Just bought a Bass Pod XT

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:47 am

I am really hoping that I can dial in a couple of settings that will work for recording direct from the POD into the board. That's my hope. If I can get that set up and locked in beforehand, that's one less thing to worry about. No time flies like Studio Time.

I will be doing a lot of prep work in the basement, including A/B taste testing of recorded tones on my little 4-track digital recorder, between the POD direct, amp miked, both blended, etc. If I come up with anything interesting, I will post it here.

Also, like Kevin, just having the compressor alone is probably going to be a big benefit. Time to experiment.....

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:40 pm

Harry, that is exactly why when I want to hear the real deal I put on an LP, haha! Analog all the way, baby!
Jeff is opinionated, I just know everything that's all.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:20 pm

Oh yeah Jeffrey I forgot the cord, very important piece of equipment, don't leave home without one!
I think Steve Howe or whatever his name is double tracked that guitar part on Roundabout.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 5:06 pm

A good way to record your bass is to run 3 signals ... send one dry direct, have one from a miked cabinet and one from a bass pod or sans amp with distortion ... mix and eq them to get your final signal ... and I don't know everything ... but I know what I like when it comes to getting my bass sound ... and pretty much everybody who hears me play says I have a good bass sound ...

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 8:05 pm

Dean, in the manual for the guitar POD they talk about recording a direct (clean) signal, and then later putting that signal that has been recorded through the POD during mixdown. That way you can try different options - amps, cabs, eq - to see what works best with the mix as a whole. Like Jeff says, I would definitely record one track direct. A lot of times, the direct signal works fine, but then you have the added option of all the goodies the POD has to offer.

By the way, when's the recording session start? Sounds like fun - you'll have to post some results for us!

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:53 pm

Harry, I was reading the manual, and I think that mixdown in/out only works with the PODxt Pro Model, the rackspace one with all the extra in/out jacks and double the price. I just have the bean-shaped one.

I am going to do a lot of experimenting ahead of time. Jeff, that 3 input idea is great, I was kinda thinking about that one in the car today too. Last time we recorded, we only used 17 tracks I think, out of 32 available in the studio. We have an additional female singer now, plus a 12-string rhythm guitar and more percussion, but I doubt if we will use all 32, so I should have room to spread out, that shouldn't be a problem. I just wanna make sure I am automatic to go with all settings, setups, and ideas ahead of time.

As far as schedule, we have been targeting Fall 2005 for a while now. We will go set up camp and knock everything out in a long weekend (we tend to work fast when the meter is running). We want to have 20 songs written/finished/fully in-the-can prepared before we head up (so we can choose the best dozen or so to record), and we have 8 in that status and another half dozen in partial completion, so it is still a work in progress. Very exciting time; the first CD only made it more of a goal for the second. We aren't signed, so we are doing a total Do It Yourself, like the first CD. We turned a modest profit on the first one just selling them at shows, so hopefully we can match or beat that success again. I will post here at times on our progress if y'all find that interesting.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:07 pm

After reading this thread, I have to remind myself about what a pain I found that a Bass Pod was to learn how to use, so I don't get GAS for one. LOL

pma · Post by **pma** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:59 am

Joey,

Even if hard to learn, this thread actually convinced me to buy one and see what it can do (assuming I can manage it!).

Regards,

Paul

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:06 am

I used to own a Bass Pod (1st release) for one year. Except the Eden simulation which I found great, I was not impressed at all and finally sold it.
Instead, gimme a SansAmp Bass Driver or RBI any day.
JL

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:28 am

I had my first good block of free time last night to sit down with my new POD and kick the tires some. It IS very complex, lots of options. I like the way the users manual is laid out, and I like the general format. Unfortunately, I had left my good headphones at the office - I am most interested in the direct recording options and was going to log some time that way. Plugging in through the PA I found some interesting tones. I have a lot more to learn on it, though. I can see why some got rid of them, but I think with some time I can get it working. I never even got to the point of putting it in front of my bass amp yet, will do that tonight.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 2:09 pm

Funny you should say that Jean, A Sansamp Bass Driver DI was one of the items I exchanged my Bass Pod for after having the Bass Pod for less than a week.
A Sansamp Bass Driver DI gives you awesome tone with minimal fuss.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:27 pm

I have the sans amp ... it is cool ... but it has no compression and it can get boomy and harsh ... it does have an aggressive tone ... but for me the pod is better ...

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:24 pm

Well, that's apples and oranges.
The Bass Pod never gave me the distorsion I love, while the SABDDI gave it to me in seconds, just using the drive and blend knobs.
I also have a Johnson J-Station. The SVT emulation sounds nice with a Rick. And the SWR simulation is more than decent, at least for those who like this kind of thin tones.
Cheers,
JL

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 10:59 am

For compression, the Tech 21 Basscompactor is a perfect compressor to use with their Sansamp BDDI.

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:15 am

Tech 21 make wonderful products. Even Geddy Lee switched to an RBI (rackmount version of the BDDI). I personally dream of a rig made of an RBI + a Yamaha P2500S power amp + an Ampeg SVT-410HLF cab.
Three killer elements in one rig, and not that expensive.
Cheers,
JL