Best recording techniques for bass

[lukedavo]

See if you can at least rent or try the RBI, it is better than any other DI listed here with the exception of one that hasn't been listed yet all hail the almighty Avalon U5 Class A DI Preamp/EQ. easily the best freq response :
Frequency Response, -/+0.5dB: 5Hz to 100kHz
Frequency Response, -3dB: 1Hz to 500kHz (input band limited)

[H.I.Z.]

Most often I just use the bass rig brain line out as a pre-amp/eq, then direct compressing in the mix stage.

[Whoopysnorp]

Originally Posted by H.I.Z.

Most often I just use the bass rig brain line out as a pre-amp/eq, then direct compressing in the mix stage.

Same here. I've got an Ampeg SVT-II, and that thing just makes the most excellent rock bass tone. All I have to do is take the line out and compress a little and boom--warm, thick bass. I've experimented with miking speakers but have never really seen the need to--I always just wind up going with the direct track anyway.

[Nubus]

Originally Posted by johnS

I could be wrong about this, but I think you can't get total signal isolation with an active DI.

I don't understand what this means. Maybe I haven't thought about it enough yet... but total isolation from what?

I thought that using an active direct didn't change the pickup load as much, or something like that. Though... with the better passive DIs I have used, I did not notice the sound of the amp changing.

I have gotten quick complaints when using P.O.S. DIs.

[johnS]

Originally Posted by Nubus

I don't understand what this means. Maybe I haven't thought about it enough yet... but total isolation from what?

I thought that using an active direct didn't change the pickup load as much, or something like that. Though... with the better passive DIs I have used, I did not notice the sound of the amp changing.

I have gotten quick complaints when using P.O.S. DIs.

Total isolation from 60 Hz hum. When I run my keyboard into the Hi-Z inputs on my preamp, I get lots of garbage in the signal. When I run my bass through a JDI, it's nice and quiet.

I'm not sure about pickup load . . . mabye passive DIs have lower impedence inputs by nature? I bet puffpastry could shed some light on this . . .

[johnS]

Originally Posted by Nubus

well i like little tough ass boxes that i can step on better than rack gear so it might suit me better. i didnt like the sansamp di pedal/box when i tried it, i can get a better bereaking up-sound elsewhere... and I would totally break the knobs off of it eventually.
though if i set up a live rig with a seperate power/pre amp i would use the sans rack.

I went with the Sans Amp bass pedal. I liked the JDI, but the Sans Amp just gave me so many more options for direct recording. (Background: I've been looking for a box for recording bass direct--I have a bass but no desire to play it in a band, strictly for songwriting). The Sans Amp is cool because you can run it on phantom power--no batteries or AC adapter needed, although it does run on those, too.

Lots of tonal shaping options, and it saves three presets. It's simple, flexible, and sounds good with my 80s 51 P-bass reissue. That's all I want!

[Nubus]

I got my JDI. I used it two nights ago strictly before the amp, plugged in the conventional way of Bass->DI->Amp. Sounded great with acive pickups. It had very clean lows and highs. Last night though, I used it plugged inline with my speaker. Very nice. Exactly what I wanted in my bass recording. I think I might be giving up mic'ing bass guitar speaker cabinet now. It feels so good to have a huge amplifier and huge tubes in front of the recording. The combination of tones on the guitar and the amp really compliment each other. I can see using the DI either way though depending on the player. Maybe some players need the microphone more than the speaker, some will need to plug straight into a DI. IMO my bass playing lends itself to the sound of the amplifier.

[Whoopysnorp]

The only time I've thought that maybe I needed to mic the bass rather than run the DI in retrospect was when I helped a friend record a song for his movie recently. It's supposed to sound kind of '60s (he used that 'Time of the Season' song as a reference). The DI wound up sounding a little too modern. My friend wasn't picky and he thought it sounded great, but I should have gotten off my arse and tried some mics.

[DreamwaveMusic]

whoopy...I really enjoy the blend of using mics with a direct signal. I love the sound of my Ampeg amp and Eden cab. In serious recordings I will use the J48 DI, and a Mic on the Eden (D112). Sometimes I use the DI on the Ampeg or a sm57 on the Eden (as well) for more tone options. The Ampeg has such a great EQ and the tightness of the Eden really shines on the recording. I have heard instanced where just a DI works really well. Victor Wooten uses a DI on all his solo recordings and with the Flecktones, works well for him because he wants the cleanest sound for his extremely clean sounding Foderas.

[dagosto]

I recently tried out the Aphex bass exiter. It is an active DI with some tonal shaping knobs. I got some nice tones out of it that really cut in the mix without overpowering anything. Definitely worth a try and a listen.