Digital preamps like the ones in a lot of audio interfaces tend to be very clean-sounding. They don’t impart very much character to a sound, if any at all. An external preamp that uses tubes or transformers will color and thicken the sound, adding harmonics and character. Either one will work fine, but a nice preamp can add that extra sweetness.

@@MyManDan come to think of it, one could add a preamp plugin after recording the clean signal.

I think it’s just preference.

HI noreaction thanks for the comment! Great question as well! I like to lightly compress the DI and the Amp, I split before the amp. The Bass goes to the DI box and then a parallel output goes to the Amp. Thanks for the great question! Have a marvelous time recording! Many thanks

Hi +Francisco Estrada It might be your Bass, firstly check the string isn;t too close to the pickup. You might have to adjust the pickup so it's even across the strings. Next you can try compressing the bass a little more so the louder strings are dealt with, but first I would check the pickup placement. Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Thank you very much for your answer, Warren! I will follow your instructions. Also thank you very much for all your videos. Have a very good new year!

Hi +Francisco Estrada Let me know how it goes! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

+Produce Like A Pro Thanks a lot. I used this guide (www2.fender.com/support/articles/bass-guitar-setup-guide/ ) for the heights of the pickups, and it sounds much better now. My next step is the compressor. :)

Hi +MrSimonGt great question! yes print a good level without peaking, bass may require compression if the player is extremely dynamic! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hi +Fi1618033988 You;re welcome! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hi +GernPudman Great question! Yes you should be able to plug into the instrument input on your Digidesign 003! I would err on the low side and then try gaining up the signal lightly with a compressor. Let me know how it goes! I used to record a Bass directly like this on my old Digi 002! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi +aslefhin Great question! Many interfaces have a proper instrument level in as well as a mic and line level input, if they do then you should be ok and not have to use a di. However at some stage you might want to invest in a high quality Di would could actually help the sound quality, but just buying a cheap passive Di when your interface may already have an instrument input won;t be a great improvement. I hope that helps? Let me know if that all makes sense! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

+Produce Like A Pro That's a perfect explanation! Thank you very much! Currently watching your video at Pensado's Place.

Hi +aslefhin Great!! Glad to be able to help! Excellent please leave a comment on the video, I would really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hey Warren - Thanks for the answer, I had the same question and have the same audio interface. Other than a high quality DI, would you recommend getting an amp model package? I assumed that it was necessary but from your video it seems that with a DI box, an audio interface and a DAW, one should be set especially with plugins from the DAW to enhance the sound. Sorry I play bass much more than I record and am trying to figure things out.

Peter Zabriskie m-box is an audio interface

Compressor?

Thanks very much ibanezman04 I really appreciate it! Yes Mutemath rule!

They really do! Nice to see a fellow Brit doing mixing videos on youtube for a change.. Any tips for a music composition and production student, post university?

Hi ibanezman04 thanks for the question! I would highly suggest going out and finding a band or artist to work, record them for free if necessary to build you resume and of course your chops! Where are you based? Have a marvelous time recording! Many thanks Warren

Warren Huart Recording Thats great advice Warren thank you! Im from London but am currently based in Leeds studying my third (final) year at the Leeds College Of Music.. Im am on a course which combines Performance/Production/Composition/Marketing within music.. all of which I really enjoy but my Engineering and Production skills have definitely taken a back seat recently and its having a negative effect on my skills.. I need to find the time to get recording again.. My problem is balancing all of my interests, as I really want to be pursuing all of these areas in my career..

ibanezman04 I completely understand. You have to find as much time as possible to develop those skills, but in the long run it will be worth it! Have a marvelous time recording. Many thanks Warren

Hi obecas thanks for your question. If you can get enough gain from your Hi Impedance input on the front of the FMR Preamp then you should be fine, I just looked up the EMU 1616 and I see the Hi Impedance inputs so imagine there should be no issues! Have a marvelous time recording! Thanks for watching! Many thanks Warren

Produce Like A Pro Thank you very much Warren. In your opinion, would be a great difference if i used a DI box before the FMR preamp (or another...) or the Interface (in this case the EMU)?Once again, thank you for all your fantastic and detailed videos, we all really appreciate the great information you put there! Best regards!

