Recording Bass

oneflightup · Post by **oneflightup** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 3:07 am

Hey all,

I recently interviewed one of Australia's top Bass players and asked him about how he gets his bass sounding amazing on record.
Thought some of you might be interested to have a read...

Recording Bass

So what are you Bass recording tips and tricks?

Nick

emenel · Post by **emenel** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 5:38 am

I often record bass for post-punk bands that includes distortion or fuzz of some kind. Unfortunately, those effects can kill the low-end. My favourite technique for that sound is to bi-amp the bass, split it before the distortion effect and run it to two amps, one clean, low, and punchy and one with the effect. I mic both amps and run a DI of the clean signal (mostly for backup).

One of the best experiences I had with that setup was actually running the split signal into one two-channel amp, so when the player hit the distortion pedal the clean signal kept coming through and the amp mixed the two. This let him tweak the mix of the two while tracking. We used an 80's Peavey Bass Mk III, which has two separate channels that you can mix to taste. I used one RE20 on a 4x10 cab, and ran a DI. Simple, but it sounded great.

oneflightup · Post by **oneflightup** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:01 am

Awesome advice, Emenel. I know what you mean about fuzz effects killing the bottom end!
I'll have to try your double amping method sometime soon.

Cheers,

Nick

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:15 am

I wrote somewhere in here about using two DI pre's in parallel.

When I want distortion, I'll either put the pedal on a parallel pre (if not just getting it from the pre itself, or a mic'd amp through it), or copy the bass track (how I mult) and apply the distortion in parallel that way.

joninc · Post by **joninc** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:10 pm

i've been using a DI with an aux send to a SansAmp on another channel. Not crazy blistering fuzz but a little grit helps it speak in the mix. and still sounds clean.

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 1:08 pm

I very often use a DI and Purple Action and get really good bass sounds. IF the player really wants their amp recorded, I do that too. I pick a mic, and will usually then use a stereo compressor so they have a coherent compression tone. Most recently I used the TOMB favorite ART VLA on bass and it worked pretty well.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 11:34 pm

drumsound wrote:... a coherent compression tone.

oneflightup · Post by **oneflightup** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 1:29 am

What about compressor choice.....?

Some like the dbx 160, but I generally find it to be too obvious with its hard knee.
On the other hand the over-easy dbx units (eg. 165) are great and smooth.

But an 1176 (or similar fet clones) is probably my favorite overall bass comp.

Thoughts?

Nick

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 4:26 am

I like the 160XT and 166A, sometimes with the overeasy, sometimes not.

I also like my Gyraf 1176, sometimes using it as both pre and compressor.

The dbx163x (overeasy always on) is also usable as a compressor, or pre/compressor, and was my choice for years.

The ART VLA2 is just OK, to me ...

A.David.MacKinnon · Post by **A.David.MacKinnon** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 7:56 am

I often like something gentle for tracking (like an LA2A or 3A). I basically just want to even things out a bit without losing the attack. I'll often go for something more aggressive and faster at mix time. A CBS Volumax is a go-to on aggressive tracks or if the bass is a lifeless sounding DI.

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:51 am

My life changes when I go the AwTAC Channel Compressors. There are a lot of compressors I like on bass (dbx 160/161 VU, Federal, 1176, etc.), but the AwTAC makes recording bass so incredibly easy.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

lyman · Post by **lyman** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:33 am

vvv wrote: The dbx163x (overeasy always on) is also usable as a compressor, or pre/compressor, and was my choice for years.

+1. Those little boxes are pretty cool. I like it on guitar too.

blungo2 · Post by **blungo2** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:59 pm

I replace all the hits with samples.

Uh, oh. Sorry! Wrong thread!

Brett Siler · Post by **Brett Siler** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:31 pm

joninc wrote:i've been using a DI with an aux send to a SansAmp on another channel. Not crazy blistering fuzz but a little grit helps it speak in the mix. and still sounds clean.

What kind of sans amp? The bass driver? Put it just on the bass or all over the mix?

joninc · Post by **joninc** » Mon Jan 11, 2016 4:40 pm

i use the sansamp classic and love it for kick/snare/bass - which i print as an AUX send
during tracking. it's a Tchad Blake trick - basically getting sustain or tone shaping with distortion but doesn't have to be super obvious, a little goes a long way.

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