First Bongo recording session (advice, please)

[stretch80]

This is very simple-
get the eq setting that you need and then turn your master volume down. The volume up all the way when recording does not always apply to active instruments. Don't forget 'adding eq adds db'---
find your sweet spot and mark it with a grease pencil or whatever.
You might want to make sure your pickups are not to high.
I used the Bongo with many different settings in numerous studios in L.A. for a couple years and have NEVER had any problems.
Use that master volume;-)

Listen to the Bongo Man! Passive basses should be wide open: Active basses (esp w/ good preamps like the Bongo's) should not be (or don't need to be.) Just turn it down till you get the level you need, with the tone controls set as you like em. If it were me, I'd start with the tone controls flat, and boost a little where I wanted, rather than having them all boosting the max, but thats up to you.

 

[DBD-Bass]

When my band records, I take a direct signal and then stick a D12 close to my cab, then we blend the signal. I prefer that, but thats how I get close to my tone as possible. I recorded with a StringRay5, not a bongo, though.

 

[Psychicpet]

absolutely Alva, use the volume knob, try it first with all of the eq flat (in their respective center detents) and adjust the volume then go from there.
hope all goes well.

 

[Alvabass]

Well, I've just came from the recording session and I have very good news: The guy who recorded me on Sunday is actually the second in charge at the studio, but he has done many recordings with no problems (and he's a bass player, BTW, and has a Fender Urge I

). Tonight, he wasn't there but instead the owner of the studio recorded me this time. No problems! Everything went really fine and this guy proved to be a very knowledgeable and nice recording engineer. He knew about the situation and we spent some time trying to figure out what happened. This recording session was really pleasant. And with my Bongo at full volume with my preferred EQ settings! No clipping, no distortion... nothing! And with a fresh set of strings I put yesterday, it sounded glorious. I'm really happy. I will let you hear when finished. Thank you very much to all of you for your interest and valuable help. Hope I can return it.

 

[SteveB]

Alvabass,

I'm glad to hear that the problem was resolved by a different engineer. we knew the bongo was innocent! Can't wait to hear your recording!

 

[LeftyLB]

(This is merely a joke and only a joke. No offence is meant or should be taken; I have several friends who are engineers and are really nice, professionals and have pretty children. No animals were harmed in this satire though a cat did piss on my bedroom shoes. Thanks.)

It is not just me that is mad then?

Must be a lefty thing!!

 

[LeftyLB]

I Think I am learning something from this thread

Our band engineer (well keyboard player) is always telling me that the signal from the DI from my amp is really hot and he has to have me at minimum at the desk.

That is because I always have the volume of my SR4 set full on - I think I started doing this when I read that Tony Levin didn't want a volume knob on his custom 3 string because he only set it at max anyway - If it's good enough for God etc.

So, next gig, lets back off the volume, switch off the -14db cut on the amp and see what difference that makes. May mean I can control giving myself more juice as and when I need it for certain songs and then back off again without having to go through the keeper of the desk.

OK, just sharing my thoughts, not rocket science, sometimes you just forget the basics.

BTW, just back from 2 weeks vacation in the land of my fathers and wanted to pass on my best wishes and prayers for anyone that maybe caught up in the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe or maybe knows someone effected.