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Recording a Double Bass

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classRec
Wannabe
Wannabe


Joined: Apr 10, 2005
Posts: 10
Location: London
Recording a Double Bass

Recording a DBass for a Jazz track requires a special kind of miking that sometimes takes a log time to be "perfected".

I love good DBass sound that's why I'm looking to find specialist opinions.

Post Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:51 am 
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AC
Chief
Chief


Joined: Oct 31, 2002
Posts: 1071
technique

What's your tired technique to date?
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Recording Studio Suntans

Post Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:42 pm 
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classRec
Wannabe
Wannabe


Joined: Apr 10, 2005
Posts: 10
Location: London
Technique

I wouldn’t call it tired… I just think it can get better. I keep changing things around to meet the customers’ needs so it’s hard to keep one technique throughout all the sessions.
I tend to use the same mic and preamp though. If I mic-up the instrument itself I use a Neumann U89i set to cardioid pattern about 1m away from the middle section of the bass facing it in angle. Like a “close” overhead I suppose. For preamp I use an Avalon VT737SP with the compressor on. I use a reasonably low slow attack so that don’t loose the “woomf” and a fairly slow release. Ration not more that 3-3.5 max.
This gives me a very clear sound with good body. So with little touches later on in the mixing it does the job.

However sometimes I record through an amplifier (Trace Elliot 715 SMC) connected to a pickup. That also works well but I use a different technique on that. A padded AKG414 with its own windshield, about 20cm away from the driver. Completely different approach with totally different results. I find this one a little more rocky than jazzy. But some people prefer it.

A

Post Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:51 pm 
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AC
Chief
Chief


Joined: Oct 31, 2002
Posts: 1071
Transducer

Hi, that was actually meant to say "tried" - oops. icon_smile.gif

You have some great techniques and certainly some tasty microphones in use there.

Have you ever tried a "bug" or any other form of transducer? I'm wondering how you find some of that blended in with your mic channels.
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Recording Studio Suntans

Post Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:48 pm 
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classRec
Wannabe
Wannabe


Joined: Apr 10, 2005
Posts: 10
Location: London
Bug Miking

You mean something like a DPA 4060?? In fact no, not on a double bass. I have used it on a violin once just to test it out and I have to say I didn’t like it at all. Compared to the high quality large diaphragm mics that I usually use it sounded teeny and too edgy on the high-mid range. I suppose it was somewhat expected from a mic designed primarily for miking up vocalists, although DPA suggests that is suitable for everything.

Have you used a “bug”? If so, in what way? Does it work?

A

Post Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:04 pm 
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AC
Chief
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Joined: Oct 31, 2002
Posts: 1071
Mid

Yes I have, and a very very cheap one for around 50 bucks.

Though I only used a little of that signal, and blended it in with two other quality micrphones.. one near the finger board and one near the bridge, I mixed the three. I liked the way the bug gave me some extra mid.
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Recording Studio Suntans

Post Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:29 am 
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