I think the technique of "ducking" works well and I've read many use it for bass drum and bass.
I've never done it but plan on learning how. Have read about it numerous times, just never tried.


I really don't have panning rules to offer...I pan to preference for my taste.

ORIGINAL: jamesg1213

Spot-on Dave. I find that bass can work OK anywhere between 10% L - 10% R. After all, the bass player doesn't usually stand right in front of the kick drum!

James, that sums up perfectly why I like to pan the bass just a little. I try to envision where the bass player might stand in relation to the other instruments.

For guitar: no set rule. It depends on the tune, the style of music, clean/distorted,etc. I might pan 10% or 90% as the situation warrants

I've only recently learned the use of a HPF, I've tried it at 80 Hz, maybe I'll try Dave's suggestion to go lower

ORIGINAL: montezuma

I can never get a bass track to work in anything because I have to use synth bass and I can never get the synth to tune up perfectly to my acoustic guitar, so it always sounds weird. Plus, I find making up bass parts really hard...they always seem to intrude on the song and clutter the hell out of it.

I know what you mean. Tune your guitar to the synth.

It's painfully easy (for me) to over play the bass. It's so damn tempting! anyhooo, just lay down a bass line and then listen to it from beginning to end and you'll hear what should come out and what should stay.
Start from there and just keep it torturously simple (wish i could!)....listen, tweek, play, listen, tweek....

It's my favorite instrument because it determines the whole harmonic direction (or lack of) of the song and it's where you can really shift the listeners expectations and take them into new territory without any dramatic change in melody.

Try as I might, I just cannot play decent bass-lines. Thanks goodness for the generosity of Ed McG.

I have a question......... When setting recording levels for bass or guitar, What is the proper level I should shoot for. I have been staying in the -12db peak zone on the meter. Is that a good level to work with?

I record everythnig in 24bit and i try to shoot for a peak of -6db to -3db.
-12db is good if your recoridng at 24bits. I like my signal as hot as possible.
Cj

So your close to peaking?

As long as you dont peak, your ok. so being close to peaking doesnt hurt, it can only help
Cj

Would that go for the final mix to or from the master bus as well? such as the level I would export to burn to a cd?

It goes for everythnig. You cant clip at any stage.
Cj