My bass sounds like crap DI through my interface, how can i make the bass come alive?

[djwayne]

I nailed it....the problem was turning the volume control up on the bass amp was making too much noise in the studio, it was waaaaay to loud so I turned the volume way down. This in turn lowered the signal to noise ratio, so I was getting lots of noise. Soooo to fix the problem I had to turn up the amp's volume but turn off the speakers so I wouldn't get blasted( This can be a VERY loud amp) So how do I do that ?? Simple, I plug in a second set of headphones to the amp's headphone jack and that turns off the speaker so I don't get blasted. I can still hear the bass from the first set of headphones plugged into the Fast Track. I don't even have to put in a second set of phones just a blank plug would do the trick.

Bottom line is now I am getting a very strong clear and great tone out of the Ampeg into Sonar.

[Jazz Noise]

A weird thing I've found is since moving to flatwounds I can get my bass to sit easier in the mix than I did with roundwounds, despite the roundwounds offering all that extra high-frequency content.

The Motown sound is a big dirty old set of flatwounds. I rarely play that kind of stuff but they've a great attack, I think it sounds really interesting in rockier tracks. Or at least my bizarro vision of rock music. Only downside might be that chords aren't as enjoyable, but abit of fuzz helps there!

[NothingTheory]

Originally Posted by Jazz Noise

A weird thing I've found is since moving to flatwounds I can get my bass to sit easier in the mix than I did with roundwounds, despite the roundwounds offering all that extra high-frequency content.

The Motown sound is a big dirty old set of flatwounds. I rarely play that kind of stuff but they've a great attack, I think it sounds really interesting in rockier tracks. Or at least my bizarro vision of rock music. Only downside might be that chords aren't as enjoyable, but abit of fuzz helps there!

Way back in the 80's Kaman used to make stainless steel flatwounds that were da bomb. I wish I could find something similar now. .. er. for a six string ta boot. Im alergic to nickle, creates these wierd pits in my fingers like acid eating them away, would love to give some flatwounds a go again .

[djwayne]

Flat wound strings came with the bass I just bought, I love 'em. No friction !!

[bebopcola]

a bass pre-amp, or any decent preamp with color and eq. if you get a tech 21 nyc device, like a sansamp or VT bass, make sure to get one with a midrange control, the regular sansamp bddi has crazy inherent mid-cut. the rackmount sansamp bddi has a dedicated midrange control, as does the VT bass.

[ysf]

Originally Posted by soma89

Interface being used - Presonus Firestudio Mobile

I`d like to record directly through the interface but it sounds like crap. What can I get to amplify my bass signals before it goes through the interface (something that`s slightly on the cheap)?

Is a DI box what I need? If so, I looked into some Behringer stuff that seems good for the price. I also tried connecting the line out of my Ampeg b100r to the interface and got a decent sound... would this way be better than getting a cheap DI like a behringer or is a DI the way to go?

I have been using the $29 ART Tube MP for about a year now after hearing a shootout between it and A high end Green River preamp.

It has a great fat sound that I could never seem to get before using it.

If you do a search you can find that shootout on here.

[Jazz Noise]

Originally Posted by NothingTheory

Way back in the 80's Kaman used to make stainless steel flatwounds that were da bomb. I wish I could find something similar now. .. er. for a six string ta boot. Im alergic to nickle, creates these wierd pits in my fingers like acid eating them away, would love to give some flatwounds a go again .

I've a freind who has the same issue, there are steel coated strings availible - I'd give them a try!

[ObiK]

Originally Posted by kafka

+1. LOVE SVX. However, the DI makes all the difference. I use a UA Solo 610 for my DI. It really excels on bass.

I've been using Ampeg SVX on my DI'd bass tracks and have never felt the tone wasn't up to par.

[bebopcola]

As a bassist who knows a bit about the subject, I would just like to go on record and say that IMO, Ampeg is crap for recording. If you want the sound of an sealed Ampeg SVT cabinet, then mic'ing it with a nice dynamic is the best route. However, if you want the true sound of the bass to come through, and not the sound of the amp/cab, I recommend something transparent, i.e. anything besides Ampeg. They are the most colored amps/cabs out there.

Edit: I'd never heard of the Ampeg SVX modeling software before this post, so I cannot comment on that. Also the Tech 21 VT Bass I find superior to the older SansAmp Bass Drive DI by the same company if you are looking for an SVT tone in a box.

[djwayne]

It never fails. Everytime I buy something, somebody on the GearSlutz forum has to jump up and trash it. It doesn't matter most of the people are just schills anyhow. My Ampeg bass amp sounds great to me, and that's all that matters. I'm getting a great bass sound into Sonar just from using the line out.

[bebopcola]

Man, I agree that if your Ampeg bass amp sounds great, that's all that matters. I was offering my alternative opinion, that's all. A lot of people don't realize there are a lot of alternatives to Ampeg out there, which are especially great for recording.

[bebopcola]

also worth noting that a fender p-bass with flats through a mic'd vintage ampeg b15, is THE classic soul/funk/rnb sound used a bazillion records (the motown bass sound).

[djwayne]

I don't know what planet you're from but here on Earth, Ampeg has been rocking the world for decades now. If Ampeg is good enough for the Rolling Stones, it's good enough for me.

I'm not sorry, my bass sounds great thru it, and I'm getting some great sounding recording checks as well. I've been playing thru it all weekend and I love it !!

