Warren, you pack so much value into your videos without even trying to sell me anything. It encourages me to want to join your academy that much more. I play pick bass on my recordings and was having the problem you mentioned with staggered volume levels, got the Waves MV2 plugin and was literally mind-blown! It works great on vocals too! Not only are the levels evened out, I can overall get more volume out of the track, providing great mixing flexibility. I'm eternally grateful for the amazing tip! By the way, your channel is the only channel on UA-cam that if you post an hourlong video, I actually watch the entire hour. There's just really that much value there.
HI Sam, thanks ever so much for the extremely kind words!! I really appreciate the positive feedback, it means a lot! If you're nt currently and Academy Member there is a $70 off option for the next 2 days! producelikeapro.lpages.co/plap-academy-summer-sale/ Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren, yes thanks for noting the discount! I originally had a longer reply but I've shortened it for your convenience. JOINED! Most appreciatively, Sam
Hi Friends, I hope you're doing marvellously well! We're back with our Recording Connection apprentice Alex to track some bass! While bass is only subconsciously perceived by the average listener, it is one of the most crucial parts of any production: It glues the song together and ties in the rhythm section with the melody and harmony parts. In this video, you'll learn the key elements of capturing a great bass recording: I'm showing you how to record bass through a DI, as well as an amp cabinet, and how you can blend both signals to feature the best of both worlds: A gritty midrange that cuts through the mix combined with a full-bodied low end. I'm also pointing out common pitfalls in bass recording and you'll learn several mixing techniques to achieve a powerful and well-defined low end. I hope you enjoy this video!
I was on the hunt for new DIs recently, and after a lot of listening to different ones, I bought 2 Countryman Type 10, and 2 Radial J48. The Countryman DIs are incredible on bass and acoustic guitar, You should check them out. The Radials are a lot cheaper, but still good allround DIs, and I would prefer them on keys.
Hi Nick, yes, I own a Countryman and have used it many times, for years it was my go to, the Radial, Rupert Neve, BAE and Acme Motown get used a lot these days! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I recently found your youtube channel and have watched several episodes. I learn something with every video I watch. Love your enthusiasm. Thanks Warren for demystifying the production process and inspiring my creativity as well as many other peoples I'm sure.
Another One Bites The Dust! I do my bass only via my cheap interface, and thy to create at least 2 layers of sound to get closer to the amp sound. This video motivates me! Thank You!
Can you post the PLUGIN Signal chain.. This video didn't show them. .Not necessarily the BRAND of plugins,, but more about the types of plugins. ie. Bass DI > HPF, EQ, Comp etc
Great video Warren! Learned a lot. Bass recording has been an area where I’ve struggled a bit getting the sound I want. Now I have some techniques to apply!
Hey Warren, enjoyed your talk there about tuning, instead of tuning on open strings, tuning in the areas you are playing in. Or tuning the first part of the slap, or thunk, but not necessarily tuning once the note settles down. I never had thought about it, thanks! Great stuff. Buddy
Thanks Buddy! Yes, I learned from the best! Working with the best Bass Players in the world has taught me that! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
The last part of this video was extremely useful. It's this kind of knowledge that sets apart good and great engineers. Producing is not just pointing a mic at the instrument. Though I do have to say that it can be a little demotivating, when I tutorial starts with "To record a good bass sound you need these pieces of $500+ gear". I wouldn't call that recording technique. Why not start with more common gear and get the best sound with that and then have a short section at the end comparing with the high grade gear.
You gotta try the A-Designs REDDI! Best DI on the planet!! I'm a bassist and I have one, and it is monstrous :-) I'd love to try the Motown, though. As always, thanks for putting together such wonderful material for free!!
Thank you so much for this phantastic walkthrough. It helps me greatly as an amateur. It makes sense to use more of the bottom-end of the DI and more of the top-end from the mic'ed amp. I wonder though, with this approach: why do you use a mic with a stronger bottom-end, but then reduce it in mixing? What is the advantage over using a mic with more top-end, like a Sennheiser e906 or Shure SM57, so it needs less cutting and has full focus on where it counts?
Quick question.. Are you summing the DI and amp signals to one track and processing them that way? Or keeping them separate and processing them independently?
Thanks Warren and Alex; much appreciated. A cool thing to hear discussion and demonstration of the nuances of bass - especially tracking for a mix. It's so hard to get right and unless lucky with an interface ibput, a DI does help a lot IME. The Acme sounds very good (even via YT)...I hear that nice JJ tone around 100Hz. Best :D
Great question Jerry! I have always got great results from a passive Bass, like a Precision, but Musicman Basses record amazingly well! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hello Warren...I hope this is not a dumb question...but do you normally go through your DAW plugin chain like this before you track the band, or do you normally do this kind of processing during mixing after all tracking is done, and you did it this way on this video for demo purposes? Depending on your answer i may experiment and try a different approach, as i work with plugins after tracking is complete for the most part. It boggles my mind how nice you are and how generous you are with sharing your hard earned knowledge! You rule!