Hi obecas thanks for the great question! If you had a great Di then I do think it would make a difference. Something at least the quality of a Radial Di Box would give you a quality improvement, otherwise just going into the Line/Instrument input will definitely work out fine. Have a marvelous time recording! Thanks for watching! Many thanks Warren

Hi Michał Łazowik great question! Personally I love recording with a bass amp as well, however I use it primarily for the lows and use the DI for midrange punch when mixing. I am going to do a mixing Bass guitar video soon and that will show some of the tricks I do. Many thanks Warren

Warren Huart Recording Marvellous ;)

Michał Łazowik haha Thanks! Yes truly marvelous indeed!

Hi +Samos12 The pres without the EQ sound identical! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Thanks ever so much JyunSyut Buk! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi kuziononekajjesadto I would try going into the line/instrument input on the Saffire first. If the input is clipping or distorting you can use the Behringer Di box and put that into the mic input on the Saffire, that might give you more control of the gain. Let me know how it goes! Have a marvelous time recording, many thanks Warren.

Produce Like A Pro When I put bass guitar direct into saffire instrument input it works great. But I have to split the signal before so I can run it thru amp and as a DI at the same time... Well,I will try each combination and see how it goes. Thanks

I see kuziononekajjesadto yes you can come out of the thru on the Di into the amp and use the XLR output from the Behringer to go into mic in on the Saffire. Let me know how it goes. Many thanks Warren

If and only if your interface has lower quality direct input (preamp) than you might want to spare some money for a better pre or DI to overcome that problem. Also, if you run long (above 15ft) cables from the guitar to your pre (interface), you may need to convert it to XLR mic level and run it with XLR cable to lessen the degradation of the signal even more. Otherwise for most music-loving human beings it's a waste of money as you most likely won't even hear the 1000USD difference and you will be good with your interface preamp, especially nowdays. Let's say you buy a focusrite clarett, you then probably won't ever need a better pre. If you are a professional and you do this for a living then you need to have the best of the best so then you will need to show the customers you have good equipment and pristine hifi signal chain but then you would not ask this question anyways. Hope this helped.

I have the Scarlett Focusrite indeed. Thanks for the explanation mate! This helped me out.

Hi +TrapEgroeg great questions! You will need some kind of sound card in your computer that allows you to plug into it or a USB interface. I usually do most of my EQ in my DAW on my DI. I hope that helps? Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

+Produce Like A Pro Thanks for the reply. I'm just starting out and watched a few your videos and they have inspired me because you advocate starting with what you have and working your way up. I want to buy a cheap DI like a Fender micro DI or an Behringer di100 and an xlr-3.5mm cable and see if it will work with the line in input on my laptop. If not I will get a proper interface. You are awesome man, thank you so much. Just watched your 30 minute video with Billy Sheehan and picked up the bass and played for 3 hours straight!

Hi +TrapEgroeg Fantastic! So glad to be able to help!! Yes Billy is amazing!!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hi MumboJimboGuit thanks very much for the great question I really appreciate it! I typically use hardware compression, but not always, often I use software as in this video and I believe it sounds great! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Great question HabitatRecording! Yes I do like to work my pre a little harder and then trim the output slightly before going directly into my DAW. Sometimes I will use an external compressor or bus the signal in the DAW and use a plugin compressor depending on the sound I am going for. Please let me know if you have any other questions, very happy to help. Many thanks Warren!

@@Producelikeapro Can you tell me what is a good gain level of DI track for reamping situation? Thanks

Hi Michael! Thanks ever so much for the great comment! I split the di signal into 2 when mixing, then EQ it differently. Here's a mixing bass video:- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/is2hY8KDtbqqg2w.html Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi +christian agiang Thanks for the great question! You can definitely plug into your interface if it has an 'instrument' input, if it only has a line input for keys then you will need a Di which will convert the signal via an XLR cable to a mic input. I hope that's clear? Have a marvellous time recording many thanks Warren

Hi +D Hope Yes I'm just going line in. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi Jim Morrison thanks for the question. I would run your input on your Focusrite as low as you can and then get the level from the API, that's where the best results will come from. Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Thank you, I should have specified though... Nothing happens when I turn the gain up on the API, I think I am missing the preamp in the API and going right through to the Focusrite pre...

