Bass sound in Riffworks

[epauley]

I recently purchased the Bass Expansion Model Pack from Line6 for my GuitarPort. My bass guitar now sounds much better through GearBox but isn’t as crisp sounding in RiffWorks.

The tone is too muffled and individual notes are difficult to distinguish while recording with Riffworks. My bass is a Rickenbacker and, as everyone knows, is known for its treble response.

Does anyone care to speculate?

[scott]

Is this on every bass model pack?
Remember you have the ability to tweak the EQ on the amp models and generally play about with things.

Are you listening through headphones or external speakers? This may also affect how you are hearing things.

I am currently having similar experiences with vocals and it's trial and error to see what works. Just remember to save the tone file once you've found that elusive setting!

[mickeymix]

I was under the assumption that Bass X wasn't available for use with the GuitarPort. That could be part of the problem!
Bass X was one of the big reasons why I upgraded to the TonePort UX2.

[mickeymix]

Whoops .........never mind..... I just went to the line 6 site and see that thay must have changed that recently.

[epauley]

Scott: In fact, I haven’t been listening through headphones lately. Should headphone enable me to hear a truer sound during recording and therefore, adjust the sound better? I'll give it a try.

And yes, of course you’re correct; the tones can be tweaked. If seems puzzling, however, that there would be a different quality of sound between GearBox and RiffWorks. At least, it isn’t the case when I play my Strat through those applications.

MickeyMix: Yes, the bass pack for the GP is relatively new. Line6 doesn’t seem to be interested publicizing it must.

Thanks guys!

[scott]

epauley,

Like everything else there is a corrolation between quality and cost. Good headphones (we were discussing the merits of Sennheiser in another thread) and good sound quality are closely linked. The general rule is go with the most you can afford unless there's a particularly excellent product out there that bucks the trend - RiffWorks for example!!
Recording studios use speakers for playback - not headphones, as the ambient sound from rooms is a more natural form of feedback to the ears i.e. a truer sound. With headphones you get no resonance and a very artificial and distinct split between left and right. A good pair of monitors are a great investment!

It's strange that the bass models seem to be a problem and not the guitar ones!

[epauley]

Scott: Thanks again. I actually have good monitor speakers and prefer them over wearing even good headphones.

The most bothersome thing is mixing down a WAVE file and then listening to it through my ipod (which is running through a good sound system – not headphones). I usually have to go back several times and adjust volume levels in RiffWorks until satisfied. I eventually get there but it’s a roundabout way to achieve success.

An aside: I really dislike reading a contribution I’ve made (as above) and noticing typos after pushing the send button.

[scott]

I'd highly recommend at free piece of software called "Audacity" which will allow you to do lots of things to your mixdown that RiffWorks can't do. It will allow you to increase over all volume without clipping, up the bass, equalise, normalise, fade out, fade in etc.

[epauley]

I visited the site and downloaded the free Audacity software. It looks promising and might solve my equalizing issues.

As always – Thanks

Ed

[mickeymix]

Make sure you also download the LAME MP 3 encoder for Audacity as well ..... you will need it for the IPOD.
It's a separate download but it's there on the download page as well...........

[epauley]

Will do - thanks mickeymix! Listening to nomad radio.