How to get the best bass tone using an Mbox 2?

[jmarkham]

A good DI box with a bit of gain would help. You could try the
A-Designs REDDI .. for example.

jeff

[Croaker]

A decent DI box will help a lot or a decent preamp with a DI.
How about a mic on an amp..so you have? even a guitar amp with a condensor mic will work..it doesn't have to be loud.

On a super low budget even a bass pod can sound pretty good, better than the guitar pod for sure.

If you can get a nice DI signal recorded you can re-amp.

whats your budget and rest of setup? You say you do a pretty good job of tracking everything else so you must have some mics...right?

[Gordon]

Use a good bass. Seriously, all you need is a Fender Jazz and a cable. Mine sounds great plugged direct.

[BoutiqueRec]

All of you have some great suggestions. It could be that my bass is kinda crappy. It is a 5 string Washburn I will see if I can borrow a DI from a buddy and check that out as well. I have some really good mics but no bass amp I use Guitar Rig 2 and Amplitube 2 for most of my guitar/ bass effects.

[TheRealRoach]

Aside from a decent DI, it's all in the fingers. Don't worry about putzing around in the computer side of things.

Run the track, play along and move your plucking/picking hand gradually from the bridge toward the neck. There's a huge amount of tonal variation to be had, more than an amp or plugin could ever offer. Then experiment with how hard you pick/pluck. Some things are surprising, for example, to get a really big fat tone with long sustain you need to pluck/pick gently and controller.

Remember, you're not just inputting "notes" into the damn computer to fix later. Take out all the trickery and get it sound good from your fingers.

[Croaker]

Originally Posted by TheRealRoach

Aside from a decent DI, it's all in the fingers. Don't worry about putzing around in the computer side of things.

Run the track, play along and move your plucking/picking hand gradually from the bridge toward the neck. There's a huge amount of tonal variation to be had, more than an amp or plugin could ever offer. Then experiment with how hard you pick/pluck. Some things are surprising, for example, to get a really big fat tone with long sustain you need to pluck/pick gently and controller.

Remember, you're not just inputting "notes" into the damn computer to fix later. Take out all the trickery and get it sound good from your fingers.

\

I agree. Some good advice there. I was assuming the playing was already there. This is where having a good sound (whether it be a small amp or good DI) comes in handy. Hearing and feeling a good sound in the room or headphones helps me in my inspiration to play better because I enjoy the experience better..and like you say you are not just inputting "notes" into the computer.

[BoutiqueRec]

The playing is there. It has nothing to do with finger placement , although I get your point. I have different bass players track here all the time and it is a consistent problem. However, most have been playing my bass. This is a fuzz/buzz distortion no matter how hard I hit the box. The plug-ins are post.

[Croaker]

do you get the same thing with a different bass? does it have active pickups? try checking the battery if it does.

[BoutiqueRec]

Yes. Of course the battery! Problem solved. Many Thanks.

[Croaker]

Originally Posted by Butterball001

Yes. Of course the battery! Problem solved. Many Thanks.

ding ...ding..ding...ding

[TheRealRoach]

Originally Posted by Croaker

ding ...ding..ding...ding

About as close as you can get in the guitar world to "... well did you turn it off and turn it back on?"