KuruPrionz Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 This is so simple and obvious it made me feel like I've been falling short. I've been working on a mix, not quite done recording yet either, us solo recordists with humble home studios can do this stuff in various orders of procedure. Sometimes I don't know what the song needs until I get to a certain point and it becomes obvious - Less of Everything! And, improved parts in places. I've been copying and pasting the bass track and just having 2 tracks of the same part. It's louder and sounds good, I'm careful not to push the recording above zero and bass guitar will do that if you pluck decisively I do use a Tech 21 Q\Strip EQ going in but my best level boost so far is just doubling the track. . I've also taken a 3rd track, put a high pass filter on it and a distorted guitar amp and then blending just a bit of that track in to make it audible even if somebody is listening with their cell phone or laptop speakers. I've been a guitarist for 47 years and I've always had a bass on hand. Now I'm recording and for my songs I feel like the bass is the most important instrument that I can record. Fortunately, I do understand the concept of playing bass as opposed to guitar, I don't want "lead bass", just a solid part that locks the groove with the drums. How do you record bass? I plan on posting like this on more topics, a Process #? set of hopefully shared ideas since we all seem to come at these problems with different solutions. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Vnuk Jr. Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 My typical bass chain is to take one channel direct through a good preamp and get a clean, strong capture with the tone controls on the instrument set appropriate to the track, then I will also track the bass through an amp (or reamp it after the client has left). Then I phase align the two in the computer. Usually I will then sum both to the same channel and run it through a high-pass filter and a tube compressor (usually opto). The biggest thing I have learned for myself about recording bass is not to overwork it in the mix. I rarely EQ it after the initial capture, I try and sculpt the tone on the way in and let it be what it will be. 1 Quote Editor - RECORDING Magazine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted February 7, 2023 Author Share Posted February 7, 2023 1 hour ago, Paul Vnuk Jr. said: My typical bass chain is to take one channel direct through a good preamp and get a clean, strong capture with the tone controls on the instrument set appropriate to the track, then I will also track the bass through an amp (or reamp it after the client has left). Then I phase align the two in the computer. Usually I will then sum both to the same channel and run it through a high-pass filter and a tube compressor (usually opto). The biggest thing I have learned for myself about recording bass is not to overwork it in the mix. I rarely EQ it after the initial capture, I try and sculpt the tone on the way in and let it be what it will be. Thanks Paul! Great post!! Bass has become topic #4, I plan on writing #3 later this evening which will be about Creativity. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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