Hi, Warren! I do some session bass recordings at home and want it to sound as professional as possible. I prefer to just give dry DI signal recordings to the producer so he can choose to use re-amping or just plugins or whatever. Usually, I just go right into my Focusrite interface to instrumental input and pretty happy with it. Signal level and everything seems well without DI-box. Sometimes I use my bass preamp pedals (MXR M81, MXR m80) as a DI (without tone shaping or EQ) but don't feel any difference. So what do you think I should do to the next level of quality except for micing a real amp?
Hi Pavel, yes indeed! A great DI can easily be enough! The Motown DI for me sounds as good as any Amp I could ever hope for! For standard DI versus an instrument inout on your Focusrite there is probably not going to be much of a difference. For a real step up a high quality DI, like the Acme would be a huge leap. However if you're printing a decent uncoloured DI that might be enough for most situations! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Warren, try the DW Fearn VT-I/F, or equivalent VT-3 they are truly impressive direct sources for high impedance instruments to A/D converters. However, in this case I would add a VT-2 preamp for additional tube sweetness prior to the converters.
YES! DW Fearn is an amazing talent! One of my favourite people in the music industry who makes the best sounding equipment!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Man, that Motown DI... Crazy. Nice and round, kinda like a Rolling Stone. It's warm like a Heatwave. I mean, What's Going On with that transformer? (Sorry, I just had to...) Thanks Warren and Alex!
Hi Warren, I love your videos and they anwer so many questions - regarding the signal chain "till tape" ... but in this vid you are not wearing headphones - so what was the monitor for tracking bass? Or other way to describe my question: Bass amp, DI, all nice - but in the room you were obviously listening to the DAW output (A-B-ing plugins) - so you were listing to your monitors. The main monitors (on top of your console) would have been "too much to one side" I think - and the small monitors at your screen (seen on other vids) may not be ... best for bass. Or more general: You got your big desk with excellent monitors - but in the videos you often work on your PC desk at the side - with some really small monitors. So maybe nearing my question - so I play bass and do recordings - in front of my 5" monitors. I was thinking about getting some 8" - or using my bass amp or some PA style stuff for tracking. What do you use for monitoring tracking bass? For you and for your bass players? Thanks very much! Best Stefan
Hi Ryan, great question! Try not to go note by note, you'll kill the feel, make so that you take large sections or just the occasional note. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I’m so glad I followed your channel! You have really great info for us bass players. I do have a question though... I’m having a hard time understanding compression in a live situation. I’m currently using an origin effects cali76 (the large model) and I’m not sure exactly how to set up this unit. I understand that it would have different settings according to how you approach a particular bass line, whether you play soft or are digging in, or if you are playing quick runs or letting a note ring out. But can you please explain attack and release as well as how much compression to use? I really understand the way you teach and this topic would speak volumes to me if you’d be so kind to explain it. Thanks for your time! -Paul
Hi Grant, both are amazing! But I will say a couple of my friends who have the Noble want the Motown as well!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
you haven't spent much time on the level knob on the ACME, it's quite unusual to have a level knob on a DI isn't it? does it have a preamp in there with it's own color? or is it more of an attenuator? for using up more of preamp transformer\tube it goes into if you want to? could you tell a little about that knob?
Hi Filipe! Great question! The MV2 controls the dynamic range, bringing up the low level notes and compressing the higherlevl ones! It's pretty darn good! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren! I'm a bit late for this discussion and probably someone has already asked this, but anyway. Did you have to tolerate some latency while playing through this significant amount of plugins?
Nice playing! How did you remove the habit of right hand taping the string to pickup (like a snare!)? I struggle with that.. my right hand finger defaults to always tapping that string to pickup, sounds bad for recording especially when I use Precision bass very sensitive.. I got signal spikes in recording.
hey boss can I run sa bass directly into the focusrite solo ? or run a line 6 bass pod into the focusrite?......hope your having a creative weekend my teacher
Bass. one track from direct input one track from mic on amp. then mix together. next send output to new chanel. on this chanel eq cut low end and high end add distortion en ones again eq cut low en high and add de Essser. sen this 2 channels to new chanel and use multi band compressor. try put the bass more back in mix. for low frequency use a fast attack. ones e gain eq cut rond 300 Hz.
Thanks Bob for outlining everything! The screen flow died on us! I appreciate you taking the time to do this!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi warren - another useful video . Can you explain your approach to phase when recording the di and mic signal simultaneously ? Am I correct in understanding you use a software princess to fix this during actual printing ? For those of us without such plugs are there ways to do this after he every
Hi Warren, im not sure if this is exactly an appropriate question to ask but i just am so confused on how mix engineers spend so much money on huge consoles like an ssl. do you just buy one that you know you can pay off or do you just buy one and pay it all then? and also do you know any websites that sell professional recording consoles? thanks!
