Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: pclifton2004 on August 23, 2011, 01:23:51 AM
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Anyone plug their bass straight into their computer? I only have USB or firewire inputs - what is the best way of 'hooking up' or will I never get reasonable quality?
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I used to use this thing called a Gio made by Apogee. It works really well, actually. It's listed at $400 on the apple website (that's where I bought mine). I had a lot of fun with it, though. I'd say it's well worth the money. Simple to use and it works through any USB port. You can use all the effects Garageband has, and kind of make up some of your own. I used it as an effects pedal for a few gigs with my laptop (and a bass).
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I use an older Protools TDM system with a direct box . If your computer has PCI slots a high end PCI sound card with a direct box in the signal chain will result in a quality recording . If you only have Fire Wire or USB then i suggest going with a firewire interface rather then USB . You can snag an Apogee DUET used or perhaps a Presonus FIREBOX or a Motu TRAVELER MK3 used . The Motu has 8 inputs . Make sure that you use a direct box (DI) in the signal chain . I like a Passive unit such as a Proco DB-1 .Don't get the cheapest model DI that you can find if you get the DI new.
Sonic Regards !
(Message edited by sonicus on August 23, 2011)
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yeah if you're running pro tools, don't use a gio. because that's something entirely different. if you're just running garageband, di's are pretty unnecessary.
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Garage Band will NOT correct a hardware impedance mismatch !
Use a DI for the optimum results !
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I use a Line 6 POD studio GX (http://line6.com/podstudiogx/ target=_blank) when recording with my Laptop (not Mac, but I think it works for Mac as well)
Love it, no latency and decent sound (some amp simulations for bass and lots of effects)
Tried it live once, that was no succes... :-)
Distorted (Ampeg) sound and clean with chorus sound: Youtube link (http://www.youtube.com/user/DamagedJusticeNLD#p/a/u/1/xjP-5sf0kAw target=_blank) and screenshots of settings used in vid (http://painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/elansoundspodstudio.htm target=_blank)
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I have the Line6 UX1 (http://line6.com/podstudioux1/ target=_blank) that I made some test recordings with (links in my post #2732 on this thread (http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/93147.html?1294356464 target=_blank)). You're hearing the dry signal out of the POD, into the standard Windows sound recorder.
From the standard line-up of amps available in that smart little box my favourite is the Marshall Super Lead head, especially for bass - and I'm not even trying to sound like Herman Deinum!
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The simple fix for your situation is a DI of some sort with a USB interface. Like this thing (http://www.amazon.com/Line-GearBox-Toneport-Recording-Interface/dp/B000JKRG5S).
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yeah, that's exactly what the Gio is. just sayin'.
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I dig.
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Zoom B1u..comes with Cubase LE, straight into PC via USB, although being an idiot on recording processes I haven't got around to using it.
I find recording a pain as I get sick of listening to the same stuff I recorded, prefer to play live, in one band we were doing a demo and I just told our guitarist(who was a whizz kid on recording) to put midi bass lines on, it was just to get gigs..I mean who listens to the bass player??
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I realize how the GIO is marketed for consumers to interface into Apple's Garage Band however the question was what is the BEST way and my personnel opinion reflects my previous posts in this thread in order to obtain maximum performance and resolution . Garage Band being designed mainly as a consumer friendly DAW software has been vastly improved over the years so if you use really good hardware it can actually sound decent and that is where I was coming from so to speak.
Sonic Regards !
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F1-X sounds very good plugged into my PC interface (M-Audio profire)
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Yes, I think the DI on FI-X and rare IN-2 work really well .
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Thanks guys! On the lookout for a used Apogee Duet ;)
(Message edited by pclifton2004 on August 24, 2011)
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M-Audio Fast Track is a great and inexpensive solution. It can take either 1/4 or XLR, so you can go straight in or use the F-1X. Sounds great, no latency, works with USB, $92 on Amazon.
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pclifton2004______I think the Apogee Duet is a good HIGH QUALITY choice . Many critical EARS think that it has excellent sounding converters , perhaps the best in it's class. I would prefer the firewire over USB interface as well for your application.
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I agree about the Apogee. Great sound, great ease of use.
R.
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I had the M-Audio Fast Track which comes with Pro Tools SE, & it sounded amazing just plugging my SCSD straight into the interface with no EQ on the recording. It's a great deal for around $100. I took it back because the interface quit working after I did some Windows updates on Windows 7 & I guess Avid wasn't up on the latest updates. Now I have a Presonus Audiobox USB & Pro Tools 9. I had to get a direct box for the interface because my Alembic was clipping on it with the gain turned all the way down, but it sounds amazing now!
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Apogee Jam? Too limited? The dinky size and price point appeal, but will it be the same quality as the other Apogee interfaces?
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NO the specs are 24 BIt /44.1 khz on the Jam.
on the DUET firewire they are 24Bit / 96khz
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/apogee-duet-firewire-interface#used (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/apogee-duet-firewire-interface#used)