Bass Tracking DI / Amp / Both?

[DonM]

Kevin:

I deeply appreciate your participation in the forum this way.

My question regards getting a good bass sound in tracking to mix.

Can you define what you consider a good bass sound, and how you have achieved that,,,

Can you comment on DI, versus Amp Micing, Versus Both, versus Reamp - this has been the one instrument that has haunted me for years.

Again thank you so much for your time!

-D

[Kevin Killen]

DonM,

I know what you mean, for me its upright bass. It just eludes me.....

Without wishing to sound flip, a good bass sound is one that works in the track. The question is so broad that I find it difficult to be specific.

However it depends on what you want the bass to do.

Do you want it to provide bottom, punch,melody, groove? Is so entirely subjective and it is more about what you want it to do in the track.

I will audition both an amp and di and commit to a direction when I hear how it is supporting the song. I will say that a simplier approach is often the best policy. A good DI and bass cabinet ( not to mention a good player ) can go a long way to realizing the sound in your head. If you find you are hitting the eq and the compressor and more eq and are still unhappy, then stop. Go listen in the room, see if you like that sound and then see if that sound is being translated into the control room. If not check your signal path and try removing stuff.

If the bass player feels like you are capturing his / her sound accurately, perhaps then the issue lies somewhere else. If not , then experiment with a differnt di box, mic pre.
These days most basses sound very good indeed, but if its sounds awful, try another bass.

I cannot discern from your question whether you have the problem in your own studio or every studio? If its the former, then perhaps your monitoring is inaccurate.
Are u happy when you are recording, but disappointed when you take it outside?

So many parameters.

Perhaps you could define the situation a little more and I could be more specific.

Kevin

[DonM]

Originally Posted by Kevin Killen

DonM,

I know what you mean, for me its upright bass. It just eludes me.....

Without wishing to sound flip, a good bass sound is one that works in the track. The question is so broad that I find it difficult to be specific.

However it depends on what you want the bass to do.

Do you want it to provide bottom, punch,melody, groove? Is so entirely subjective and it is more about what you want it to do in the track.

This comment is a gemstone. You're right regarding what do I want the Bass to do in the track. I think I have permitted this instrument to slip through my hands as both a producer and an engineer as to what I want the instrument to do. I seem to have no trouble defining that for almost any other instrument. You're comment is right on and I will listen to some recordings I like the bass sound in to school myself in that area.

These days most basses sound very good indeed, but if its sounds awful, try another bass.

I have had the honor of capturing some great players and instuments, but I personally feel the instruments I have recorded in the past few years have far too wide bandwidth. It just seems to me there is too much top, too much bottom and not enough tone in-between. Even EQ hasn't brought the instrument back into the track for me. That could have everything to do with your first point, and my lack of understanding the proper signal chain for bass. I just assume any DI will do - maybe not eh?

I cannot discern from your question whether you have the problem in your own studio or every studio? If its the former, then perhaps your monitoring is inaccurate.
Are u happy when you are recording, but disappointed when you take it outside?

So many parameters.

Perhaps you could define the situation a little more and I could be more specific.

Kevin

Without using up much more of your time, I think the broad question may reflect my 'blurry' approach to the instrument to date. I will focus more on what I want the bass to do for the track and ask the artist to audition a few basses in my sessions this week.

Thank you so much for your interest and comments.

-D

[trident fan]

hello Sir,
when you direct record bass, are there any eq points you look at first to cut or boost. such as cutting an approximate number of db below say 100hz or so? also, what type of compression settings might you use?
thanks, regards,
Bill

[Kevin Killen]

Bill,

Not in particular because each bass insturment sounds so unique. A Hofner bass sounds different to a Feder Precision which sounds way different to a Music man . Then you add the choice of types of strings, major or minor keys, fingers versus pick, muted or not.

There are just too many parameters to blindly assume that one default position could satisfy all bass instruments. And thats before you even talk about 5 strings or double string basses.

Kevin