On location recording options for a double bass

[Krecording]

Hi,

I'm recording on location this week. The band will have a Jazz type set up in as much as the drummer will be on brushes and we'll be using a double bass. The guitarist will be separated from his amp so no spill there.

What I'm wondering is what would be the best way to get a good solid bass sound with minimal spill while keeping the bassist in the same room as the kit.

I'm debating the Km184 strapped to the bridge but I'd like to hear other views.

My mic choices are:

2 x KM 184
2 x TLM 103
2 x Rode NTK
1 x Peluso 2247 LE
+ various dynamics

[Krecording]

Bump!

[geoff004]

you could try wrapping a 57 in a towel, then stuffing it between the body and the tailpiece. That usually captures a pretty full bass sound with out picking up much of anything else.

Will you also have some room mics going - maybe strategically placed to get a good blend of the acoustic instruments?

[Doc Mixwell]

Any Ribbons?

Not sure If I would ever wrap a towel around any microphone,

I would try the 57 on the sound hole,
Use a beefy preamp, should be fine, just close mic it with the null facing the rest of the band.

I would also try the KM184, BUT it may provide more "bite" on the strings than you'll want for the part.....or not, [as well, the bleed may be unacceptable]

I dunno

[pkautzsch]

KM184 in the bridge should be fine as long as the rest of the band isn't too loud. As you state the drummer uses brushes, so I don't think he's gonna be loud. The worst part of drum spill in a jazz context, IME, are the cymbals. So it's not exactly a bad thing if you pick up too much treble from the strings.
In addition, you might want a DI signal just for those ranges you might need to cut from the mic signal.
What exactly is the line-up?

[Krecording]

Thanks for that. Not sure I like the idea of a 57 though. I have a pacifica, vintech and an isa 220 as pres. I had intended using the Pacifica for overheads and isa on the kick.

The line up will be drummer with the usual set up with 2 floors and a rack plus a few crashes and a ride. The bassist will alternate between electric and double bass. The guitarist will be using a pod pro (I have my reasons!). And the vocalist will be with me in the Control room. We will have a keyboard player too.

The music is more on the country side of things with Alison Krauss and Ray LaMontagne being my current reference material.

[huub]

There has been a thread before i'm sure? about the rubberband technique... wonderful for live miking for bass, with km140 or 414, but i'm sure with other mics it'll be nice too..

[huub]

Ah ,here it is: Jazz Trio Micing Suggestions: Especially Upright Bass

[Jungle Jazz]

Which dynamics do you have? Any chance you have an RE20 or an SM7?

[Han]

Wrap a 57 in foam and put it in the bridge and you will be certain of one of the worst bass sounds you've ever heard. :D

There are a number of threads in this very forum about the subject, search and you will find everything you need.

Good luck!

[springer]

re20 is working great for me recently 6-8 inches right in front of the strings maybe off to the bassists left a tad and pointing up just below the end of the finger board.

TLM103 is nice if your drummer is quiet as condensors are really sound vacuums and will suck up sound from everywhere.
You can also use gobos (go betweens) to get more isolation which is really the key for bass.

Good luck - shoot pics and let us know how it turns out.

[Krecording]

Hi Guys,

Well I just got back from the session, no photos unfortunately.

I took the advice of the rubberbands on the bridge and a KM 184 through a UA LA610, a Peluso 2247LE on the bridge through a Vintech 273 and a DI running into an SSL VHD pre.

As it stood the sound was great with the drums in the room but on the harder hit songs there was just too much bleed.

The Bassist though was quite happy to overdub and I was able to back the Peluso off to about 1 and a half feet and discard the DI (I of course kept the DI for safety).

I was well pleased with the sound the KM gave on it's own and I think come mix time I'll mainly use it with a blend of the Peluso for openess.

Thanks for all your help and keep this thread going, I'd love to hear all other ways and means of getting a great Upright sound. Live or overdubbed.

Andy

[ajfarber]

The km184 will be fine. No need to put it in the bridge. Put it on a proper mic stand, you'll be fine.

[Krecording]

Took me a while but here's the pics from another more recent session with the Km in the bridge technique.