UA-1G - bass guitar

Does anyone have any experience with Cakewalk UA-1G? How does it work out as a bass recording tool? Would you recommend it to a bassist?
Thanks in advance for your reply.

From what you say I presume it will be fine for my bass as well. Just hope the latency is not too big.
And thanx for your reply!

zippsinc, thank you so much for your advice and opinion!

So I bought UA-1G and I have a problem. My bass recordings sound kind of muffled, dull and very quiet, no matter if I use Sonar LE, Audacity or GuitarRig. Some people have better sounding recordings using integrated soundcard. :P
What do I have to do to make it sound better? Please, help me, it's really important to me.
And here's the soundclip:
http://zwinny.wrzuta.pl/audio/9dBOh0D9g1D/probka

produkt


By the way - I recorded it at 44khz if it matters. ;)

I can't get anything on that site to play but the most important part of getting a good recorded sound is to use the input sensitivity knob to match up to your instrument's output. Make sure the guitar/mic switch is set to guitar, then turn the knob on top clockwise until you see the red light flash a little. If it is already flashing then turn the know counter/anti clockwise until it flashes just a little. Arm the Sonar track you want to record on and when you play your instrument, verify that you are recording in the -6db to -9db range. That should give you the best signal and recorded sound you will get with the UA-1G.

Moving the track slider will have no effect on the input signal. That can only be adjusted using the Input Level Knob on the top of the UA-1G.

Yes, the difference in tone is quite noticeable. I don't see how this can be attributed to the UA-1G, though, if the input sensitivity is properly adjusted, and even then I'm not sure a weak signal would have that kind of effect on the tone. How did you record the first example? Was it using the UA-1G?

Use whatever configuration gave you the sound in the first example. Whatever caused the loss of high frequencies in the second example was not due to the UA-1G. The first example demonstrates that.

You can run the preamp out of your amp to the UA-1G. It will color the tone because the signal has been processed by your amp's preamp. There is likely to be more noise in the signal. It will be a much hotter signal than the one directly from your bass so start with the Input Level knob at a low setting and gradually turn it up if you decide to try that.

Hi Produkt

Your UA-1G should work without your amp. I've just used mine with:

Fender Jazz Bass >>> UA-1G >>> PC USB. My tone was fine.

Can I ask what you did differently to get the improved tone in your second clip? Was it an input level problem as Chappel suspected? Also, does your bass sound like this whilst monitoring too?

I would trouble shoot with the manual if I was you. There are very tiny little switches recessed on the back of the UA-1G. Check your manual for them and make sure yours is set correctly to your intended 44Khz. The switches should be pointing downwards.

Also take a look at your ASIO panel and get familiar with it in case something isn't set correctly. However, I think Chappel's on the money with your input requiring to be set properly.

Post back and let us know how it goes.


Stewart

Thanks for posting the pics.

The settings look fine. Mines are almost identical except from a few Sonar edition-specific features.

The only thing I can think of is more troubleshooting. Like chappel said it's not likely to be an input level problem. We just need to figure out what's causing your tone issue. Chappel also mentioned the Guitar/Mic switch.

Are you using any ITB effects? EQ? Guitar Rig? etc... It's very easy to repeatedly look over everything and overlook a problem causing setting time and time again. Make sure your P-Bass pots are maxed out.

One thing at a time:

- Try a different guitar.
- Try several different cables from the guitar to the UA-1G.
- Try a different USB port.
- Try USB ports on a different PC/Laptop/MAC.

Not sure if this matters but it might. Do you use the USB port for anything else audio related which you've installed a driver for? I can't use my UA-1G with a Behringer UCG102 driver installed. My UA-1G just won't show up in Sonar. Therefore, there can be confilcts. Although, I have to say, I'm unsure if they can make your bass sound like it's under a duvet.

If any of the above don't work then I reckon you'll have to talk to Cakewalk Tech Support. They're nice folks who'll get you sorted in no time and establish what the issue may be.


Stewart

You should monitor your Bass directly from the USB and when playing back a track and recording your Bass at the same time,  DO NOT send the Bass track back to the USB from the Sonar track. The software can not record it and play it back at the same time.  It is impossible to do. In other words don't monitor your sound on sound source through the DAW during recording.