When do you record the bass?

[75lespaul]

I always used to record the bass and drums together first, but a bass player friend of mine said the bass should be recorded last. What do you do and why?

[TheLivingDead]

Re: When do you record the bass?

I always record it last. Couldn't really tell you why; it just works for me. I know I'd go nuts if I recorded it first trying to get everything perfect. When the guitar's already down the little "flubs" from the bass track add to the soul of the tune. The other way around would probably end up feeling too robotic.

[Binnerscot]

Re: When do you record the bass?

When?...when you can get the bass player to put his beer down. There isn't any real order, although you you usually do the drums first...kind of common sense. Record the bass whenever it works best for you or the band.

[cheameup]

Re: When do you record the bass?

it depends. If I'm recording me playing bass just for a demo idea for the band I do it last cause I approach the bass from the guitar perspective as I'm not a bass player . in a band sitch I much rather not doing my final guitar take till the bass is there. The bass and drums need to talk to each other then the guitar should phrase around that in my opinion

but whatever works

[DankStar]

Re: When do you record the bass?

for my underwear bedroom recordings, I typically do it last because I make up tunes on guitar, and use the guitar/drum tracks to figure out the bass lines. I think I did bass once right after the drums because I had really concentrated on the bass to write the tune that time.

[cream123]

Re: When do you record the bass?

huh...I usually work from the bottom up but I guess it depends on the tune.

[75lespaul]

Re: When do you record the bass?

I should have made it clear that I'm recording by myself, so I do all the parts usually. I don't really see a difference as to when it is recorded, but he's taking classes and stuff so an edumacated dude usually makes me think, ha ha.

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: When do you record the bass?

I should have made it clear that I'm recording by myself, so I do all the parts usually. I don't really see a difference as to when it is recorded, but he's taking classes and stuff so an edumacated dude usually makes me think, ha ha.

Like many things in recording and music there is no right answer. I'm a song writer so I need to have the progression mapped out first which is usually done by the root notes of my bass line, sometimes I'll go back and change the bass line later to add interest. I need that root progression though to add harmony and melody. When I write though a song may be inspired by a loop or a guitar riff etc. Some bass lines have more melodic content like McCartney some don't like Adam Clayton.

[ex-250]

Re: When do you record the bass?

I do bass after guitars, that way I can tailor the bass tone to the guitar sound.

[uOpt]

Re: When do you record the bass?

Wouldn't the wimpy instruments have a better time when bass and drums are both present when they do their parts? At least a rough track?

[JOLLY]

Re: When do you record the bass?

I always record bass last. To me the bass is the most important sound of the song really. I can run through a couple of lines in the song and get the exact sound I want for bass. I rarely if ever use the same bass sound for any of my recordings. I get everything the way I want it and then do the bass last and give it the sound it needs for that particular song.

[GoldenVulture]

Re: When do you record the bass?

Drums and/then bass. Old school way.

[StillLearnin']

Re: When do you record the bass?

Last. But that's mainly because I do everything myself. I lay down guitar to a click, build the drums to the guitar, then build the bass to the drums & guitar and then tweak for hours on that. If I had a real drummer in my home studio, it would be the opposite.