So how do you record bass?

[bdunlap]

How are you guys getting your ideal bass sound? I could never get a good bass sound out of straight micing my bass cab, and I'm using the AKG I used for the bass cab on my second bass drum now. I'm doing it all through a direct box into my Mac now, but I'm not a fan of that method. Should I buy another mic for the bass and record parallel with direct and amp'd signal? I've heard that method is good but I'm not sure how that would go with pedals. Advice?

[Mudfuzz]

Bass in >
Di out one clean > Mixer
Through one > pedals > input two>
Di out two FX > Mixer
Through two > amp > mic and DI out

[univalve]

bass -> amp -> 2x12" box -> mic -> decent preamp
i used this mic with quite good results:

DI doesn't work for me, cause my amp makes some distortion and i need to get that on the recordning...

[masked elwood]

i recently discovered this :




any of you bass guys tried one?...i'm running everything through it now.

[Mudfuzz]

bass -> amp -> 2x12" box -> mic -> decent preamp
i used this mic with quite good results:

DI doesn't work for me, cause my amp makes some distortion and i need to get that on the recordning...

I use the Di for reamping incase something goes wrong or if I am in a hurry. Those mics are great! I also love RE20s for bass

[theavondon]

i recently discovered this :




any of you bass guys tried one?...i'm running everything through it now.

Justin Pearson uses one. I've always wanted to try it.

I mic all my stuff with an AKG Perception 200, sorta close-ish. It gets good frequency response across the whole spectrum. At least, to me. I've tried bass drum mics, and the highs are just kinda too rolled off for my tastes.

[mauerkraut]

I personally don't like DIs with any kind of overdive, distortion, fuzz, etc. Miking smaller amps I think is probably the way to go. 1 to 2 speakers, for a really focused and defined sound. I've yet to find a recording set up I like on bass but I will certainly share my findings when I do.

Every recording I've heard with an Ampeg B-15 has nailed the sounds I'd like to achieve.

Also look into HEIL mics and the ElectroVoice RE20... large diaphragm dynamics do it for me

[Ghost Hip]

Bass->whatever pedals->English Muff'n with lows cranked and mids/his rolled down->mixer->laptop. I usually have a fuzz with low gain to fatten the sound up. I've found when using a low end bassy fuzz, that the bass can still come off as relatively clean within the song's context, when alone it is actually pretty fuzzy. It also makes it nice and fat sounding.

[eatyourguitar]

most recording engineers dont mic it. but that doesnt mean its not done. like in the example where you already have your amp and your sound. the akg is a popular goto bass mic. it was orginally a kick drum mic. the kick drum bass rolloff may not always be what you want. but that mic does a great job of capturing bass. in a muffled sine wave kinda way. the md421 is also good if you need it more open and flat. the biggest problem with recording bass is that some bass players are not consistent in their picking dynamics. it never sounds as good when you compress the shit out of it. so a medium compression with a medium knee is pretty good. nothing over ratio 4:1 and dont bring the threshhold too low. your trying to get the peaks all the same so you can really bring it up in the mix with no problems.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I get great results with a mix of amp DI (ashdown little bastard) and close micing the cab. I don't have a good mic, but the DI loses a bit of bass, and the mic'd signal keeps in the fatter sound out of the speakers. Haven't had the amp long, or a chance to record in ages, so I haven't really worked it out. I've gotten some of my favourite recorded bass sounds by plugging straight into a desk though.

[metalmariachi]

Mics only I want the sound of my amp.
Mics to Tascam 688, 688 to a/d converter to laptop.

I double mic with a Sennheiser e 902 and an e 914

And have used CAD TSM-411 and TSM-412 with great results.
Great mics on a budget.
for old school retro.

MM

[musiqueer]

most recording engineers dont mic it. but that doesnt mean its not done. like in the example where you already have your amp and your sound. the akg is a popular goto bass mic. it was orginally a kick drum mic. the kick drum bass rolloff may not always be what you want. but that mic does a great job of capturing bass. in a muffled sine wave kinda way. the md421 is also good if you need it more open and flat. the biggest problem with recording bass is that some bass players are not consistent in their picking dynamics. it never sounds as good when you compress the shit out of it. so a medium compression with a medium knee is pretty good. nothing over ratio 4:1 and dont bring the threshhold too low. your trying to get the peaks all the same so you can really bring it up in the mix with no problems.

I second this. I always use md421 on bass recordings. I also take one with me to gigs.

D112 is ok if you only want low end or "vintage" sound but if you like to use od/dist./fuzz I'd recommend something else.

Usually I also record clean signal with Lehle Sunday driver
http://www.lehle.com/products/SundayDriver/index.php

[kaboom]

+1 to MD421. blend with a DI to your liking.

[bdunlap]

bass -> amp -> 2x12" box -> mic -> decent preamp
i used this mic with quite good results:

DI doesn't work for me, cause my amp makes some distortion and i need to get that on the recordning...

I use the Di for reamping incase something goes wrong or if I am in a hurry. Those mics are great! I also love RE20s for bass

I use a D112, sounds excellent on bass drum but it just wasn't doing it for me with bass

[MaxMaps]

god I can feel gas for recording equipment now