my actual volume levels are too quiet.

I have tried using the built in simulated amps to boost my sound, but the free VST's that I use are junk.

Any experience would be helpful.
Dick posted on Jan 11, 2013 #2
Dick
SUPPORTER
Posts: 2934
Joined: Dec 30, 2010
hmmmm.
I've never used FL studio, but heres some general tips:
a good compressor should automaticly put some gain (look for make-up-gain) onto the compressed signal - compression by itself will densen the signal and lower the peaks that way, normally, it should then raise the overall level so the result is a fat signal. As I have learned just a few days ago, not all comps feature this make-up-gain...
if theres no other way to do it, try to normalize the compressed signal to lets say -2 db, then you'll be able to mix it well.
That might require some mixing down (having the computer calculate the comp plugin to the bass recording), after thats been done, look for the option to "normalize" the newly created bass track. Then mix it with the backing.
You might as well put any other VST plugin behind the compressor plugin that allows you to raise the bass level again.
Amp simulation is mostly designed for guitar sounds, might not work well on bass.

hope this helps a little... if you happen to have a friend with some costly VST-plugins at hand, try to get your hands on them, good plugins are really really the salt in the soup of computer editing.
Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS
Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS
Electric Guitar
2.249 €
iThis widget links to Thomann, our affiliate partner. We may receive a commission when you purchase a product there. Visit Shop
Basster posted on Jan 11, 2013 #3
Basster
Member
Posts: 89
Joined: Jun 14, 2011
Hi!

For recording i am using my bass conected via interface (Focusrite)into my Notebook. A nice free software for recording is audacity. It gots a lot of tools for finetuning ;)

Mosttimes i also work with Guitar Rig. The Bassamp-sims are great but it is not realy cheap...

Btw - mosttimes my sound is compressed like hell :D
GhostFish posted on Jan 23, 2013 #4
GhostFish
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Dec 23, 2012
I record through my zoom b3 into audacity, from there I record it on a track next to the imported (drum)track and add some compression.
Sometimes I cut it up and export it as wav to import it as loop into FL studio
RogueDecibel posted on Jul 26, 2013 #5
RogueDecibel
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Jul 3, 2013
I record by plugging my (borrowed) bass into a Personus Firebox that is connected to my macbook via firewire, the result is good. As for the DAW I use Logic Pro 9 that I didn't buy, someone I knew had it, it has a built-in bass amp VST that is really good but even without it it is loud enough.
digitalsin posted on Jan 11, 2014 #6
digitalsin
Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Dec 17, 2013
does plugging fx, say compressor or chorus pedal, on a laptop should affect the output? Im adding my compressor but for some reason I cannot hear the difference
JimmyHoHo posted on Jan 13, 2014 #7
JimmyHoHo
Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Jan 12, 2014
I plug my MM SUB bass straight into my Focusrite saffire pro. I think it sounds great with the inbuilt pre amps. Wish i could mix though. I use Oxford VSTs. Would like to be able to afford some good reverbs
GhostFish posted on Jan 14, 2014 #8
GhostFish
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Dec 23, 2012
digitalsin, yes pedals can affect the output levels, overdrive and compressors usually boosts your output levels
Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS
Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS
Electric Guitar
2.249 €
iThis widget links to Thomann, our affiliate partner. We may receive a commission when you purchase a product there. Visit Shop
markopogo posted on Jan 24, 2014 #9
markopogo
Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Feb 18, 2012
I record with a D.I. With a tube preamp after the D.I. And mic my bass amp with a large diaphram condensor mic
Once I have recorded the track I will sometimes use the ampeg vst plug which has room ambiance controls and also compression.
jmrukkers posted on Jan 25, 2014 #10
jmrukkers
Administrator
Posts: 287
Joined: Jan 20, 2014
I usually use an Apogee Jam interface ($99) into my mac mini for recording my Rick 4001s, and pipe it into Garageband for a more processed sound, or into Cubase LE for a clean sound , with just a touch of compression. The Jam is so much better than any of the other cheap interfaces out there, especially for capturing the bass sound.
dfriedl posted on May 7, 2014 #11
dfriedl
Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Feb 12, 2013
I record directly into Reaper using a Rocksmith USB cable (using ASIO sound drivers) on my Win8 PC and occasionally add a free VST plugin for effects. I use a passive P bass, and haven't run into any issues with volume, though I do sometimes have to turn up the input volume if it's calibrated for the game (which I haven't found a good way to do in Reaper - I just open Audacity and turn it up, then close it and start Reaper).
Rickplayer posted on Jun 13, 2014 #12
Rickplayer
Member
Posts: 990
Joined: Oct 16, 2011
I use a Guitar Link USB interface and Guitar Rig 4 for recording my bass and then use Mixcraft 6 for the final mix. Works well with the instruments I play hooks into USB and ready to play. Guitar Rig has two decks one to play and one to record. Play's the track downloaded from wikiloops and syncs recording deck for the instrument play over.
Daddario EXL170
Daddario EXL170
Electric Bass String Set
22,90 €
iThis widget links to Thomann, our affiliate partner. We may receive a commission when you purchase a product there. Visit Shop
Rickplayer posted on Jun 15, 2014 #13
Rickplayer
Member
Posts: 990
Joined: Oct 16, 2011
A good rule of thumb to follow is keep your master volume above your individual track volume. And keep your gain lower than master volume.
jstef posted on Jul 2, 2014 #14
jstef
Member
Posts: 39
Joined: Jun 15, 2014
The couple of tracks I have recorded so far come from a direct bass<->pc soundcard connection. The result is just decent and I am reading in the FAQ
[i]If you are looking for a simple solution, look out for a so called USB Audio interface - thant would be a little box with proper instrument-sized mic/line in jack with maybe a preamp-gain knob to set the levels, wich you may easily hook up to your computer by good old USB.[/i]


