The foundation for any mix is a solid bass. So it’s important to capture all of the instrument’s tone and punch while recording. But what’s the best way to go about this when working with electric bass? While you’ll certainly want to experiment and see what works best for your instrument, your music and your recording space, here are a few techniques to capture a full bottom end for any style. If the bass is being recorded with the DI, recording the amp at the same time can add dimension to the sound and fill out the bottom end.

Modern Setup

Take a full-range amp with plenty of high end and mike it with an AE2500 dual-element instrument mic. The dynamic element captures mid-range punch while the condenser element extends the extreme top and bottom end in a single, phase-coherent package. modern

Vintage Sound

Use a 15" combo amp miked with an AT4047MP multi-pattern condenser set to cardioid. The smooth top end of the AT4047MP complements the vintage warmth and focused low end from the combo amp. Find the sweet spot by moving the mic between the inside and outside edge of the speaker cone. Keep the mic an inch or two from the grill to minimize bleed from the room or other instruments. If bleed is not a problem, switch the mic to figure eight. This will provide a deeper, fuller low end. vintage

Aggressive Rock Sound

Mike a 4 x 10 cabinet with an ATM250 hypercardioid instrument microphone. A dynamic microphone, like the ATM250, can handle even the loudest amplifier and provide plenty of low-end and mid-range punch. Whenever miking an individual speaker, remember that one may sound better than another. Investing a little time finding the right one may be time well spent. aggressive Using these tips for recording electric bass you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect foundation for any recording project. Watch the full video below, and keep checking back for more basic recording techniques from A-T:

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