[loveofjazz]

Someone mentioned the tech21nyc Bass Driver DI earlier. It's a more contemporary bass sound. According to Lloyd at tech21nyc, the Para Driver DI has a different component on the input that tends to yield more of an old-school 60's/70's sound. If you can find a Para Driver DI, give it shot.

This thread has been a good read, by the way.

[Yummerz]

I prefer Acoustic solid state amps myself. Great tone.

[bebopcola]

Originally Posted by loveofjazz

Someone mentioned the tech21nyc Bass Driver DI earlier. It's a more contemporary bass sound. According to Lloyd at tech21nyc, the Para Driver DI has a different component on the input that tends to yield more of an old-school 60's/70's sound. If you can find a Para Driver DI, give it shot.

This thread has been a good read, by the way.

Yep the Para Driver and VT Bass have a midrange control, which is sort of a a necessity with their sansamp boxes.

[pradafan]

get an la2a by teletronix/universal audio. that can help shape your tone.

[pradafan]

a 1081 m49 and a b15 helps too. the la2a/la2 is nice though. i think they have a channel strip that has the ua 610 and a la2a in one unit.

[bebopcola]

Originally Posted by djwayne

I don't know what planet you're from but here on Earth, Ampeg has been rocking the world for decades now. If Ampeg is good enough for the Rolling Stones, it's good enough for me.

I'm not sorry, my bass sounds great thru it, and I'm getting some great sounding recording checks as well. I've been playing thru it all weekend and I love it !!

this is why I mentioned this:

Originally Posted by bebopcola

also worth noting that a fender p-bass with flats through a mic'd vintage ampeg b15, is THE classic soul/funk/rnb sound used a bazillion records (the motown bass sound).

Rolling Stones actually used the b15 to record bass on lots of tracks, and in live videos that I've seen, also use the newer-generation fliptop (b15) ampegs live too.

[djwayne]

I don't take a statement like this lightly....

"As a bassist who knows a bit about the subject, I would just like to go on record and say that IMO, Ampeg is crap for recording"

Sounds like you have a vendetta against Ampeg.

[ObiK]

Na, not really. Different tones for different people. Some prefer a Fender Bassman or a Gallien Kruger, I like Ampegs. Luckily you can find all three in the AmpliTube Custom Shop.

[kafka]

Originally Posted by bebopcola

As a bassist who knows a bit about the subject, I would just like to go on record and say that IMO, Ampeg is crap for recording. If you want the sound of an sealed Ampeg SVT cabinet, then mic'ing it with a nice dynamic is the best route. However, if you want the true sound of the bass to come through, and not the sound of the amp/cab, I recommend something transparent, i.e. anything besides Ampeg. They are the most colored amps/cabs out there.

While I can't agree they're crap for recording (tell it to James Jamerson!), I do agree that they're colored. But saying "use it if you like it" is a truism. If it's not the sound you want, then don't use it.

[djwayne]

Here's a short sample recording of my Ampeg BA-108, direct in. The bass guitar and regular guitar are both being played thru the Ampeg. I don't think it sounds shabby at all...

MP3 Player SoundClick

[bebopcola]

Originally Posted by djwayne

I don't take a statement like this lightly....

"As a bassist who knows a bit about the subject, I would just like to go on record and say that IMO, Ampeg is crap for recording"

Sounds like you have a vendetta against Ampeg.

I don't. Notice the "IMO" in my statement. It's just my preference. I definitely overstated it.

[trevjonez]

im another +1 for the ampeg svx plugin. I just run the bass DI through my profire 2626 and run it through the plugin and its perfect.

we actually use it for practice also. everybody goes DI and we all wear headphones. only the drums are still "acoustic" at that point. keeps the neighbors a little more calm...


Seriously awesome tone from the svx you can't go wrong!

[ivansc]

I have used everything from a 50 watt mono hifi amp through Vox, selmer, Fender, Ampeg (big and little) Trace Elliot Mk1 AND Mk2, Orange, Sound City, Hiiwatt, and Peavey, plus many more I have forgotten.

The vast majority of them were great for live work but the one way I have gotten a consistently excellent bass sound in the studio is via a DI of one sort or another.
Now in fairness this is ONLY for the usual classic fender or rickenbacker bass tones, no slap tap or other stuff.

And I have recently gone back to flats on my Precision after using round wounds for 40 odd years.

But once again it all comes down to the player and what sort of sound you want.
There is no magic recipe.
My first real bass was a 1962 USA Precision bass. Current one is a Fender Mexican copy. It's all good.

Go out and try some amps and some basses and find what works for you.

[ObiK]

Originally Posted by trevjonez

im another +1 for the ampeg svx plugin. I just run the bass DI through my profire 2626 and run it through the plugin and its perfect.

we actually use it for practice also. everybody goes DI and we all wear headphones. only the drums are still "acoustic" at that point. keeps the neighbors a little more calm...


Seriously awesome tone from the svx you can't go wrong!

[Manfrensengensen]

Originally Posted by NYCruiser

That's how the Motown bass sounds were achieved.

Nice direct in bass sound……..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLDqlgRK100

Yea a DI AND flat wound strings.
I found switching to flats was a huge improvement. As well as practicing thru my studio monitors at low volumes which reveals every little squeek and clank if you're playing technique is to aggressive. Recording takes a lighter touch than playing live. I record live shows and every bass track is usually rough in that you get strings clanking against the pick ups, and generally sloppy technique that you don't hear over the usually too loud stage volume.