Thanks Warren! While its good to see your handsome mugs throughout the video, it's still worthwhile seeing what you're doing on the screen. Sounding great nevertheless :)
Alex is one lucky guy to sit there in your studio and get these these gems of knowledge up close and personal! I have an Idea for a great prize for the many other apprentices thousands of miles from Loral Canyon. Spend a few hours with our music Industry Hero Warren at His studio! I would gladly pay my air fare, lodging, and rent a car If I won a competition with that as a first prize! Alex, please don't ever take it for granted that you get to hang and learn from such a great mentor....
Hi Rob!! Exactly! If it sounds good then it is good! By the way here is a link the final Billy Sheehan song with the winning guitar solo in:- soundcloud.com/produce-like-a-pro/mark-loughman-bitter-reaction-plap-fuzz-pedal-competition Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I also wanted to know how you'd approach slap parts, or parts including occasional slaps and pops mixed with fingerstyle (by a guitarist new to bass with somewhat poor control over dynamics). One can turn down the input signal a lot to prevent the interface from clipping. This also brings the level of the softer passages down a lot. (When) would you use a limiter between instrument and audio interface? Or did you mean using an outboard compressor?
Hi Tubelistic, fantastic question! Yes, I would use an outboard pre amp and then compressor. If you are just going directly into the interface then make sure you have a lot of headroom so you don't get clipping. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Great question giggs102! I used the Noble with Jon Button just two days ago and loved it! But my heart loves the Motown DI! Haha Both are amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
hi warren. i know you did a video on patchbays and how they work. there's a tonne of information on how they work and i well and truly understand the concept, I have recently purchased one and i'm getting really frustrated because although there is information on how patchbays work there is very little on how to properly set them up. could you please at some point maybe do a tutorial on how to set up a patchbay for the typical home studio owner. is it ok to run my guitar amps through there so i can swithch between using my cab and torpedo live. what cables do you use for connecting your outboard gear to the patchbay. i.e to the back of the patchbay. do you use balanced or unbalanced. when do you use half normal and normal mode e.t.c. so many questions not many answers online. PLEASE PLEASE HELP> i think a lot of people would appreciate this also. all the forums i've come across have these same questions met with vague answers. . have a marvelous time explaining patchbays lol
Great question Ryan! Check out this series of videos:- ua-cam.com/play/PLnLOmVwRMCqQmQaiT58c94oKm8A7w5ZT0.html Number 16 is Patch Bays! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
thanks for replying warren but i have seen that video and whilst i understand the concept and various applications, setting one up from scratch even in my small home studio is very confusing. i'll figure it out eventually i guess it's just highly frustrating. Thanks again you are truly an inspiration to us that wish to pursue audio.
Hi Crson, great question! Yes, when using Fuzz, Overdrive or Distortion pedals I will definitely blend it! However I find the DI gives us the cleanest low end! By the way here is a link the final mix of Billy Sheehan playing Bass with the winning guitar solo in:- soundcloud.com/produce-like-a-pro/mark-loughman-bitter-reaction-plap-fuzz-pedal-competition Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Does anybody know how the bass was recorded on Led Zeppelin , Heartbreaker . It's almost synth sounding and it seems like it could have been a fretless . Thanks for the video Warren .
Why boost at 110 and not 80? The fundamental frequency of the open A string is 55 hz, if you want to catch the low end of that and not the first harmonic wouldn't it be better to boost at 80?
I use a 2 channel M-Audio device to record with and I noticed my bass is hard to hear on recordings of my own versus at church it comes through crystal clear and sits well in the mix. Do I need a DI box or a better interface? I do need a bigger interface for my drums eventually but for now need a quick solution to my problem.
Hi Robert, great question! If you print a good tone yo should be able to mix it well enough to cut through! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Produce Like A Pro I geuss I should rephrase I can barely hear the bass alone through recording with volume on bass high and input set high, sometimes I get that ground or pickup hum more than the bass.
hi warren i enjoy watching your videos.ive been recording rock music for the last 14 years.only jan 2017 i got slate digital everything bundle.it just turned everything around.the plugins i was using on reaper my daw just wasnt as good on the slate plugins.i was wondering mabe with your time schedul could you check a few of my tunes.i would like yourelf a pro producer mixer engineer to maybe listen to a few of my tunes and tell what you think and advice for the tunes you listen to.that would make my day.
