Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

In my experience, the Avid forum is great. Anytime I have posted a question I received a knowledgeable response within 30 minutes, if not sooner. It is not connected with Avid: It's just users.

So is the Sound On Sound forum; but I am in a couple of private FB groups that are also excellent.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

I wouldn't know about FB. Not a fan, not a member. No interest.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

I use it 99% of the time for music stuff and it has proven to be a great resource.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

+1

The Sansamp is hard to beat. Short of a great amp, a great room and an expensive DI you're not realistically going to do better. Personally I like the rackmount Sansamps better (specifically the VT and RPM), but it's mostly for a few extra EQ options.

The Sansamp is hard to beat. He hit it right on the head!

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

Yesterday I pulled the trigger and ordered the SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

Cool; enjoy!

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

Thanks for the tip about doubling the bass, I still want the SandsAmp for a more realistic bass amp tone (and a better bas would help too ) but I just did a small practice recording and did the doubling of the bass and it really made it sound a bit better, more volume yes but more "body" too. I also did this with the "virtua!l kick drum and I like it better. I know mixing is a long process of trial and error but these little simple tips really go a long way.

Edit: This is what I did to "twak" the double track, if I think the volume was too loud in the mix by default then I just reduced the volume of one of the tracks, it worked for me but I don't know it works for others. This made sense considering both the original and doubled track were centered. I guess tracks in L or R may need an equivalent attenuation in the mix.

Just so you know, I don't think dg27 was talking about doubling the bass track, it looks to me like he was recommending recording one performance onto two separate tracks, one with the raw direct sound and the other with processed tone. That's the most common way of doing it, and it's popular for good reason.

That being said (and as dg also said), there really is no wrong way. If it works for you, go with it!

And I'll add my +1 on the SansAmp. Great piece of gear. I always bring it to bass gigs- good tone guaranteed, whatever the amp. And even the programmable one fits in the pocket of a gig bag.

Coupla links worth checking out:

http://forum.recordingreview.com/index.php Home Recording Forum, good info and some tips for beginners.

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/ Lots of discussion about equipment but also about soundspaces, mic technique, mixing, getting the best out of lower priced gear, and a newbie recording forum.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

Just so you know, I don't think dg27 was talking about doubling the bass track, it looks to me like he was recommending recording one performance onto two separate tracks, one with the raw direct sound and the other with processed tone. That's the most common way of doing it, and it's popular for good reason.

That's correct. The performance is recorded once and I have an XLR going into one input on my interface untreated (raw direct) and a 1/4 jack that has my SansAmp settings (treated) going into another input on my interface. Each is a separate track in my DAW (Pro Tools).

I have found that I generally have to do very, very little additional processing to get the sound I want.

And by the way, I would suggest checking out the recommended settings shown in the SansAmp manual.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

You should always have a DI no matter what.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

I was out of town on a business trip and I just arrived yesterday night, the pedal was already at home so later today I should be able to start playing with it

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

You should always have a DI no matter what.

Well, I did not have any DI myself before this, not for guitar even (I am a guitar player) as the instrument input of my Focusrite 2i2 takes the guitar dry signal with no issues. The happy accident is when the Bass Driver DI is powered but disengaged it works as a DI, I just did a little try with my strat into my Focusrite 2i2 and it works as DI for guitar just like that. At least now I know if I ever sell my Focusrite 2i2 I can use this box as a DI for any other interface that may not have instrument input.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

True that! The fact that it can be powered via phantom power saves alot of headache as well

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

Most bass players record direct these days and the Sansamp is pretty cool. Tech 21 NYC now has a bass Flyrig for performing live. A lot of bass players go direct to the PA when playing live and use the amp as a monitor. You can use bass drum mics like the D112 and Beta 52, but some producers still use SM 57s and condensers. It's not quite as easy as micing a guitar cab. I would use the Sansamp.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

When I record bass, I go straight into the interface. If that's not an option, I'll use my Sansamp. The J-bass that I have has active pickups and so it's pretty easy to dial in a tone.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

I'm a huge fan of the Fender Rumbles. And Beer$ has a great idea. Record the Rumble through a mic and through the DI and mix the two for some really good results. Like half clean and half dirty or something.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

I'm a huge fan of the Fender Rumbles. And Beer$ has a great idea. Record the Rumble through a mic and through the DI and mix the two for some really good results. Like half clean and half dirty or something.

This is similar to what I do with the SansAmp, described above: bass --> SansAmp --> XLR to interface (clean) + line --> interface with SA settings. I get the best of both worlds. I use two tracks in my DAW then route them to single bus track.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

This is similar to what I do with the SansAmp, described above: bass --> SansAmp --> XLR to interface (clean) + line --> interface with SA settings. I get the best of both worlds. I use two tracks in my DAW then route them to single bus track.

That's how I record drums. Or if I have to program drums through EZ Drummer or something, I use a multitrack out from the VST and send each out to an auxiliary subtrack to add compression or eq for each drum/ OH/ hit hat. Then I can use the main track just as a master fader for the drums as a whole. I also will add reverb to the master track rather than dealing with it on each sub track. Gets really high quality results.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

I use a multitrack out from the VST and send each out to an auxiliary subtrack to add compression or eq for each drum/ OH/ hit hat. Then I can use the main track just as a master fader for the drums as a whole.

Exactly what I do for drums as well. And I agree that the results are great, IMO.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

Exactly what I do for drums as well. And I agree that the results are great, IMO.

I've seen some guys will mix within the VST and just get stereo outs from it. One guy in class insists on using one mic to record drums mono. Says it gives better results for him. I think he's insane and a bit lazy. But he says it sounds better and that's how the Beatles did it.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass home recording: DI Box vs Real Amp DI ?

But he says it sounds better and that's how the Beatles did it.

I think this is faulty logic in 2017. I'm sure there were other factors involved in a such a decision.

Routing to separate tracks for me is about control. I may want to limit how prominent a cymbal or tom might be and this makes it much easier.