Hi everyone! I am planning on recording some bass tracks that have different effects on them (fuzz, OD, chorus, bit crushing, synth, octave, etc.). I’ve recorded plenty of bass tracks over the years, but none with effects pedals. So my question is: how do you, personally, track the bass? Do you get a completely clean sound through DI and only run effects through the amp, then mix the 2? Do you run your effects through both the DI and amp? Do you get both a clean DI and a clean amp and add effects in later? I’m aware that people probably do different things for different songs and sounds, but I’m just curious as to how each of you do it and why you do it that way. Thanks!!
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If I know the effects will work in the final mix I’ll always just print them to the track on the way in. If they’re questionable I’ll grab a clean DI in front of the board for a reamping option later.
Clean track first, focus on your playing and timing, and OK to have effects on the monitor mix if you find it inspiring.
After you record you can focus on adding effects and sims. You'll get double the attention on the track(s) once from focusing on playing, and later on processing to fit the song the best.
After you record you can focus on adding effects and sims. You'll get double the attention on the track(s) once from focusing on playing, and later on processing to fit the song the best.
It depends on the effects. Lately I’ve run a mild compression before the clean DI and amp/ 2nd DI & then the other effects like dirt , modulation etc in front of the amp or 2nd DI & it’s worked fantastic. Captured the tone I’m after & gives me a clean DI if I want to reamp later if I want. I also sometimes use this clean DI low passed for just clean low end
A bit convoluted but it gives a huge range of options. The DI is the base tone. The others are for color. The multi fx has 6 channels via USB. I can feed the fx through the amp also.
ch1. DI > mic pre > compressor > eq
ch2. multi fx > USB
ch3. Amp > microphone > mic pre
ch1. DI > mic pre > compressor > eq
ch2. multi fx > USB
ch3. Amp > microphone > mic pre
It depends. I play around a lot. I have a home studio, but I am an experimenter and not trying to make $$ off my recording efforts. Just trying to do as good of a job as I can. I do want good sound. I try different things and depending on the song different things work and different things fail.
A warning is that you cannot strip effects later, but you can usually add them. I sometimes record through my POG and compressor and have not been disappointed there. I usually record my basses direct and not amped or miked - but sometimes I do. I like being able to play with a clean sound in the mix. It has been suggested above to do an direct + anything else so you always have the direct signal to play with. It could add some weird phasing issues though.
I just got my doghouse back that had been unplayable for many years (thank you Mark the Luthier!). I am looking forward to recording that now. I will probably start miked or miked from amp, although it has a Fishman on it.
A warning is that you cannot strip effects later, but you can usually add them. I sometimes record through my POG and compressor and have not been disappointed there. I usually record my basses direct and not amped or miked - but sometimes I do. I like being able to play with a clean sound in the mix. It has been suggested above to do an direct + anything else so you always have the direct signal to play with. It could add some weird phasing issues though.
I just got my doghouse back that had been unplayable for many years (thank you Mark the Luthier!). I am looking forward to recording that now. I will probably start miked or miked from amp, although it has a Fishman on it.
I go for 3 channels usually, one dry DI signal, one that’s got a preamp and maybe some compression, and then one with maybe some reverb or speaker simulation for monitoring. I try to get the 2nd tone as close as possible as to what I want to be on the track and use the dry DI as backup, and the 3rd one I record but rarely use in the track.
Clean DI on one track, any hardware processing on a second track, then blend and modify to taste.
I usually have a mix-bus for any instrument with multiple tracks, so I can add any in-DAW effects to either one individually, or to the composite of them on the mix-bus.
I usually have a mix-bus for any instrument with multiple tracks, so I can add any in-DAW effects to either one individually, or to the composite of them on the mix-bus.
Regardless of the amount of effects and/or mic'ed amp tracks you record, I always recommend recording a separate clean DI track. It may never be used in the mix, but so convenient to have it in case you want to re-amp or just experiment with effects after a good take without worrying about your playing.
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Hi all, am a relatively new player of 2 years and only ever used a precision and a jazz bass with a fender rumble.
What effects am I missing out on? I play a modern, contemporary blues.
Would also like a pedal which comes with a tuner too. Any recommendations from those more experienced?
Would like to start learning out them, but Won't be gigging til new year.
What effects am I missing out on? I play a modern, contemporary blues.
Would also like a pedal which comes with a tuner too. Any recommendations from those more experienced?
Would like to start learning out them, but Won't be gigging til new year.
This is kind've a new thread and maybe you should post this question in the "Effects" forum. Are you asking about recording effects or playing effects?
If you are still new to bass, my advice is to avoid most effects until you learn how to control your playing "tone" with your hands. A lot of new players try to fix things with pedals and amps, but the truth is that you need to learn how to shape your sound with your hands. Especially if you are a blues bassist. I learned this the hard way ($$$) many years ago.
If you are really jonesing for a useful pedal, you might go for a compressor to even out your volume. And an in-line tuner with bypass is never a bad idea.
I'd add a iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC combined with good headphones, earphones, or monitors is a great learning tool for tone and effects.
Everything a pedal can do there's a software plugin that can do the same, or more. Actually many top name pedals certify plugins that use their name. Most all plugins come with a free trial period.
Once you know what you like and in what order you can always go out and buy the hardware pedal versions
Everything a pedal can do there's a software plugin that can do the same, or more. Actually many top name pedals certify plugins that use their name. Most all plugins come with a free trial period.
Once you know what you like and in what order you can always go out and buy the hardware pedal versions
While I agree it's generally good advice to record without effects and add them while mixing, so you have the greatest control over how it will sound in the mix, I sometimes like to use actual hardware effects that can't easily be added "in the box" after recording.
Under those conditions, it's crucial to have enough experience with the particular effects being used to know precisely what it will sound like in the mix, because once it's recorded wet it cant be altered much, if at all.
I usually go bass --> effect --> DI (or amp) --> recorder
My studio amp is a Mesa which has a really good built in compression, so I engage that, but sparingly.
Having said all that, when I do record wet, I try to run a parallel dry line to the recorder as a fail safe option or just for greater flexibility.
Under those conditions, it's crucial to have enough experience with the particular effects being used to know precisely what it will sound like in the mix, because once it's recorded wet it cant be altered much, if at all.
I usually go bass --> effect --> DI (or amp) --> recorder
My studio amp is a Mesa which has a really good built in compression, so I engage that, but sparingly.
Having said all that, when I do record wet, I try to run a parallel dry line to the recorder as a fail safe option or just for greater flexibility.
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I never use an amp, when recording.
Bass -> DI -> Mic-Preamp (UA610 or Warm Audio Tonebeast), EQ (from the UA channel strip or a EQPT) -> Compressor (1176 type) -> Compressor (LA2A type) -> Interface. If I want effects like delays, distortion etc. I use the aux-bus on my mixing desk (SSL Six or Tascam M12) prior to the Interface.
Bass -> DI -> Mic-Preamp (UA610 or Warm Audio Tonebeast), EQ (from the UA channel strip or a EQPT) -> Compressor (1176 type) -> Compressor (LA2A type) -> Interface. If I want effects like delays, distortion etc. I use the aux-bus on my mixing desk (SSL Six or Tascam M12) prior to the Interface.