Hi Jerry, yes indeed! I used to use that ALL the time! I still do on occasion use it, a great device! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Prepare yourself for a dumb question. I know, there are know dumb questions, just dumb people...LOL. Anyway, I purchased the Motown DI. However, either it isn't working properly or I am using the ATTN side incorrectly. Am I supposed to use it as some sort of a load box (which I haven't been)? So far Im just using it direct with an electric plugged in but the attn 1-10 knob does nothing so i must have to use the amp with it somehow but am afraid to experiment for fear of damaging it. I don't suppose I'm supposed to take a line out from my tube amp speaker out to the DI in ATTN mode and use the XLR out from the DI to go to my DAW, am I? Confused and embarrassed,,, LOL
Haha yes indeed Stefano!! Here is a link to the Billy Sheehan track with the winning guitar solo in:- soundcloud.com/produce-like-a-pro/mark-loughman-bitter-reaction-plap-fuzz-pedal-competition Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Bass is half the bag. It's funny how famous bass-licks work. "You can't touch this" boom-ba-da-boom. 4 notes, a' million $ per note. Or Ice Ice baby, 2 notes. "Fever". "Another brick in the wall" "Billie-Jean" "Keep on running" "Gimme soma lovin'" I'm sure you can name more. There's a ton and a whole genre: bass 'n drums. They are all simple. To find simple is the shit.
Wow, I’m so surprised. First, I thought much of meticulous attention for device, mic, & technique is used only for vocals, guitars, drums, piano recording. But bass guitar? It will sound bass no matter what especially with 4 string polyphony lol 😂 well, guess I was wrong.
Warren, you pack so much value into your videos without even trying to sell me anything. It encourages me to want to join your academy that much more. I play pick bass on my recordings and was having the problem you mentioned with staggered volume levels, got the Waves MV2 plugin and was literally mind-blown! It works great on vocals too! Not only are the levels evened out, I can overall get more volume out of the track, providing great mixing flexibility. I'm eternally grateful for the amazing tip! By the way, your channel is the only channel on UA-cam that if you post an hourlong video, I actually watch the entire hour. There's just really that much value there.
HI Sam, thanks ever so much for the extremely kind words!! I really appreciate the positive feedback, it means a lot! If you're nt currently and Academy Member there is a $70 off option for the next 2 days! producelikeapro.lpages.co/plap-academy-summer-sale/ Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren, yes thanks for noting the discount!
I originally had a longer reply but I've shortened it for your convenience. JOINED!
Most appreciatively,
Sam
Fantastic Sam!! Excited to see you in the Academy! Have a marvellous time making music!! Many thanks Warren
:)
Hi Friends, I hope you're doing marvellously well!
We're back with our Recording Connection apprentice Alex to track some bass!
While bass is only subconsciously perceived by the average listener, it is one of the most crucial parts of any production: It glues the song together and ties in the rhythm section with the melody and harmony parts.
In this video, you'll learn the key elements of capturing a great bass recording:
I'm showing you how to record bass through a DI, as well as an amp cabinet, and how you can blend both signals to feature the best of both worlds: A gritty midrange that cuts through the mix combined with a full-bodied low end.
I'm also pointing out common pitfalls in bass recording and you'll learn several mixing techniques to achieve a powerful and well-defined low end. I hope you enjoy this video!
For those of you asking here is a link to buy the Acme Motown DI amzn.to/2tzf7I2
Produce Like A Pro 4
One of the best studio and music production channels on UA-cam - if not THE best. Keep doing great work! :)
Aw shucks thanks ever so much!!! I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I think Warren is the nicest person on UA-cam.
Hi Chris, wow! That is very kind of you!! I love being able to help people! Have a marvellous time making music!! Many thanks Warren
I was on the hunt for new DIs recently, and after a lot of listening to different ones, I bought 2 Countryman Type 10, and 2 Radial J48. The Countryman DIs are incredible on bass and acoustic guitar, You should check them out. The Radials are a lot cheaper, but still good allround DIs, and I would prefer them on keys.
Hi Nick, yes, I own a Countryman and have used it many times, for years it was my go to, the Radial, Rupert Neve, BAE and Acme Motown get used a lot these days! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
@@Producelikeaprohave you used the Noble DI? Would love to hear your thoughts on it!
I recently found your youtube channel and have watched several episodes. I learn something with every video I watch. Love your enthusiasm. Thanks Warren for demystifying the production process and inspiring my creativity as well as many other peoples I'm sure.
Another One Bites The Dust! I do my bass only via my cheap interface, and thy to create at least 2 layers of sound to get closer to the amp sound. This video motivates me! Thank You!
Thanks for your insight! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Can you post the PLUGIN Signal chain.. This video didn't show them. .Not necessarily the BRAND of plugins,, but more about the types of plugins. ie. Bass DI > HPF, EQ, Comp etc
Hi KPM! Yes, that's a great idea! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
That Snare is HUGE !!
