Is a SANSAMP BASS DI necessary????

[JKingV2]

Ok, so I'm looking at a Tech 21 bass DI pedal for recording, just not sure if I need it with my existing setup and I was wondering if there are some tech experts here who could steer me in the right direction with this one. I currently have a 2012 American Deluxe Fender Jazz Bass with the N3 Active pickup and EQ system and I plug straight into a POD HD thru a UA Audio LA-610 finally to a UA Apollo Twin Duo to my DAW which is Logic X. Maybe it's mixing technique I need to work on because I've received accolades from some of my studio engineer friends on the overall tone of my bass in my recordings, but me personally, I just don't feel it fills in the mix that well. Again, maybe better EQ and mixing, or could I further benefit putting a SANSAMP DI before the POD???

 

[fusedbrain]

Well it sounds like your on the right track if your buddies are digging your tracks.
It sounds like your happy with the recorded tone so it's probably an EQ / Mixing thing.
Balancing the bass with the kick can be tricky. If your going for a big kick sound, your not going to be able to have a huge bass sound as well, or you'll have a big boomy mess. In this case, focus on the growl of the bass and thin the really low end so you can turn the bass up in the mix without it booming on ya. The UAD Pultec EQ is killer for shaping the low end of kicks and bass guitar, and can punch up the mids nicely too on a bass. Conversely, if you want a big thick bass tone, your gonna have to carve out space for it from the kick sound.
Also make sure your high-passing filtering just about everything else in the mix to keep the low end of the mix nice and clean. There's nothing much usable below 100hz on most tracks.

If you do want to mess with the recorded tone, have you tried skipping the POD and plugging straight into the instrument input of the LA-610 or directly into the Apollo hiZ input?? Unless your coming out of the POD digitally, your adding an extra round trip AD/DA conversion before you hit the Apollo AD. The simpler and cleaner the signal chain is, the better. Too much crap in the signal chain can cause the low end of the bass to smear and loose punch.

Another thing you could try is your bass straight into the Apollo Hi Z input with the API Vision console Unison plug-in running. You could EQ and compress your bass in real time and record the resulting tones. API EQ is killer and their compression is super punchy. You can demo that for free for 14 days if you don't already own it.

If you do try the Sans Amp (which is actually a pretty cool device), plug the output of the Sans Amp directly into the line input of the Apollo.
Or, if you want to track with compression, Sans Amp into the line input on the LA-610. I'm just not sure what the Sans Amp is going to give you vs. what you are getting from the POD.

Hope that helps

 

[JKingV2]

That actually really helps out a lot. I will try those plug-ins you mentioned. I use the Pultec plug-ins a lot but for the overall mix. Also, I'm using the Legacy versions that came with the Twin and not the regular versions. Is there a difference there? I'm gonna try the API as well, seems like I already have a handful of useful resources that I haven't fully employed yet. I really like the compression on my LA-610, so I wanna stick with that, but I'll bypass the POD for sure. For drums, I use the Addictive Drums plug-in and manually write my drum parts on the MIDI interface layout. For guitar, I used to run the same setup as my bass, but now I use the direct record out from a Mesa Mark V:35 with a slew of pedals including SP compression, SL drive, JHS Mini Foot Fuzz, and sometimes distortion off the channel two of the amp, into the LA610 then to the Twin. Back to the bass, yea I'll stay away from the Tech 21 and try those EQ tips you mentioned. Thanks much for the advice!!!

 

[fusedbrain]

Only other thing I would say is be very careful tracking with compression. You can't undo it and it can make your tracks lifeless. You need some dynamics in your tracks.
You can still track through the LA-610 for tone, but watch the gain reduction meter and only take off 1 or 2 db's on the way in. You have lots of great plugins to add more compression later if you need it.

Yeah the legacy Pultec is fine. I've been using it for years. I think the hi end on the new one may be a little sweeter, and that would make it preferable for use on whole mixes, but for shaping the bottom end of individual tracks, your good with the legacy one.

Also, if you don't already own the Trident EQ, check it out. My absolute fav EQ for distorted rock guitar. It has some great freq. choices on the low bands and in the filters to allow to to get a really thick, cutting guitar sound and then cut the flub, and the high bands and filters can brighten up the top end and bring the guitar forward without making the distortion sound like frying bacon.

 

[JKingV2]

Awesome, I'll check out the Trident. So as for the LA-610, on the T4 optical compressor side, I got my Peak Reduction usually between 6 and 7 and Gain on 6 for guitars and for bass, same PR level but Gain is brought to 5. 610 side, I keep my overall Level knob between 3 and 4, Gain right at 0, my switches are set at 4.5 k and 70 for both bass and guitar. Sometimes, I move the switches to 7k and 100, but it doesn't affect the sound too much. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Badronald]

The Sansamp is a very solid, low budget solution to recording bass. It sounds great.

It also sounds fantastic live. If you show up to a gig with a backline It'll save you every time. Makes just about anything sound good. It also has a great direct out.