BASS
BASS-IC RECORDING TIPS | Adam Nitti
If you have recorded bass tracks before for a project , you may have been faced with some questions or challenges relating to how you get your tone sounding as good as possible in your session . Although recording software and hardware quality has improved and become more affordable over the years , you still have to have a skilled set of ears and the ability to understand how these tools work if you want a dynamic and well-recorded bass track . This article is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to recording your bass ; instead it will deal with a few common mistakes that can adversely affect how your bass sits in a mix . Keep in mind the art of recording can get very technical and involved if you choose to go deep , but there are some very simple guidelines you can follow that will allow you to still get great results .
KNOW YOUR BASS ’ S CHARACTER
Every bassist should be intimately familiar with the tonal character of his or her bass . Every instrument has a fundamental tone that forms its basic sonic identity . One could present the case that an instrument ’ s most fundamental tone is its acoustic tone without the addition of an amplifier .
However , for an electric instrument this is not really a practical guide in the recording realm because the sound that ultimately gets recorded is the sound that comes from the instrument ’ s output jack ( on the post side of the bass ’ s pickups and preamp , if applicable ).
For this reason , I like to evaluate my basses ’ fundamental tones by hearing them in as transparent a context as possible . In other words , I want to be able to evaluate tone without running through any component that adds color or alters the sound in any way . Usually I prefer to do this by hearing my bass played directly into my recording interface through my studio monitors without going through any preamps or outboard gear and without using any plugins . Adding EQ , compression , or effects will always add some degree of color and can alter your perception of the fundamental tone of your bass . Evaluating and knowing your bass ’ s character means that you know how the instrument is going to react in a variety of contexts .
If you haven ’ t before , try recording a bass line completely ‘ flat ’ without any added color and listen back to it intently . Record several takes of the same line using different levels of dynamics and intensity . Listen to how your bass sounds when you play really hard , really soft , and everything in between . You might learn that your bass sounds really buzzy or sloppy when you dig in too much .
You might notice that certain ranges on the fingerboard sound more forward and present than others . It is your awareness of these nuances that will help to shape your recording approach . Learn how to compensate in order to match a different vibe or feel . Some instruments reveal technical inconsistency more that others because of how responsive they are . Take all of this into consideration as you get to know your bass even better .
DON ’ T OVERDO THE EQ
If you had a chance to read my previous article , “ Tone Talk , Part 1 ” you may remember me talking about how a super-enhanced or super-wide bass tone can compete with other instruments in a mix and create a lack of clarity . It is super important not to overdo it when it comes to adding EQ to your bass tone , especially when we are talking about low end frequencies .