Thanks!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Great to see you using @sontronics mics Warren! I'm a big fan and love being able to support a company from the UK. Cheers!
Yes! The Sontronics sounds great on the Bass Amp! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Great video Warren! Learned a lot. Bass recording has been an area where I’ve struggled a bit getting the sound I want. Now I have some techniques to apply!
Hi Gabe, thanks ever so much for your great comment!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I didn't think I would learn much from that, but I learnt a lot. As always, Warren, you rock man..
Aw shucks thanks ever so much bull dozer! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Thanks for the tuning advice.
You're very welcome! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hey Warren, enjoyed your talk there about tuning, instead of tuning on open strings, tuning in the areas you are playing in. Or tuning the first part of the slap, or thunk, but not necessarily tuning once the note settles down. I never had thought about it, thanks! Great stuff. Buddy
Thanks Buddy! Yes, I learned from the best! Working with the best Bass Players in the world has taught me that! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
That tuning tip for short notes is great, thanks.
The last part of this video was extremely useful. It's this kind of knowledge that sets apart good and great engineers. Producing is not just pointing a mic at the instrument. Though I do have to say that it can be a little demotivating, when I tutorial starts with "To record a good bass sound you need these pieces of $500+ gear". I wouldn't call that recording technique. Why not start with more common gear and get the best sound with that and then have a short section at the end comparing with the high grade gear.
You gotta try the A-Designs REDDI! Best DI on the planet!! I'm a bassist and I have one, and it is monstrous :-) I'd love to try the Motown, though. As always, thanks for putting together such wonderful material for free!!
Thanks Jeremy! Yes! We used it with Tom Hamilton! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Thank you so much for this phantastic walkthrough. It helps me greatly as an amateur.
It makes sense to use more of the bottom-end of the DI and more of the top-end from the mic'ed amp. I wonder though, with this approach: why do you use a mic with a stronger bottom-end, but then reduce it in mixing? What is the advantage over using a mic with more top-end, like a Sennheiser e906 or Shure SM57, so it needs less cutting and has full focus on where it counts?
Great insight to bass Warren, thanks again guys!
Thanks very much AJay! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Quick question.. Are you summing the DI and amp signals to one track and processing them that way? Or keeping them separate and processing them independently?
Hi David, great question! I am keeping them separate! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
"yeah, yeah, you're right...yeah" hahaha loved the bass playing
Haha thanks! Glad you enjoyed my Bass Playing!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Thanks Warren and Alex; much appreciated. A cool thing to hear discussion and demonstration of the nuances of bass - especially tracking for a mix. It's so hard to get right and unless lucky with an interface ibput, a DI does help a lot IME. The Acme sounds very good (even via YT)...I hear that nice JJ tone around 100Hz. Best :D
Hi Arthur, I've got to say I'm down away with the Acme! Truly amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren,
Are there times where you'd like your bassist to use active boosts or cuts?
Would you rather work with passive EQ & why, thanks
Great question Jerry! I have always got great results from a passive Bass, like a Precision, but Musicman Basses record amazingly well! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
You should try the REDDI DI too.. So good i bought a 2nd to tour with..
That's amazing!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Would you ever use the Acme Motown DI on guitar? or anything else. Also would you always Bass DI with it or use others too? Thank you
Hello Warren...I hope this is not a dumb question...but do you normally go through your DAW plugin chain like this before you track the band, or do you normally do this kind of processing during mixing after all tracking is done, and you did it this way on this video for demo purposes? Depending on your answer i may experiment and try a different approach, as i work with plugins after tracking is complete for the most part. It boggles my mind how nice you are and how generous you are with sharing your hard earned knowledge! You rule!
Some great tips at the end there! Amazing. Thanks.
Awesome. Any chance you could do more of a rock track? Big, distorted guitars and how bass fits between guit and drums. Thanks!
Yes Sir! Will do in the future! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Someone at the Rick Beato masterclass told me of your channel. Glad I was!
THat's amazing Bryan!
Hi, Warren!
I do some session bass recordings at home and want it to sound as professional as possible. I prefer to just give dry DI signal recordings to the producer so he can choose to use re-amping or just plugins or whatever. Usually, I just go right into my Focusrite interface to instrumental input and pretty happy with it. Signal level and everything seems well without DI-box. Sometimes I use my bass preamp pedals (MXR M81, MXR m80) as a DI (without tone shaping or EQ) but don't feel any difference. So what do you think I should do to the next level of quality except for micing a real amp?
Hi Pavel, yes indeed! A great DI can easily be enough! The Motown DI for me sounds as good as any Amp I could ever hope for! For standard DI versus an instrument inout on your Focusrite there is probably not going to be much of a difference. For a real step up a high quality DI, like the Acme would be a huge leap. However if you're printing a decent uncoloured DI that might be enough for most situations! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Warren, try the DW Fearn VT-I/F, or equivalent VT-3 they are truly impressive direct sources for high impedance instruments to A/D converters. However, in this case I would add a VT-2 preamp for additional tube sweetness prior to the converters.