Should I go for something like [url=http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-System-SB1240/dp/B004275EO4]this[/url]?

Thank you :)

Edit: I missed Dick's update in the "tips" section. There he talks about an USB I/F which is apparently guitar-specific
jstef posted on Jul 2, 2014 #15
jstef
Member
Posts: 39
Joined: Jun 15, 2014
Hey I forgot I own [url=http://www.voxamps.com/amplug]this[/url] gadget, Will give it a try :)
[img]http://www.agmusic.it/images/amplug-bass.jpg[/img]
gioganotti posted on Jul 3, 2014 #16
gioganotti
Member
Posts: 34
Joined: Sep 22, 2013
jstef wrote:
Hey I forgot I own [url=http://www.voxamps.com/amplug]this[/url] gadget, Will give it a try :)
[img]http://www.agmusic.it/images/amplug-bass.jpg[/img]


I use this. Shows unexpectedly good results.
Fivestringer posted on Jul 9, 2014 #17
Fivestringer
SUPPORTER
Posts: 82
Joined: Jul 4, 2014
I plug my bass with Aguilar OBP-3 pre-amp ([url=http://enter-url.com]http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_preamps_obp3.htm[/url]) straight into my Akai EIE pro switched to instrument level. Record it in Cubase. Normalize it and add a bass-preset of the multiband compressor.
[img]http://6be54c364949b623a3c0-4409a68c214f3a9eeca8d0265e9266c0.r0.cf2.rackcdn.com/491/images/sized/eie_pro_frontangle_large_00_700x438.png[/img]
victorbass posted on Sep 19, 2014 #18
victorbass
Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Mar 3, 2013
I use a Zoom MS-60B multi-effects stompbox that goes into my TC Electronic Desktop Konnekt 6 interface. I use Ableton Live to record. The Zoom has a compressor and a preamp enabled, so once I record, I just need to adjust the mix levels.
Harley Benton G112 Celestion V30
Harley Benton G112 Celestion V30
Cabinet for Electric Guitar
169 €
iThis widget links to Thomann, our affiliate partner. We may receive a commission when you purchase a product there. Visit Shop
alexj posted on Nov 19, 2014 #19
alexj
Member
Posts: 20
Joined: Mar 18, 2012
I plug direct into my audio interface (a Focusrite)and record into Cubase - usually then add a small amount of compression, and very occasionally a tiny bit of chorus. I never add any post-eq at all as I like to maintain the natural sound of my basses.
Evilvince posted on Nov 19, 2014 #20
Evilvince
Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Jul 2, 2013
I write a topic about m Recording tips with Bass here ^^
[url=http://www.wikiloops.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=657] TIPS[/url]
wikiloops online jamsessions are brought to you with friendly support by:
user profile image
Without wikiloops I would have stayed forever silent ;o)
Uloisius

wikiloops uses Cookies and processes data in compliance with the GDPR,
as stated in our data privacy policy.