| Author | Message | ||
| pinbacking
New Username: pinbacking Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2005 |
I'm relatively new to recording and I was just wondering if anybody in the know could tell me what a good EQ is for Alembics. I love (as I'm sure everyone here does) the distinct "middy quack" tone of the alembic but I still want to get filling low frequency in as well. Also I"m having trouble getting good sustain while recording. Any suggestions or questions before you give me suggestions? Thanks! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1509 Registered: 7-2004 |
SF-2. 'nuff said. http://www.alembic.com/prod/sf2.html Bill, the guitar one | ||
| lothartu
Intermediate Member Username: lothartu Post Number: 164 Registered: 8-2003 |
As Bill says, a SF2. I've never used one but from what I understand it gives you an insane amount of eq'ing power. From the way people describe it, it gives you the power to do anything, including ruining your tone if you don't know what you're doing. I don't know if I really need one, but I want one. - Jim | ||
| hb3
Intermediate Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 138 Registered: 2-2005 |
Don't be scared -- plug it straight into the board. You'd be surprised. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 989 Registered: 6-2002 |
If you're not getting good sustain then your strings are probably too far gone. Even with a bad setup, there should plenty of sustain in any Alembic. Check the Must Read section for some excellent discussions on how to setup an Alembic. Joey's Post on Setting Up Your Bass (Message edited by adriaan on August 04, 2006) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2437 Registered: 9-2002 |
A SF-2 is a different kind-a-logic as other EQ's. The drummer in our band once saw me tweaking very minor corrections on the SF-2. He was completely blown away by the vast tone changements that came as a result! When I am performing in bars or so and there is a bassplayer coming over to have a look ...they really don't get how it works. It's a different kind-o-logic. When mastered ...VERY effective! But ...it takes time ... and tweaking ... a LOT of tweaking! If you are the lineair thinking guy ..."normal" EQ's are the way to go! SF-2's are more "circular-thinking" devices. It sounds funny ...I know ...but that's the way I can talk about it! Paul TBO | ||
| pinbacking
New Username: pinbacking Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2005 |
Good advice, but I'm pretty sure my strings are fine (DR low-riders) and relatively new. It definitely could be a setup issue and maybe I need to get get it checked out. I don't think it has as much to do with the bass itself as it does with signals. Maybe in awhile I'll get an SF-2 (like, a long while, I may own an alembic but I'm not loaded!). The bass has good attack and a long but quiet sustain but the signal strength that the output is picking up is weak. I bought a Boss Compression pedal yesterday and that helps strengthen the signal a ton, so I think I'm ok for now. As for EQ'ing I'm wondering if anybody has any magic frequencies that they like to work with, I'm finding that adding somewhere around 9dB to 50Hz-250Hz is good and letting the lo-mid and high mid slope down after it. Gives me good thickness and it doesn't sound too honky on the mids, nice tone but not too muddy. If anybody has any suggestions I would love to hear them. | ||
| mpisanek
Intermediate Member Username: mpisanek Post Number: 167 Registered: 1-2005 |
I have just adjusted my spoiler using the internal adjustment inside the electronics cavity. This drastically increased the audible sustain of the instrument. It seems to have given the spoiler a new life. It has made a major difference for me. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1511 Registered: 7-2004 |
Royce: Have you tried adjusting the preamp trim pot in the electronics cavity? As Michael notes, it can make a very dramatic difference in the output signal level. Bill, tgo | ||
| pinbacking
Junior Username: pinbacking Post Number: 11 Registered: 1-2005 |
Well, I'll try. Is there any primer on it that I can read first? I'm technical enough but I don't want to get in there without knowing what to do : ) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4184 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yes, there is some info in the FAQ & Must Reads section. | ||
| matthew90046
Junior Username: matthew90046 Post Number: 24 Registered: 1-2005 |
How does your bass sound out of your amp? Do you hear a "middy quack" from your amp? I ask because... as you are new to recording... It may be other factors. You should never have to add +9dB to anything to make it sound good unless you are going for some kind of effect. | ||
| jseitang
Intermediate Member Username: jseitang Post Number: 164 Registered: 6-2002 |
SF-2 there is no other.... | ||
| pinbacking
Junior Username: pinbacking Post Number: 12 Registered: 1-2005 |
It sounds good out of the amp. I adjusted the pots and it did a little to the signal strength but not the sustain. It might be a setup issue. It might also have to do how I play though. I pop most of my notes instead of rolling them off and I think that strong attack makes the sustain shorter in general. SF-2 for later, my Compression pedal works for now and it doesn't sacrifice that much tone at all : ). I guess I just have to play around with it some more, but thanks to everyone for the helpful advice! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4192 Registered: 5-2002 |
As Adriaan said, it seems unlikely that lack of sustain is a setup issue. I suppose to some degree pickup height will have an effect on sustain, but probably not to the degree that you seemed to be concerned about. I doubt that your sustain problem is related to the bass itself, unless it was the strings, which you've indicated are new. So, I'm wondering what else is in the signal chain. For instance, some boards have a low frequency rolloff filter switch. | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 640 Registered: 6-2002 |
Royce, Also verify that there isn't a noise gate in your signal path. They will only allow signals above an absolute value to pass and will sound like a quick fade to 0 during signal decay. The level which is the minimum allowed is ajustable and frequently called "Threshhold". Gating is somewhat useful for isolating instruments recorded acoustically, reducing bleed through, and tightening up natural reverberation. but sacrifices dynamic range and sonic realism. I use it in live situations because of boosted hiss from stage electronic interaction. My typical stage path is bass > monster cable >Sabine rack tuner > F-1X > DBX 166XL > QSC PLX1602 > Acme Low-B2. My.02 Mike (Message edited by dadabass2001 on August 06, 2006) | ||
| matthew90046
Junior Username: matthew90046 Post Number: 25 Registered: 1-2005 |
If you are getting a good sound out of your amp then you are half way there. To add sustain your best bet is compression. I know you just got a Boss compressor, but that is only the beginning in the world of compression. You may want to test out some others and see if they do a better job. I use an EBS Multi Comp. I found this to be the best stomp box compressor on the market. It hits the wallet hard, but is a great box. One thing that makes this box stand above the rest is the Multi Comp. Short for Multiple band Compression. It will provide a more natural compression across the frequency spectrum. | ||
| worldfamousandy
Member Username: worldfamousandy Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yup, get a Multi Comp. As pedals go, they are a little spendy, but a lot less than a good rack compressor. They sound almost as good as a good rack comp, too. I can't play without mine. Andy Calder www.andycalderbass.com |
