Re: Tracking bass is tedious
I'm not saying that the bassist has to play along with every single kick stroke of the drummer. I'm just saying that when he does, it has to be tight, or it sounds terrible.
I know we've discussed this before, but I think I can be more open-minded about this now. I won't deny that editing bass tracks by this method can be an ingredient in a great mix (if that's your style) , but at that point, why not just sequence a bassline with FLstudio or something?
How much human involvement is really necessary for your average rock-based bass tracks, if you're already editing them into perfection? It's not like there's really that much dynamic content happening..
Is recording and mixing actual bass tracks just a means of placating the ego of a Guy who isn't essential to the recording process?
Please take this for what it's worth; an honest probe to your perspective. Nothing more.
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Because you do still miss out on things like unique pick strokes per hit (if he's using a pick), organic changing of velocities as the song goes (there is quite a bit of dynamic content, especially after the processing to fit it into the mix), slides up and down not sounding accurate, gliss-up's not sounding accurate, and the overall 'breath' that the bass will add to the low end. Consider it kind of like a POD vs real amp recording scenaro with guitars; the POD can sound pretty good, but it adds a sort of static 'air' to the feel of the mix, whereas a real amp will breathe and pump much more naturally with the track. The same goes for real vs programmed bass in the low end.
A bassist is still essential to me in the recording process, just like a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist is. If you have it in your head that editing notes into place removes the need for human involvement, that's just simply not true. Bass and drums are the easiest instruments to 'fake,' but the end result of programming drums and bass is hugely different to that of recording real instruments and editing them.
If the bassist is really geting into the track and digging in with his pick, I want to hear that grind and aggression.
What I don't want to hear, in any way, shape, or form, is the kick drum and pick attack of the bass flamming against each other, hitting 32nd or 64th notes apart. That sounds terrible to my ear, and removes me from the entire groove of the song.
If the bassist is great to begin with, not much work at all will be done. If he's not and he's going to compromise the sound of the recording, though, I'm going to edit his tracks into oblivion if that's what it takes.
