Why am I using this sound again?!

[charic]

I just had a moment (I'm recording in my studio for my band) where I was listening to the bass in isolation and thought... Why the hell am I using this sound again?!

It sounded dirty, gritty and full of bass...

Then I turned on the other tracks... Instant smile on face moment.... That's why!

God I love the tubetone on the RH450! But DI'd and in isolation when you're listening back it makes you wonder until the other tracks are going too

[discreet]

Yes, has been said often that the bass in isolation sounds nothing like the bass 'in concert'.
Which is why it's pointless trying to get a decent sound out of context, live or recording.

[musophilr]

That principle is also true of guitar sounds. EQ them till they sit nicely in the mix and they're terrible when solo'd. Similarly you dial in what you think is a good guitar sound but when it's in the mix it tries to splat over everything else. Other threads have mentioned the bottom end of a "good rock guitar sound" bleeding all over bass territory at gigs.

[JTUK]

I always try and get my sound to be very pleasing to my ears in isolation... I can't stand it sounding crap and hoping everything else will make it either acceptable or cover it up ha ha !!

[charic]

Have just cranked my speakers, sounds a fair bit better now

Still knowing it sounds great in the mix is the most important thing