YES! DW Fearn is an amazing talent! One of my favourite people in the music industry who makes the best sounding equipment!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Man, that Motown DI... Crazy. Nice and round, kinda like a Rolling Stone. It's warm like a Heatwave. I mean, What's Going On with that transformer? (Sorry, I just had to...) Thanks Warren and Alex!
Hi noisesoundtonevibe, I agree 100%! Amazing!! Have a marvellous time making music!! Many thanks Warren
I've always wondered why Duff Mckagan (Guns and Roses) always seems to be tuned Eb Ab Db Gb. Makes a lot of sense now
Hi Warren,
I love your videos and they anwer so many questions - regarding the signal chain "till tape" ... but in this vid you are not wearing headphones - so what was the monitor for tracking bass?
Or other way to describe my question: Bass amp, DI, all nice - but in the room you were obviously listening to the DAW output (A-B-ing plugins) - so you were listing to your monitors.
The main monitors (on top of your console) would have been "too much to one side" I think - and the small monitors at your screen (seen on other vids) may not be ... best for bass.
Or more general: You got your big desk with excellent monitors - but in the videos you often work on your PC desk at the side - with some really small monitors.
So maybe nearing my question - so I play bass and do recordings - in front of my 5" monitors. I was thinking about getting some 8" - or using my bass amp or some PA style stuff for tracking.
What do you use for monitoring tracking bass? For you and for your bass players?
Thanks very much!
Best
Stefan
If you have a hard time keeping in lock with the kick drum on your bass what would be the best way to line them up after your done recording
Hi Ryan, great question! Try not to go note by note, you'll kill the feel, make so that you take large sections or just the occasional note. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hey this a great vid thankz for sharing! I'm recording with logic .will there b any tips for logic users?
Hi buskers suicide! Yes! There are more Logic Videos coming very soon! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I’m so glad I followed your channel! You have really great info for us bass players. I do have a question though... I’m having a hard time understanding compression in a live situation. I’m currently using an origin effects cali76 (the large model) and I’m not sure exactly how to set up this unit. I understand that it would have different settings according to how you approach a particular bass line, whether you play soft or are digging in, or if you are playing quick runs or letting a note ring out. But can you please explain attack and release as well as how much compression to use? I really understand the way you teach and this topic would speak volumes to me if you’d be so kind to explain it. Thanks for your time! -Paul
Another good video. What do you do with the Jazz bass volume pots? Both full up?
Hi Stewart, yes 99.99% I leave them both at full! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Dear Warren, What is your crossover point for the DI/amp?
HI Joel, it's usually around 170hz. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
What live set up could approximate the tone got out of the bass in the studio?
Awesome bass sound Warren... I was going to get a noble D.I for my bass rig... mmmmmmmm But now I'm thinking one Motown D.I :) Awesome stuff...
Hi Grant, both are amazing! But I will say a couple of my friends who have the Noble want the Motown as well!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
you haven't spent much time on the level knob on the ACME, it's quite unusual to have a level knob on a DI isn't it? does it have a preamp in there with it's own color? or is it more of an attenuator? for using up more of preamp transformer\tube it goes into if you want to? could you tell a little about that knob?
Why were there 2 cables plugged into the DI? Or are those the outputs?
Great vid Warren! Can you tell me how you use waves MV2? Cuz i dont get it if you already used C4 before...Maybe on the highs? Cheers.
Hi Filipe! Great question! The MV2 controls the dynamic range, bringing up the low level notes and compressing the higherlevl ones! It's pretty darn good! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
About to record an album, very 70's, very Steely Dan inspired, any tips bass-wise? And oooohhh.. that DI on it's own fairly well did it for me!
Hi Warren! I'm a bit late for this discussion and probably someone has already asked this, but anyway. Did you have to tolerate some latency while playing through this significant amount of plugins?
Great informative video Warren, Thank You.
Nice playing! How did you remove the habit of right hand taping the string to pickup (like a snare!)? I struggle with that.. my right hand finger defaults to always tapping that string to pickup, sounds bad for recording especially when I use Precision bass very sensitive.. I got signal spikes in recording.
Warren please try to do a Motown vs REDDI shootout!
Hi Amroth, that sounds like a very good idea to me! Both are amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
… where and how do you split the signal from bass into interface and amp/speaker?
hey boss can I run sa bass directly into the focusrite solo ? or run a line 6 bass pod into the focusrite?......hope your having a creative weekend my teacher
Great bass sound.
