Rimshot
After much experimenting, I have found that recording a direct bass in the following manner gives me the best resolution. Do you have any suggestions to improve upon this workflow?  

1. Bass guitar to direct box with 0 db pad.  

2. Direct box to Alesis MICTube Duo Stereo Preamp (sorry, it's all I own in a tube micpre).  

3. The Alesis MICTube is set to about 20% tube overdrive on it which seems to add a little warmth. 
I drive the output close to zero DB on the peaks.  

4. Alesis MICTube to Zoom R24 xlr in. The R24 is my DAW interface.  

5. R24 to an audio track. I drive the R24 at about 0 db on the peaks.  

6. I have setup an input EFX (so that they are recorded onto the t track) for:  
a. Gate  
b. Tuner  
c. Limiter (Limiter is set to -1 db threshold. 
I drive the limiter at about 8.4 db input level which slightly levels the peaks by about 4 db. 
I record the input level at -1 db which gives me a nice full waveform.  
d. On the mixer channel, I add an EQ and Low Cut at 60 hz and High Cut at 10K.  

I use an Ibanez Micro bass and play with my fingers.  

All in all, this setup works. 

How do you like to record direct bass?  

Thanks. 

Rimshot

 
cool,
 
i play on my demos 
i use an epiphone eb3 direct into an alesis four channel usb mixer also the guitar is using a fender mustang amp while the alesis drums are usb to my laptop
 
sonar X1 does such a great job of cranking out mp3's that i covered a buggles song: " clean clean " and got a gig at the Whiskey a Go Go.
 
www.myspace.com/rondonna

 
"Now here's the kicker....other times, as well as for myself, I get incredible results using a regular old charcoal colored, kidney bean Bass POD and I love it. "
 
-Danny

After I read Danny's entry I just had to chime in, even though the original post is a few weeks old.  These old Bass PODs are still a fantastic option for getting a quick ( and quite usable) recorded bass sound.   I also like to use the Eden WTDI when I want a more controlled slap tone.