Recording

[saxamafone]

gday,

 

i recently just started recording a heavy alternative rock allbum with my band. i've played around with the bass and cant seem to get any really killer sounds that i am totally happy with.

 

would there be any suggestions to how other people have recorded, set ups and even eq's on desks. mic cabs or straight in?

 

i use a stingray 5 -> avalon U5 -> Ampeg SVT-2P Pre -> SWR 800 Stereo power amp and an old peavey cab.

 

Cheers

[DanTolen]

Direct in, no effects. Natural true bass tone.

[sunburstbasser]

A mix of a direct injection in one channel, and a mic'ed cab in another, can sound very good and you can blend the two to get the best possible combination.

 

Set all EQs flat, and boost the low mids just a little either on the amp or the board.

[james on bass]

 

Originally posted by sunburstbasser A mix of a direct injection in one channel, and a mic'ed cab in another, can sound very good and you can blend the two to get the best possible combination.

 

 

This is the way I always have recorded - 2 channels blended.

[sunburstbasser]

Originally posted by james on bass This is the way I always have recorded - 2 channels blended.

 

I think I may have stolen the information from you, actually.

[jeffery.addison]

 

Originally posted by sunburstbasser A mix of a direct injection in one channel, and a mic'ed cab in another, can sound very good and you can blend the two to get the best possible combination. Set all EQs flat, and boost the low mids just a little either on the amp or the board.

 

 

I agree with this setup...but I would add a compressor to the mix, specifically a dbx 160A or the like...it will make all the difference in the world.

[zomawia]

Wouldn't there be some phase issues when blending a mic and direct signal?

[saxamafone]

sweet as.

i think my cab is where it is lacking. i'm going to look at an eden or a lab systems.

 

with adding a compressor, should i record the signal compressed, or record it dry and then run it out through it later.

[sunburstbasser]

I don't use a compressor much, only the digital stuff on my computer. But I've found that if I use an overdrive pedal as a compressor going into my computer, then EQ it from there, it sounds better.

[gazman]

 

Originally posted by DanTolen Direct in, no effects. Natural true bass tone.

 

 

Alot of producers prefer this. Works for me too.

 

But since your after the 'heavy alternative rock' sound, I'd want to get that Ampeg pre right in there as well.

[nosamiam]

Originally posted by zomawia Wouldn't there be some phase issues when blending a mic and direct signal?

 

Could be a problem, I suppose. But if you are moving the mic around and monitoring as you try out positions, it shouldn't be a problem. Do it in mono with no hard panning, and I think it would work out. Optionally, if you're using a DAW (Sonar, Cubase, etc.) You could slip either track forward or backward by a couple of milliseconds to get the waves to line up better.

 

Want the ultimate way to record, getting the best of both worlds, direct and miked? Get a re-amp box. This is a very commonly used studio trick.

 

1) Record a your bass direct.

 

2) Set up the box like so: Console send--->Re-amp box input--->Re-amp box output--->amp input.

 

3) Play the recorded track back through the send. The re-amp box steps the signal down to line level, exactly duplicating what you played. Your amp will think it's you playing.

 

4) Set up your favorite mic in whatever position you desire. Experiment to your heart's content till you dial in the sound you're looking for. Add effects, switch out or add mics, do whatever you want! No bass bleeding into other mics!

 

5) Re-record the track through whatever setup you have settled on. You can keep the direct-recorded track, but if you get the sound you were looking for you will probably want to scrap it.

 

Sweetwater has 'em by Radial. It will definitely pay for itself in quality results. It can also be used for adding stompbox effects (ie. designed for instrument-level inputs) to any recorded audio track. Wanna run your drum tracks through a phaser pedal? Wanna re-do a guitar track through a different amp? Or several amps? Wanna run your already-recorded vocals through the vocoder on the Korg MS2000 synth? You're only limited by your imagination.

 

[Stinkfoot]

There are many ways to approach recording. Unless, you're going for a live sound, it's probably best to start with as unaltered of a sound as you can. You can always do things with the track later like adding effects. Be sure to save your original takes so you can go back if needed. I don't know if that helps, but that's my basic philosophy for recording.