Hi 44numskull! Thanks ever so much!! Have a marvellous time making music!! Many thanks Warren
Bass.
one track from direct input
one track from mic on amp.
then mix together.
next send output to new chanel.
on this chanel eq cut low end and high end add distortion en ones again eq cut low en high and add de Essser.
sen this 2 channels to new chanel and use multi band compressor.
try put the bass more back in mix.
for low frequency use a fast attack.
ones e gain eq cut rond 300 Hz.
Thanks Bob for outlining everything! The screen flow died on us! I appreciate you taking the time to do this!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Produce Like a pro.
every time we have another story
Great content Warren. I play my Ukulele bass through the Phoenix Audio Tilt Tone EQ that I won from you. It sounds amazing @ 160 Hz
Amazing!! Glad you enjoy the tilt EQ!! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Hi warren - another useful video . Can you explain your approach to phase when recording the di and mic signal simultaneously ? Am I correct in understanding you use a software princess to fix this during actual printing ?
For those of us without such plugs are there ways to do this after he every
Apologies iPhone spelling - process not princess and after the event !
Hi Warren, im not sure if this is exactly an appropriate question to ask but i just am so confused on how mix engineers spend so much money on huge consoles like an ssl. do you just buy one that you know you can pay off or do you just buy one and pay it all then? and also do you know any websites that sell professional recording consoles? thanks!
Thanks Warren! While its good to see your handsome mugs throughout the video, it's still worthwhile seeing what you're doing on the screen. Sounding great nevertheless :)
Yes indeed! The screen flow died! God bless it! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Alex is one lucky guy to sit there in your studio and get these these gems of knowledge up close and personal!
I have an Idea for a great prize for the many other apprentices thousands of miles from Loral Canyon. Spend a few hours with our music Industry Hero Warren at His studio! I would gladly pay my air fare, lodging, and rent a car If I won a competition with that as a first prize! Alex, please don't ever take it for granted that you get to hang and learn from such a great mentor....
Can I use my mix of this song in my professional portfolio?
Nice video, as usual. I have an UltraSound DI Plus I really like for bass DI. I believe it's meant for acoustic guitar, but if it works, it works.
Hi Rob!! Exactly! If it sounds good then it is good! By the way here is a link the final Billy Sheehan song with the winning guitar solo in:- soundcloud.com/produce-like-a-pro/mark-loughman-bitter-reaction-plap-fuzz-pedal-competition Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Nice tutorial Warren. Were you using Addictive Drums on that song?
Hi Wade, that is my Ludwig Kit recorded here. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
any tips for recording thumped ("slap") bass?
Be careful of compression! Should only catch the peaks on the slap and pops! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I also wanted to know how you'd approach slap parts, or parts including occasional slaps and pops mixed with fingerstyle (by a guitarist new to bass with somewhat poor control over dynamics). One can turn down the input signal a lot to prevent the interface from clipping. This also brings the level of the softer passages down a lot. (When) would you use a limiter between instrument and audio interface? Or did you mean using an outboard compressor?
Hi Tubelistic, fantastic question! Yes, I would use an outboard pre amp and then compressor. If you are just going directly into the interface then make sure you have a lot of headroom so you don't get clipping. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Produce Like A Pro Awesome Warren ! Thank you For the advice.
Acme motown DI or Noble?
Great question giggs102! I used the Noble with Jon Button just two days ago and loved it! But my heart loves the Motown DI! Haha Both are amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
hi warren. i know you did a video on patchbays and how they work. there's a tonne of information on how they work and i well and truly understand the concept, I have recently purchased one and i'm getting really frustrated because although there is information on how patchbays work there is very little on how to properly set them up. could you please at some point maybe do a tutorial on how to set up a patchbay for the typical home studio owner. is it ok to run my guitar amps through there so i can swithch between using my cab and torpedo live. what cables do you use for connecting your outboard gear to the patchbay. i.e to the back of the patchbay. do you use balanced or unbalanced. when do you use half normal and normal mode e.t.c. so many questions not many answers online. PLEASE PLEASE HELP> i think a lot of people would appreciate this also. all the forums i've come across have these same questions met with vague answers. . have a marvelous time explaining patchbays lol
Great question Ryan! Check out this series of videos:- ua-cam.com/play/PLnLOmVwRMCqQmQaiT58c94oKm8A7w5ZT0.html Number 16 is Patch Bays! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
thanks for replying warren but i have seen that video and whilst i understand the concept and various applications, setting one up from scratch even in my small home studio is very confusing. i'll figure it out eventually i guess it's just highly frustrating.
Thanks again you are truly an inspiration to us that wish to pursue audio.
Hi Ryan, ok I understand! I will put my thinking cap on to make a thorough video! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
that would be amazing warren. like i said, i think a lot of people would find it most helpful. thankyou so much.
