Conference napalm::guitar

    Well, I don't know where dreaded came into play, I mean, its not that
    bad a sound, but recording bass direct means to plug the bass into a
    direct box which allows it to be plugged directly into a mixing
    console.  I switches the signal from high to low imp. The sounbd you
    get is the tone right from the pickups, which is usually pretty nice.
    You can get a tone by putting a bass preamp in between the bass and a
    direct box, but i don't like it as much. 
    
    Basically, a direct box records the bass minus any tone enhancement
    from an amplifier/speaker.
    
    Buck 

    
    I might add that recording bass direct requires use of compression
    and EQ to get a good signal on tape (a little, not a lot).  
    
    This is through years of painful experience making various rhino fart
    sounds on my tapes. 
    
    

    To elaborate on the previous reply, Bass guitars usually have resonant
    notes and dead notes (more noticable than 6 string guitars). The
    resonant notes have way too much signal (your VU meters will let you in
    on this secret), and the the dead notes have hardly any. The rest of
    the notes will be just fine, but the other 2 will make life miserable
    for you. Now, consider that your average tape deck boosts the extream
    low end (which tends to where your resonant notes are), and in no time
    at all, super distortion. The compressor evens out all of the notes
    for you, but tends to screw up some of the dynamics, so I use only a
    Limiter (and don't compress), avoiding as best as possible the lower
    output notes, or try to hit them a bit harder (this tends to be very
    difficult to remember to do, if you are doing any sort of complex
    runs).

    Stay away from the PAIA Limiter Kit. It's real cheap, but it's not very
    good (notes don't release fast enough). I use a guitar stomp box (I
    don't recall the brand, but it's Blue, probably BOSS) limiter. Works
    well & you can then EQ to taste.

							Jens

    
    	Well, I use compression when I record Bass direct into a mixing
    console. Keeps the little red light above the "input level" control
    from flashing, and, Oh my gosh! - I can even *hear myself* in the
    mix now - instead of hearing just the distorted parts...or (what
    was it?) Rhino farts?
    
    	Joe Jas
    

    
      I didn't think anybody used a mike on bass anymore.
    When we are recording or playing live we always DI the bass for
    the following resons.
    
    1. You dont pick up huge cymbal crashes thru the bass mike and you
       dont have to have the bass amplified causing sound to get into
       other instrument mikes that have mountains of reverb all over
       them.
    
    2. You need one less mike ( a DI box can be made for next to nothing)
    
    3. It is very hard to capture the top end > 5Khz and the real grungy
       bits < 100Hz with a single mike.
                                   
    However as said before you do need to compress it which prompts
    me to ask , what ratio's work best.
    I find that with the compressor I have BOSS micro , You tend to
    loose a lot of dynamics with out making the bass stand out anymore
    in a mix.
    
    A good topic!!!!!!                                                      
    

                                   
>    However as said before you do need to compress it which prompts
>    me to ask , what ratio's work best.
>    I find that with the compressor I have BOSS micro , You tend to
>    loose a lot of dynamics with out making the bass stand out anymore
>    in a mix.

	I use a limiter built into an old cassette deck.  I don't know the
	ratio, but limiters have high compression ratios (over 2:1) and high
	thresholds so only the loudest signals actually get compressed.  This
	tames the peaks that cause distortions but doesn't rob any more 
	dynamics than is needed.  I also use a graphic EQ.  I monitor the 
	sound over both hi-fi and boom box speakers.  The boom box is more 
	critical, if it sounds OK here, it usually sounds good on the hi-fi 
	set. 

	Here's how I do it:
    
 	1. Plug bass direct into EQ.
	2. Plug EQ into limiter.
	3. Increase gain while monitoring sound. Increase until sound seems
	   under control, i.e. no buzzes or rattles from your speakers when 
	   played at high volumes.
	4. Tweak EQ:

		60 Hz: cut 6 dB, small speakers don't go this low anyway
		150 Hz: flat or boost 3 dB for "heavier" sound
		400 Hz: flat or cut 3 dB if "muddy"
		1 KHz: flat or cut 3-6 dB if "clanky" (fret noises)
		2.4 KHz: flat
		6 KHz: flat or boost 3-6 dB for "bright" sound
		15 KHz: cut all the way, there is nothing here but hiss

        
          Now thats something I didn't think of , using a tape recorder 
    limiter.
          
          One of the other problems I have when recording bass is that once
    I compress the signal , you tend to get a lot of squeaky neck sounds
    which is due to a fair amount of treble on the bass to get clairity.
    I might try using an eq to only compress certain frequencies , but
    this does seem a lot of effort for what should be a simple job.
    
    Brian