Hi Jim Morrison on the front of the unit there is a 'mic' switch make sure that isn't engaged. If that isn't changing anything do you have a DI box? If so you can plug into the DI box and come out of it into the Mic Input of the API pre. Let me know how it goes for you! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hi Zinzo1 thanks for the great question! I use two mono inputs, one for the mic and one for the Di. I always keep the Bass panned in the center unless I'm doing something quite twisted and maybe heavily effecting the bass. Have a marvelous time recording! Many thanks Warren

thanks, I will try this with my gear. I will run mono cable from bass, split into pc interface and presonus preamp, and experiment recording stereo, mono two channels ,etc... on pc, i will experiment compressor with ssl, glue, nls, and other I never bothered, to purchase DI, as I play guitar, but I guess is worthy of a an effort! I guess the reasoning for this is to have options of merging, or using one or another... regards, Peter

Thanks Zinzo1 Does your Interface have a Di input? Or just a mic input? Have a marvelous time recording! Many thanks Warren

Thanks for the great question! amir behzad ebrahimi I have a Tech 21, it's great! These days I just duplicate the di and put a sans amp on it, but for a great amp simulation and just general ballsy tone it sounds amazing! personally I would split the signal and print a clean Di as well for more control. Have a marvelous time recording! Many thanks Warren

Wow!Thanks.I didn't expect an answer.bad news,I'm gonna come back again with tons of questions,soon :))

Haha amir behzad ebrahimi it's ok I will try my best to answer as many questions as I can. I want us all to make great music here! Have a marvelous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hi +Jimmy Nickles Great question! I have used one, sounded good, but obviously didn't have that same grit the original B15 does, but if it's cheap enough it might be worth purchasing. I hope that helps! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi +fuze p Great question! My personal favourite on Bass has a;ways been Sansamp to drive it! Do you have that? Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Thank you Sir! +Produce Like A Pro. no, i'm searching it but i don't understand if its free. it is? (i don't have protools). and to get a not driven sound, you use always the amp, or other plug-ins ? thanks a lot for the quick answer ;)

Thanks ariete2011hd! I really appreciate it! Have a marvelous time recording. Many thanks Warren

Produce Like A Pro ehy Worren, i have a focusrite forte as an interference and a behringer di box, im not getting anything near that kind of tone man! do you have some tips to give me on how to get a better sound?

Hi ariete2011hd, the biggest improvement would be a higher quality Mic Pre Amp, if you can get a Pre that would be a huge improvement. Have a marvelous time recording! Many thanks Warren

thanks you! do you have any advice on which is the best to buy?

Great question ariete2011hd. It really depends on your budget, my personal favorite is of course the BAE 1073 DMP that I used in this video. Have a marvelous time recording! Many thanks Warren

Hi +KCHAIKIMMY I will have to research further! There's a few out there, but I don't have a favourite one yet! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi +Jaime Reyes This is one of the first I did, so probably a cheaper Canon? Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi Michi, it's a BAE Mic Pre! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Hi +Wrath Az Great question!! I have the Neve, Radial and BAE Val Garay DI's! I use the Radial on keys! I love it! The neve is on my electric guitar and the BAE is on my Bass! I hop e that helps? Have a marvellous time reaching and mixing, many thanks Warren

+Produce Like A Pro Thanks so much! You are awesome!!!

Hi +Wrath Az You're very welcome!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren!

Free plugins for amp simulation

Hi +Tabby Callaghan Great question! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! I think the Joe Meek would be a fun mic pre to use, the old Studio Master might be fun, but I don;t personally have fond memories of how they sounded when I was a kid! But hey try it for fun! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hi +mkavanne Can you clarify? I will say if you can print the effects separately at the same time as a clean amp and di then great! If not and the effects are going through the amp as part of the sound that's completely ok and you can double the di when you mix and apply a virtual sound to that if necessary! But try and commit to a bass sound with the amp, effects and di blended the way you really want to hear them! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

+Produce Like A Pro Hi Warren! Thanks for your quick reply! Basically trying to avoid recording external effect direct via DI into DAW in order to have as rich sound as possible. I was watching some tutorials for the concept of reamping. I'm totally newbie into advanced recording. I have an amp, speaker, DI, mic and the effects and learning to use Logic Pro x. I would like to build the best possible dry and wet signal. Hence, I would appreciate your suggestions on these two different signal routings. Thanks in advance!

Hi +mkavanne thanks for the comment, yes I would split it and have as many options as you can get until you are comfortable. You might find that when you come to mix you favour one sound on=ver the other and that might effect the way you record next time! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

Hi +Kukuh Prayuda Do you mean the DAW? That's Pro Tools. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

Yup.. is it possible if i record just use the DI box?