IDK, maybe show a screen shot of what you're doing on the DAW?
What do you not like about having distortion/amp tone on the low lows?
In my experience the distortion would add a nice bit of compression and make some of the overtones stick out. I love how it makes it sit in the mix.
Hi Crson, great question! Yes, when using Fuzz, Overdrive or Distortion pedals I will definitely blend it! However I find the DI gives us the cleanest low end! By the way here is a link the final mix of Billy Sheehan playing Bass with the winning guitar solo in:- soundcloud.com/produce-like-a-pro/mark-loughman-bitter-reaction-plap-fuzz-pedal-competition Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Thanks for your great insight Carson! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Does anybody know how the bass was recorded on Led Zeppelin , Heartbreaker .
It's almost synth sounding and it seems like it could have been a fretless .
Thanks for the video Warren .
Knock knock knock'n on heavens door,,, lol,,, Nice DI,, and a ton of good info,,, :D
Haha yes indeed! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Why boost at 110 and not 80? The fundamental frequency of the open A string is 55 hz, if you want to catch the low end of that and not the first harmonic wouldn't it be better to boost at 80?
I use a 2 channel M-Audio device to record with and I noticed my bass is hard to hear on recordings of my own versus at church it comes through crystal clear and sits well in the mix. Do I need a DI box or a better interface? I do need a bigger interface for my drums eventually but for now need a quick solution to my problem.
Hi Robert, great question! If you print a good tone yo should be able to mix it well enough to cut through! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Produce Like A Pro I geuss I should rephrase I can barely hear the bass alone through recording with volume on bass high and input set high, sometimes I get that ground or pickup hum more than the bass.
Robert L if you're listening through something that doesn't replicate that low end well, that would be your issue. That's my guess
Nik Gienger I have Presonus studio monitors with adjustable bass depending on room placement.
Aha I see! Can you ground lift the signal? Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
"The simpler is kind of the better, because it's not gonna get in the way of any guitarlines" Well said Warren. As a guitarist myself i fully agree 😊
Thanks very much for the great copy!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
hi warren i enjoy watching your videos.ive been recording rock music for the last 14 years.only jan 2017 i got slate digital everything bundle.it just turned everything around.the plugins i was using on reaper my daw just wasnt as good on the slate plugins.i was wondering mabe with your time schedul could you check a few of my tunes.i would like yourelf a pro producer mixer engineer to maybe listen to a few of my tunes and tell what you think and advice for the tunes you listen to.that would make my day.
Hi Gary, that's truly great! The everything bundle is AMAZING!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I have not tried this DI but, i can really say the 610 UA pre DI is like a truck engine, it makes for beautiful bass but not everything else.
Bass recording technique: Plug bass into console/audio interface/ recorder > press record. MAYBE a smidge of EQ and/or compression.
My secret weapon for recording bass is the SansAmp Bass Driver DI. Anyone who has used one knows what I'm talking about.
Hi Jerry, yes indeed! I used to use that ALL the time! I still do on occasion use it, a great device! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
this can apply to electronic music too... hi pass lo pass distortion compression
Prepare yourself for a dumb question. I know, there are know dumb questions, just dumb people...LOL. Anyway, I purchased the Motown DI. However, either it isn't working properly or I am using the ATTN side incorrectly. Am I supposed to use it as some sort of a load box (which I haven't been)? So far Im just using it direct with an electric plugged in but the attn 1-10 knob does nothing so i must have to use the amp with it somehow but am afraid to experiment for fear of damaging it. I don't suppose I'm supposed to take a line out from my tube amp speaker out to the DI in ATTN mode and use the XLR out from the DI to go to my DAW, am I? Confused and embarrassed,,, LOL
Another schnizzle bites the dust ;)
Haha yes indeed Stefano!! Here is a link to the Billy Sheehan track with the winning guitar solo in:- soundcloud.com/produce-like-a-pro/mark-loughman-bitter-reaction-plap-fuzz-pedal-competition Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Bass is half the bag. It's funny how famous bass-licks work. "You can't touch this" boom-ba-da-boom. 4 notes, a' million $ per note. Or Ice Ice baby, 2 notes. "Fever". "Another brick in the wall" "Billie-Jean" "Keep on running" "Gimme soma lovin'" I'm sure you can name more. There's a ton and a whole genre: bass 'n drums. They are all simple. To find simple is the shit.
Agreed 100%! Simple grooves will win every time!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Are they mad at each other
You sound like you are are coming in late to me.. Just behind the beat.
Wow, I’m so surprised. First, I thought much of meticulous attention for device, mic, & technique is used only for vocals, guitars, drums, piano recording. But bass guitar? It will sound bass no matter what especially with 4 string polyphony lol 😂 well, guess I was wrong.
That song is a rip off of knockin on heavens door......not cool warren.