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jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4052
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, June 02, 2014 - 5:35 pm:   Edit Post

Just to let you guys know that lately I've been laying down some bass for Musical Youth's forthcoming album. So far I've done three tracks and today I was recording the vocals for some tracks at home which was good fun and a superb way to spend an evening. The lead singer Dennis Seaton was voicing the tracks and he has a really good voice although I don't actually tell him that. :-)

I have used both my series basses for the project and recorded in stereo so each bass part has one neck and one bridge recorded on a separate track. As well as that I have recorded two different bass lines for each record and recorded each bass line using both basses.
I know that sounds confusing but It means for each record I sent back to the producer there is 4 sets of stereo bass lines for him to choose from. I recorded them all with the filters wide open and no Q on at all. After recording I inserted a LP filter on the channel to check what the bass could sound like and it sounds like it will be ok but it will depend on how the tracks are mixed. One of the tracks the producer told me the bass was a bit twangy and he decided to re-amp that particular track but that's all.

At the end of the session today I was given another track to replace the bass line put down a while back by another bass player.

If I get a say in the credits I will write that all my bass parts were recorded on Alembic Series I and II basses (without instant Flanger). That last bit will only mean something to you if you have the Romantic Warrior album by Return to Forever.


http://www.discogs.com/Return-To-Forever-Romantic-Warrior/release/477180

I'll let you know as soon as something is released.

Jazzyvee
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1247
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Thursday, June 05, 2014 - 9:27 pm:   Edit Post

Congratulations Jazzyvee! I can't wait to hear the recording! I will definitely be buying a copy!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4161
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, July 28, 2014 - 11:35 am:   Edit Post

Well I got some more feedback about the production as things are being mixed now and the bass still sounds too stringy. In other words they could hear all the movements of my fingers on the strings etc and it sounds twangy. I suggested they try using a low pass filter on the bass as that's what the bass uses for tone controls. Hopefully that will get them the sound they can use. I did mention that I was asked to record with the tone controls fully open even though I made them aware that there is a lot of high end in the bass tone.
Anyway hopefully if they use the filters in the bass channel it should be fine.
Any other suggestions you may have from your own experience of recording series alembics that I can pass on, please feel free to let me know.
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1397
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - 5:14 pm:   Edit Post

Do you own an SF-2? Take that in and set it up for them and they can run all the bass tracks with a genuine Alembic low pass filter!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4165
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 7:14 am:   Edit Post

I spoke with the producer on Tuesday and he said they decided to do that track with a synth bassline. Also he's gonna arrange a day for me to come in to his studio to hear the track and give me an idea of the kind of tone he wants for any future recording sessions.
SF-2 maybe i will use it for future basslines i get asked to record for them.
flpete1uw
Advanced Member
Username: flpete1uw

Post Number: 340
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 7:32 am:   Edit Post

Jazzy,
Why can't they have you come back and redo the track with the settings that you recommended in the first place? I mean they are redoing the track with a synth and having you advise on it. Or do both redo with a bass and synth and A/B them.

Curious,
Pete
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 2043
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 9:18 am:   Edit Post

I get the feeling this is a case of them expecting a Fender bass and not being sure what to do when it's not.

Keith
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4166
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 5:05 pm:   Edit Post

I did offer to re-do the track but I gather this not going to happen since the synth bass part has already been done and the mixing stage is in progress. The producer specialises in producing reggae and it's variants and so I guess he knows what sound he wants on the record. He did say the other tracks I put down were fine. He's also the drummer in the band in a way he is fully aware of how my bass sounds live.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 1808
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, August 01, 2014 - 5:43 pm:   Edit Post

You might also experiment with flat wound strings. I also think Keith is right, I've had the experience of engineers not knowing how to handle a non-Fender bass (and what with the iconic sounds of Familyman, et al….).
pace
Senior Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 1046
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2014 - 4:12 am:   Edit Post

Can you patch an SF-2 into the board for mix down?
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4772
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 - 1:57 am:   Edit Post

Album still not ready to hit the shops yet. I heard at the last gig that it has been mastered so I guess a release in the new year is the most likely scenario.

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