Folk/Rock tune...What are your thoughts?

[Vintageblue02]

Hello all. I have a recording from a session yesterday: acoustic guitar, acoustic bass & acoustic drums. This was my first time tracking a live session with acoustic instruments. I kept the number of mics pretty simple/low. Just looking to hear some feedback from some of you experts.

Below I've posted take 1 of 2.

[fHumble fHingaz]

I'm certainly no expert, so take my comments with a grain of salt if you like - anyway, here goes. It's a lovely sounding recording - I particularly like the detail evident in the brushed snare work. The mix does seem to be overpowering in the low-mids: The bass is tending to make things quite murky & lacking in clarity... This is particularly effectig the guitar - nothing that a few eq tweaks wouldn't fix, though.

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by fHumble fHingaz

I'm certainly no expert, so take my comments with a grain of salt if you like - anyway, here goes. It's a lovely sounding recording - I particularly like the detail evident in the brushed snare work. The mix does seem to be overpowering in the low-mids: The bass is tending to make things quite murky & lacking in clarity... This is particularly effectig the guitar - nothing that a few eq tweaks wouldn't fix, though.

No harm done, thank you for your honesty! That's why we're all here! I was thinking a bit of the same thing myself. I only do location recording, so is there anything I can do/bring with me, that might alleviate this problem for future recordings? Thanks again! Glad you liked the detail on the kit! thumbsup

[adathead 53]

That bass is definitely a problem (a shame, because everything else sounds great). I'm no expert here, but I can think of a couple possibilities. Was the bass properly decoupled from the floor? Upright basses tend to act much like an electric bass amp transferring the low frequencies to the floor and causing a lot of rumble. Secondly, the bass might just be resonating too much on its own. You could try some kind of a mute near the bridge and adjust until it sounds just right. And lastly, the bass player might have poor technique. All the great upright bass players seem to have a great sense of touch and know how to control the attack/decay so the bass will sit well in the arrangement. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps.

Larry

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by adathead 53

That bass is definitely a problem (a shame, because everything else sounds great). I'm no expert here, but I can think of a couple possibilities. Was the bass properly decoupled from the floor? Upright basses tend to act much like an electric bass amp transferring the low frequencies to the floor and causing a lot of rumble. Secondly, the bass might just be resonating too much on its own. You could try some kind of a mute near the bridge and adjust until it sounds just right. And lastly, the bass player might have poor technique. All the great upright bass players seem to have a great sense of touch and know how to control the attack/decay so the bass will sit well in the arrangement. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps.

Larry

Thanks. Good tips I'll keep for future sessions. I should clarify that the bass was an acoustic bass, not an upright bass. Maybe that's the problem?
What mic would one use to mic an acoustic or upright bass? I used a tube LDC at about the 13th fret like on an acoustic guitar. I have no real idea about miking acoustic basses, so me thinks that has/had a lot to do with the sound/tone. I've miked cellos with 609s, SDCs, and stalwart 57s.
Any tips on miking techniques/choices, and what frequency to cut to open things up would be appreciated. Thanks again for your comments & time!