|
|
|
08-13-2019, 10:34 PM
|
#1
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 7
|
Need help recording certain bass
Hi all,
I have a Yamaha TRBX305 bass guitar (see attached pic, red bass 5-string) that I play on quite a bit. I'm relatively new to using Reaper and have run into a bit of a snag.
This bass is the only one I own that I had bought new. I've noticed that when I record my other 4 basses (all bought used and thus have some mileage, one is even a white version of the same model as attached), I have no issues with setting levels and recording into Reaper with no clipping in the transients. However, when I record with this red bass in particular, it seems that despite how low I may adjust my input levels as well as the volume knob on the bass itself and how gently I play, I still encounter issues where the bass appears to be clipping as I record. Again, none of my other basses do this.
I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for my interface with my bass recording always running into Input 2 with the switch right below set to "Line" (see attachments)
Would anyone have any suggestions for what I could do for this? Would love to make awesome recordings with this bass and I love using Reaper.
Last edited by BrandonBass77; 08-13-2019 at 10:35 PM.
Reason: Failed to upload Scarlett 2i2 upon initial posting
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 02:00 AM
|
#2
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 47
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrandonBass77
Hi all,
I have a Yamaha TRBX305 bass guitar (see attached pic, red bass 5-string) that I play on quite a bit. I'm relatively new to using Reaper and have run into a bit of a snag.
This bass is the only one I own that I had bought new. I've noticed that when I record my other 4 basses (all bought used and thus have some mileage, one is even a white version of the same model as attached), I have no issues with setting levels and recording into Reaper with no clipping in the transients. However, when I record with this red bass in particular, it seems that despite how low I may adjust my input levels as well as the volume knob on the bass itself and how gently I play, I still encounter issues where the bass appears to be clipping as I record. Again, none of my other basses do this.
I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for my interface with my bass recording always running into Input 2 with the switch right below set to "Line" (see attachments)
Would anyone have any suggestions for what I could do for this? Would love to make awesome recordings with this bass and I love using Reaper.
|
You are inputting a bass - the switch is set to line instead of instrument. This may well be the problem as you are inputting an instrument...
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 02:29 AM
|
#3
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Belgium
Posts: 5,246
|
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 first generation is known to clip with modern instruments. It's input is too sensitive.
You could try a passive attenuator in front of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2?
__________________
In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 06:39 AM
|
#4
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Polandia
Posts: 3,584
|
I think line setting is actually more clipping-resilient than the instrument one (discovered it having a shitty 1st gen Scarlett for a day), just impedance mismatched.
If other possibilites fail, check if the strings don't hit the pole pieces in humbuckers. I used to own kinda-predecessor of this bass (RBX375) and it was the exact thing that happened - strings hitting the pickups sounded like clipping. Solution - lower the pickups or slap some electrical tape on the magnets. Or play less heavy-handed
edit: I see you tried playing light - but still, bass strings bend surprisingly far even played light. Also, check the battery
Last edited by zeekat; 08-14-2019 at 06:47 AM.
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 06:47 AM
|
#5
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 29,269
|
It has active PUs so line in won't be mismatched FYI. Good call on battery as it may be more depleted in one bass.
__________________
Music is what feelings sound like.
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 06:52 AM
|
#6
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Polandia
Posts: 3,584
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by karbomusic
It has active PUs so line in won't be mismatched FYI. Good call on battery as it may be more depleted in one bass.
|
Oh, didn't know that. So there's more differences than just having too many knobs
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 07:06 AM
|
#7
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 29,269
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeekat
Oh, didn't know that. So there's more differences than just having too many knobs
|
hehe yea... For impedance "matching" the source of the signal just needs to be at least ~10 times smaller impedance than what it is plugging into (some prefer higher than 10x). Passive pickups have really high impedance in the loose range of 5-15k ohms which is way too big for a low impedance input (aka line in) but once it goes through a preamp like the active pickup circuit, the impedance is only a handful of ohms (in the double digits or less) which keeps us far enough below the line in impedance.
Stomp boxes are the same so if you had a stomp box that uses a buffered (not true) bypass, you can use it while bypassed to allow a passive bass or guitar with a line in.
__________________
Music is what feelings sound like.
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 09:01 AM
|
#8
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 2,787
|
Quote:
as well as the volume knob on the bass itself
|
Are you saying the knob on the bass doesn't go down to zero?
I've never seen a bass (or guitar) attenuator. When I search I only find attenuators for the "speaker-side" of the amplifier. You can get microphone/XLR attenuators, but then you'd need a DI box. (If you already have a DI, that might be a good solution.)
If you can solder it's easy to build an attenuator (two resistors to make a voltage divider or a pot, plus the connectors and case/housing).
Otherwise, your best option is probably to get a different interface with a knob that does turn-down to zero.
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 09:49 AM
|
#9
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 29,269
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DVDdoug
Are you saying the knob on the bass doesn't go down to zero?
|
The OP should probably explain this since volume knobs on guitars are already voltage dividers shunting to ground as you turn it down. The other potential issue is throwing dividers like this at signals like this are likely to create RC filters in the process.
__________________
Music is what feelings sound like.
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 02:34 PM
|
#10
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 2,787
|
Quote:
The other potential issue is throwing dividers like this at signals like this are likely to create RC filters in the process.
|
Yeah... I hate attenuating a signal "for no good reason", especially if it's going into a preamp to be re-amplified. But, sometimes you have to or it's the lesser of two evils. And, any noise on the guitar-side of the attenuator will be reduced along with the signal so it's not always a terrible thing to do.
And, the fact that it's an active bass means you can use lower-value resistors so it can be more immune to noise pick-up than a regular guitar signal.
BTW - I would trust the clipping indicators on the Scarlett. If it's not showing clipping it's probably something else that "sounds like" clipping.
|
|
|
08-14-2019, 08:18 PM
|
#11
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 7
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeekat
I think line setting is actually more clipping-resilient than the instrument one (discovered it having a shitty 1st gen Scarlett for a day), just impedance mismatched.
If other possibilites fail, check if the strings don't hit the pole pieces in humbuckers. I used to own kinda-predecessor of this bass (RBX375) and it was the exact thing that happened - strings hitting the pickups sounded like clipping. Solution - lower the pickups or slap some electrical tape on the magnets. Or play less heavy-handed
edit: I see you tried playing light - but still, bass strings bend surprisingly far even played light. Also, check the battery
|
This ended up being the trick! I put some electrical tape over the poles and recording now is going so much better! Funny how it can be the little obvious things like that. Thanks a ton! 🤘😄
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:56 AM.
|