Effects for bass???

[dragonshade]

Well my new bass should be here in the next few days... though I have never played bass, what better time to learn? 

I will likely get a line6 bass pod at some point, but what does the MBR have available??? Is there anything decent for a heavy bass sound in the effects? What are guys doing?

Thanks for the input.

Ray

[Ferryman_1957]

The MBR is limited for bass in terms of delivered effects, IIRC (don't have it in front of me) there's just three. None jumped out at me, altho the clean bass is ok for a basic sound. However, don't forget you can edit them so make use of that facility until you get your Pod. I use a Zoom unit myself but it works great with the MBR, I'm sure the Pod will as well.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Greeny]

I've been using the 'Bass Crnch' effect for all my bass parts. It works well enough for me, but it's not exactly a heavy rock tone. Flash Harry might be able to give you some pointers on getting a 'heavier' sound (like he did on our 'Filthy Animal' song). I'm not sure whether that was through the BR or an external effect - or whether the bass itself (e.g. active / passive pick ups etc) makes a big difference.

[mr2kewl]

when ever i go straight through my MBR i just use a clean tone. when i'm looking for effects, i'll use my Line6 TonePort UX1. the software has a big selection for the bass world that can be customized and saved. plus, if you're on a budget like me, it's a very small investment (around $90 US).

[hewhoiscalledj]

bass recordings on the microBR really benefits from some compression. i dont use the guitar/bass effects at all since i record live but pick a setting you like, and hit Edit. Go to compression and for the low frequency, set the threshold fairly low (around -15db or thereabouts) and set the attack level around 500-600ms. then exit and scroll to select "OUT" and set that to about +3 or +4db. you'll want to experiment with all this but thats generally where i have my settings when recording the bass live (microphone on the bass amp)

this gives it more thump for a hard rock sound while evening out the dynamics a little bit. keep in mind, this will squash the sound.

[tkofaith]

bass recordings on the microBR really benefits from some compression. i dont use the guitar/bass effects at all since i record live but pick a setting you like, and hit Edit. Go to compression and for the low frequency, set the threshold fairly low (around -15db or thereabouts) and set the attack level around 500-600ms. then exit and scroll to select "OUT" and set that to about +3 or +4db. you'll want to experiment with all this but thats generally where i have my settings when recording the bass live (microphone on the bass amp)

this gives it more thump for a hard rock sound while evening out the dynamics a little bit. keep in mind, this will squash the sound.

Thanks, J!  I've been wanting to do something for a better bass sound, but just been too busy to experiment.  Now I have a good starting point!

[dragonshade]

Damn, that kinda what I was afraid of, thanks guys.

My new bass is here.... came today. (Still at work so I haven't messed with it)

Do you guys know what would happen if I tried to run a "guitar" effect with it... maybe modding some?

It has stock passive pickups at this point (it's a Samick Artist). (good deal off ebay, with surprisingly good owner reviews all over Harmony Central). I have a set of EMG actives coming for it, but that will be a couple weeks.

Guess I'l really have to look at getting my pod in the next week or two.


Ray

[tkofaith]

Do you guys know what would happen if I tried to run a "guitar" effect with it... maybe modding some?

Congrats on the new axe!

I was messing around with my Ibanez bass the other day using different guitar effects.  There were a couple that sounded pretty cool (I'm at work, too, so I can't look up which ones right now  ).  Just experiment...playing anything with a new axe is fun! 

[dragonshade]

Hey thanks TKO.

Yep.... new bass is here. LOL.. I'm messing with it last night, and realized (having never even touched a bass before), that I have no idea how to even tune it. I went online and found out it is tuned the same as a guitar (which struck me as strange).

Question for you guys... I am a guitarist, are basses supposed to "buzz" (fret buzz). I mean the neck and frets are fine, and action is decent, but open E and A will buzz some open, and on the lower frets (F/G, etc). It's not much, and through the amp really is not heard, but playing it you hear it. Bass strings are HUGE compared to guitar, so I'm asuming unless it's an expensive bass (which this is not) you would have some buzz. Is this right?

I have no bass amp currently so I am playing through the MBR only at this point. Greeny... I used bass crunch, and bass solo and it has a good clear sound. LOL (again) I'm really not even sure how a bass should sound for heavier music.... distortion sounds kinda funny, but again I have no POD yet, and the cheap stock pick ups... so may be that.

Thought I would share this in this thread. I started working on a new original, and will likely be collaborating with RAZ on the song as it develops.... all it is now is a group of riffs, but they will be the core of the song. Anyway... I wanted to see how they sounded a little faster so I re-recorded at 146 BPM, and then figured what the hell.... and grabbed the bass. This is literally the FIRST time I have ever played, and I did it right after tuning. Just kinda followed the guitar for the most part, I'll be working on learning really how to play, but man this turned out ok for a first shot. There are mistakes in this... again it is far from finished, but I thought it cool, so thought I'd share with my bass-helping friends.

Ray

[tkofaith]

Regarding the fret buzz...your action may be set a bit too low.  It's definitely not normal to have a fret buzz.

I don't have time to listen to your post right now, but I'll hit it before the day's out.

Keep it on the bottom!