I need a Good Bass Guitar Sound

[mindundermatter]

i cannot get the solid sound that can sit comfortably in between the drums and guitar. Anyway, I would want to try the ampeg modellers. Just for an idea, lets say i record directly via audio interface, and later just add compression, would that be good?
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I definitely recommend compressing the bass, about 90% of the time. But you do that for dynamic reasons so that it is consistent with the kick drum, not to get rid of the muddiness.

I'm not sure why you want your bass to sit 'between the drums and guitar'. Is this a genre-specific thing? For more clarity, you can try comparing EQ settings. For example, you might be losing definition if you are boosting the low-mids of your guitars AND bass. The same goes for boosting ultra-lows on both kick AND bass. This is a common mistake. "The bass is a low instrument, so I need to boost the lows." However, doing this can easily camouflauge your kick drum. And if you go too high (or two low on the guitars), the same thing happens. So, I recommend making good use of HPFs and cutting the same frequency on one instrument that you boosted on the other. For example, you could rolloff your kick at 40Hz, your bass at 50-60Hz, and the guitars at 80Hz for starters. Then do a boost at the kick's fundamental, roughly 50-60Hz and pull that out of the bass. Then maybe a boost around 100-150Hz on bass and a cut there on guitars. Get it?

I'd like to add that I agree with what has been said about DI boxes and HiZ inputs. You should try to get the absolute best possible signal going into your interface. If you have an amp head with a preamp out or DI out, that's even better. Don't blame the software, blame the engineer (who is responsible for knowing how to properly work the gear/software).

As far as software vs. amp, I have to say that both can be great, depending on the genre (something no one has asked about yet!), the player's skill level, style, technique, the quality of the guitar and its pickups, etc. etc. etc. For example, if I was recording Jaco Pastorius or Les Claypool, I'd probably put up some mics to capture their sound because they have a unique playing style and a sound of their own. However, if I was recording Johnny "I'm a guitarist, but I own a bass," I'd probably just go direct and try to carve out the best possible sound with careful EQ, compression, and possibly amp modelling.

Hope this is helpful.

[shiva]

ok Paul, considering the nature of my music which is hardcore thrash punk, bass is always the main issue here. I could see alot of hardwork infront of me!

[garageband]

I could see alot of hardwork infront of me

That should read:

I could see a lot of hard work in front of me![/url]

[shiva]

Originally Posted by mindundermatter

I definitely recommend compressing the bass, about 90% of the time. But you do that for dynamic reasons so that it is consistent with the kick drum, not to get rid of the muddiness.

I'm not sure why you want your bass to sit 'between the drums and guitar'. Is this a genre-specific thing? For more clarity, you can try comparing EQ settings. For example, you might be losing definition if you are boosting the low-mids of your guitars AND bass. The same goes for boosting ultra-lows on both kick AND bass. This is a common mistake. "The bass is a low instrument, so I need to boost the lows." However, doing this can easily camouflauge your kick drum. And if you go too high (or two low on the guitars), the same thing happens. So, I recommend making good use of HPFs and cutting the same frequency on one instrument that you boosted on the other. For example, you could rolloff your kick at 40Hz, your bass at 50-60Hz, and the guitars at 80Hz for starters. Then do a boost at the kick's fundamental, roughly 50-60Hz and pull that out of the bass. Then maybe a boost around 100-150Hz on bass and a cut there on guitars. Get it?

I'd like to add that I agree with what has been said about DI boxes and HiZ inputs. You should try to get the absolute best possible signal going into your interface. If you have an amp head with a preamp out or DI out, that's even better. Don't blame the software, blame the engineer (who is responsible for knowing how to properly work the gear/software).

As far as software vs. amp, I have to say that both can be great, depending on the genre (something no one has asked about yet!), the player's skill level, style, technique, the quality of the guitar and its pickups, etc. etc. etc. For example, if I was recording Jaco Pastorius or Les Claypool, I'd probably put up some mics to capture their sound because they have a unique playing style and a sound of their own. However, if I was recording Johnny "I'm a guitarist, but I own a bass," I'd probably just go direct and try to carve out the best possible sound with careful EQ, compression, and possibly amp modelling.

Hope this is helpful.

It is helpful indeed mindundermatter!. I am that Johnny "the guitarist" Bassist! ) But then, I play all instruments fluently except horns :>

Bass guitar is pretty natural for me as I am a very percussive person. But someone earlier and even you said, Bass guitarists are definitely needed to record their parts. I too feel the lightheadedness when pressing notes on the bass neck and i tend to play it like the guitar!

So, I have an active Bass pickup and all i need to do now is to play a little bit more with DI box or direct to Interface method. Would be a trial for me definitely... Come tomorrow night I will know the results!

[shiva]

Originally Posted by garageband

That should read:

Ha! yeah.... thanks for the tip garage! I too own an IMAC, but it is in my bedroom and I use it to do my other work. I fiddle around with the garageband sometimes to get song ideas.. not bad you know!

I love my IMAC!

[shiva]

On a brief note... lets all have a minute of silence for the Late Rick Astley.. He passed on at 42.

[irawan gani]

Originally Posted by shiva

On a brief note... lets all have a minute of silence for the Late Rick Astley.. He passed on at 42.

WHAT!!!! Mr Potatohead has died? you mean that guy with that soulful voice but have no idea how to use his talent has passed on.

when michael jackson died i did not shed a tear... THIS i might shed a tear or two...

i shall reserve that minute silence by humming 'never gonna give you up'.

[irawan gani]

HE'S NOT DEAD! it was prank!

from timesonline: Many were being directed to a picture of a hamster lying on its back, on top of the headline: "Proof that Rick Astley is dead."

anyway, when i DI the bass i would put the gain setting very low so that the record will be clean. and then compress it further via Guitar Rig 3.

also, it might be a problem in the mix, as you might have hinted. what i would do is pan a little to the left or right to give its own space.

[shiva]

It is a prank! God, of all news papers reports, it was our national newspaper the staronline.com.my who first reported it!

Sorry for the shocker guys!

Anyway, irawan, i am going to disable all effects off and just test the direct signal from the bass guitar. I also agree, that it might be the mix problem...

[irawan gani]

Originally Posted by mindundermatter

As far as software vs. amp, I have to say that both can be great, depending on the genre (something no one has asked about yet!)

hmmm... you should post this on a new thread. i am sure a lot of the techie nerds would want to talk about this one... starting with yours truly