Convert passive to active?

[Hookani]

Hi,

Can you easily convert a passive bass to active? As said in another thread, I am having a problem with getting enough volume from my bass when recording straight into an M-Audio 1814 interface. Guitars, vocal levels are all fine but I can barely hear the bass with levels turned all the way up. I may be wrong but I'm thinking an active bass would help my problem. Any other solutions which are very portable.

Thanks,
Ho'okani

[Smidgelton]

Wait, you're running guitar and bass directly into this interface?

[brandondrury]

It sounds like there is something wrong with your rig. Basses are typically quite hot in output when compared to guitars even with passive electronics.

I've recorded many basses DI plugging them straight into my preamp without a single dB of boost.

Are you recording guitar guitars DI just like you are recording your bass? (assuming you are recording either one direct).

I'm pretty sure that the M-Audio 1814 interface has a Hi-Z input. If you are using that, you should have no trouble at all.

Let me know. We may have to do some troubleshooting.

Back to your original question, converting a bass over to active is just an issue of swapping out pickups and possibly adding an active EQ. I don't necessarily like the sound of active bass pickups on most bass basses, so don't get excited thinking that the tone is "better". It's just different.

Brandon

[Hookani]

Yes, everything is going direct cable into the 1814 (no DIs or anything). The 1814 has two xlr's with phantom power (which I'm using for two mics naturally) and got two acoustic-electric guitars (both active, battery powered) plugged into the 1/4" line ins and works just perfectly. Only problem is when plugging the bass into the 1/4" line in, I can barely hear it thru the monitors even with that channel at full volume. This is my instrument/equipment list if it helps:

2 - SM-58 mics
Adamas 12 string (acoustic/electric)
Takamine 6 string (acoustic/electric)
Yamaha bass
M-audio firewire 1814 interface
M-audio BX5a monitors

Everything I use for recording (minus the monitors) fits into a backpack so I'm trying to avoid any solutions that would add more things to pack separately such as amps, large pre amps, etc. Basically we are recording right now just so we can hear ourselves and how we sound so we can improve ourselves. So we just set up recording where ever we decide to practice so portablilty is important.

Getting back to the bass conversion thing. If I switch out the pickups I would still need someplace to put a battery correct. Are pickup sizes pretty standard?

Thanks,
Ho'okani

[Smidgelton]

I'm no luthier, but I think it goes beyond swapping pickups and connecting a few wires. There is the onboard preamp you have to install. Yes, you will need a place for the battery which would mean cutting into your bass. Also, an active pickup system has an active EQ and a typical active bass has at least 4 knobs, sometimes 5 (the fifth is usually just a pickup blend knob). 4 knobs dedicated to volume, treble, mids, and bass. That may mean more holes to drill in your bass depending on how many knobs you have.

Then there is the question... is the bass even worth it to put work so much work into? Buying a better bass (not necessarily active - because active doesn't automatically mean better) may be a better move than putting a lot of work into an "okay" bass.

There is probably a more practical solution than this.

[Hookani]

True. If it involves a major reconstruct of my bass it wouldn't even be worth it. Right now I'm leaning towards getting a new active bass but I'm still not 100% sure that my problem is that my old bass is passive. That's the only thing I can think of but I'd hate to buy a new bass just to find out that it doesn't solve my problem.

Would an active DI help?

Ho'okani

[Smidgelton]

I think it would. But I couldn't be totally sure.

[brandondrury]

Have you tried plugging the bass into channel #1 or #2 so that you can use the preamp on the soundcard.

I looked into the M-Audio 1814. It appears that it only has 2 preamps.

I've got a feeling there is an impedance mismatch between your bass and your line inputs on your 1814. Try pluggin the bass into channel #1 and boosting with the preamp to see what happens. If this doesn't fix it, a direct box would be the next step.

Have you tried plugging an electric guitar (like a Les Paul or Strat or whatever) into 1814? How did it do?

Brandon

[Hookani]

I did try the #2 channel with preamp and it does in fact work with that channel which I expected it would but the problem is what can I do if I'm using two mics on the #1 and #2 channel then all I'm left with is the line ins for the instruments. Are there really small and portable instrument preamps available? Think my next try will be an active DI and see what happens.

Thanks for the input.

Ho'okani

[brandondrury]

You basically need to accept that you have an 8 channel sound card, but only have 2 preamps.

If you are going to max simultaneous inputs, you've got to have a preamp for every channel. A cheap mixer is one route. There are many external preamp options out there as well.

Brandon