Hey guys,

I have done quite a few recordings at my Uni studio. I am doing a Music Tech course and I have a reasonable and expanding understanding of the whole process from capturing sound to the mix and production.

Its a pretty basic setup, Makie D(something) desk, 72 channels into a mac with logic 7 pro. 2 x AKG C414s, 2 x Neumann M50, 2 x Oktava MK12, SM57/58s, 2 x Rode NT1 1 x AKG D112.

I think I get the best sound from these microphones generally, but I have never been happy with my bass guitar sound. I have used a Rode NT1 and the AKG D112 to record it. The Rode amplifies certain low frequencies too much, making some notes far louder than others, compression only slightly rectifies this. The D112 doesnt define the sound enough, it lacks the punch to get through the mix.

I am talking about light rock music generally, although I have an RnB band to record in a couple of weeks. I really have got to nail the bass sound for that.

With what I have, is it maybe best just to DI the bass?
What would be an ideal mic to record bass guitar?
What techniques do you guys use to record bass?
Is my problem something I could sort with EQ and compression? What might you suggest? I'm particulally stuck about the EQ.

Thanks for your help,

Andy Hammond

I have heard the D112 doesn't always work that great and I did not like the rode on bass cabs either I'm not saying you have to have these 2 mic but I use an re-20 right at the middle of the cone slightly compressed 3 to 1 4 to 1 tops and an at4033 on the edge of the cone slightly compressed very happy with the bass tone.

R&B--if they have old-school R&B bass sound, Beyer M380 has better low end than any other mic I have heard. Beyer TGX50 is pretty much the same thing

Dam I love this site. Within 5 minutes there is some helpful replies. Thanks guys.

I never thought of using two mics on a bass, now it is mentioned it doesn't seem unreasonable.

Its great to hear what other people like to use, but unfortunately I don't think I can afford to hire mics at the moment, and I am not charging for recording bands atm. So keeping in mind the list of mics I mentioned at the start, has anyone any suggestions to achieve the best sound available? Or am I doomed to have whumfy bass :S

Andy

I dont think your doomed, can you use one of those 414's on the edge of the cone 4 to 1 compression and this might sound weird but try turning the d112 backwards in the center of the cone I'm not making promises but try it at least then if not. Forwards and mix and blend with the 414 to desired taste.

half direct/half amp

or

direct and then while in later stages of the recording, reamp it out to a killer amp to get your "perfect" tone. i like reamping once to a clean bass amp and once to a overdriven guitar amp.

btw: for reamping or just regular cab recording, i like electrovoice re20s, at4047s, soundelux e47s, and c414s

use a high headroom preamp.

For bass I usually use a dynamic mike, the type used for bass drums rated to go down into the lower frequencies. I think your AKG is a dynamic and although I do not own one I have sounded good when recorded with one. I also use a LG Condenser some distance away 2 to 3 feet, and a DI. This seems like over kill but by balancing the three I get the bottom end I like and the warmth - color of the amp and the effects if any are used. The DI does most of the work getting the very bottom frequencies and some attack as well.

I think some of the frequencies on the bass amp take some distance to develop or at least that is what I have been told (standing waves) so the DI can capture this low end that is lost due to having to mike the amp fairly closely due to bleed issues and it compensates for any loss of low end of the bass passing through effects.

I usually do not play the bass amp at very loud volumes in recording studios. I would use on stage and have smaller amps that capture my sound at lower volumes as well my regular amp sound fine at lower volumes, during recording so I don't know if your are, playing at stage volumes would -of course- effect the recording and how what equipment you would use to record it. Sometimes I have used a 2 - 15 cabinet and one speeker is miked for the low end and the other for high with a different microphone. Many times the mikes are blended to one or two tracks and the DI is on it's own track.

I generaly do not use any compression on the bass. I sometimes use EQ before the amp to get the best responce from the amplifyer and attempt to have the bass sit well in the live band mix.

Well it's not one of the mics you have handy, but I've been pretty happy with the SM7, on 15's and smaller speakers, too. And it's great for vocals. And guitars.

I struggle to get a good (rock) bass tone with some of the same mics, so I'm really interested in the responses to this, as much as being able to offer advice. But based on my experience so far:

I actually found the DI out from my SVT was pretty passable once sitting in a dense mix, but it did lack a bit of 'air' without a mic when exposed. The D112 is OK, but it does emphasise exactly the same frequencies as in the kick drum if you also use it there, which can lead to a little bass build up.

Rode NT5 seemed surprisingly weighty and went low (the Oktava MK12 would be your closest equivalent, I think) and subjectively produced a very realistic approximation of what I heard in the room - just a little 'sterile'. Hard to explain! However for an R&B sound, rather than a slightly distorted rock tone this might be OK.

I will definitely try with a AT4033 time next as I have access to one of these - I have never found an application for that mic where I could live with its colouration, perhaps this is it!

I know reamping has already been mentioned, but if you're nervous then recording the DI direct from the instrument IN ADDITION to whatever else you do is a good idea. Then you can always reamp if you're unhappy at mixdown.

One other thing - when mixing two tracks of the same bass instrument always try flipping the phase to see which gives the most 'solid' low end.