Tips for recording Bass?

[natronica]

Hey. I'm doing a lo-fi album and am looking for some simple tips to get a better bass sound. Right now I've just got a mic (rode nt2) on the amp. the bass just kind of disappears in a low wash. not very distinct.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

[BigCats]

There's a very good thread in the TDM Tips & Tricks forum covering this. It hits everything from the practical (i.e. within reach of the average project studio) to the esoteric (i.e. more money than I'll ever scrape together).

Hope that helps.

K

[natronica]

thank you kindly! will check it out

[mikemaas]

I usually run the bass in direct to the board/box as it usually seems to be a better sound to me and then I can eq it as I wish (punch it up or fatten it to taste). Or, split the signal coming out of the bass, run one line to the amp and the other direct to the board into another pre-amped channel. Record both channels/signals. Then you can pull up the direct sound to add some definition or you might choose to use the direct tracjk only. I've done that when the bass player needed to have "his sound" in the room with him...

You might try eq-ing the mic differently. Just keep tweaking until it sounds good to you. Try rolling off the bass at 80k AND punching it up (2 or 3db of shelving) at 80k at the same time. You might also try a different mic if you have one available. You didn't say if it was a live session and if it is - same room, you might have bleed into that NT2 that would make it wash. If you have an old sure 57 lying around, I've used those very succesfully. Lot's of ways to do these things. That what makes this soooo much fun.

Good luck,

Mike Maas
Studio 17

[Dale-c]

I use the intrument input on my Mbox to run it direct. Then I add and eq and a compressor and lots of reverb and I am pretty happy with the results. I get a really clean sound that way.

[bassbuddy]

Lots OF Reverb ?????

[natronica]

thanks you guys. This is actually helpful. I don't have access to much stuff - I think it will pretty much come down to how I'm mic-ing it or else running it direct and knowing how to eq and compress it.
Its great to get your thoughts. This is a great forum!

[duderonomi]

The fundamental frequency of a 4 string bass is 40hz. So, filter out all frequencies below 40. This will help to clear up rumble. Also, if you give it a bump up and 100hz it will ad some punch. Also if it is a little muddy notch out 200-250Hz. The mic pics up what is in front of it, so if the bass amp is not that great I would run direct. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[snapple]

Triple track it!

1. Direct in from a mixer
2. another sent to a Mic'd amplifier
3. Bounce Chorus/reverb to the direct recording

Blend all 3 to one track!

This is how TOOL gets their sound!

[timyork]

Another thing you might wanna look into is a plug in called Amplitube, made by IK Multimedia (although I'm not sure if this is RTAS).

It models amps/cabinets, and a whole lot more, and there's loads of fantastic presets. It's not difficult to get a happening sound just by DI ing the bass and then dialling up a preset. It's the business on guitars too.

Tim