To record a bass DI, plug your bass into an instrument-level (Hi-Z) input on your interface or DI box, set the gain so the loudest notes peak well below clipping, and capture a clean, dry signal with no amp sim printed in. A clean DI is the most flexible bass recording you can make, because you can reamp, add an amp sim, or process it any way you like after the fact.
Here is how to get a strong, usable bass DI at home.
Use the right input
A bass guitar’s pickups output a high-impedance signal that needs an instrument-level input. On most interfaces this is the front-panel input switched to instrument or Hi-Z mode, found on units like the Focusrite Scarlett, Universal Audio Volt, Audient iD or IK Multimedia AXE I/O. Plugging straight into a line input or a mic input with an XLR adapter will give you a weak, thin, lifeless tone. If you want the cleanest possible front end, a dedicated DI box feeding the interface also works well; see the best DI boxes for guitar.
Set your gain properly
Bass has a wide dynamic range, and the initial transient of a hard-plucked or slapped note is much louder than the sustain. Set your interface gain so even your hardest hits peak comfortably below 0 dBFS, leaving healthy headroom. Aiming for peaks somewhere around -10 to -6 dBFS is a safe target. Clipping the input on bass is unrecoverable, so err on the conservative side. Our guide to gain staging covers this in detail.
Capture it dry
The whole point of a DI is flexibility, so record the dry, unprocessed signal. Do not print an amp sim or heavy compression onto the recorded track. You can absolutely monitor through an amp sim while you play so it feels inspiring, but make sure what gets recorded is the clean DI. That way you keep every option open in the mix.
Play clean at the source
A clean DI starts with clean playing. Fresh strings, consistent plucking dynamics, and muting unused strings to kill noise all matter more than any plug-in. Watch for fret buzz and uneven note volumes, since those problems are hard to fix later. Take a moment to set your action and intonation if notes ring out unevenly.
Decide on amp sim or DI tone
Once you have a clean DI, you can shape it however the song needs. Many records use a blend of the clean DI for definition and string clarity plus an amp sim for grind and body. Bass amp sims like Neural DSP Parallax and Darkglass, IK Multimedia Amplitube SVX, Positive Grid Bias and Mark Studio give you convincing amp tones from that DI. Our guide to how to get a good bass tone and the rundown of the best bass amp sims cover the options. You can even reamp the DI through real hardware later.
Mix the recorded bass
With a clean DI captured, the rest is mixing. Bass usually wants gentle compression to even out the dynamics, careful EQ to lock it with the kick, and sometimes light saturation so it translates on small speakers. Our walkthrough on how to mix bass guitar takes it from here.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a DI box to record bass, or just my interface?
For most home setups, the instrument input on your interface is fine. A dedicated DI box can give a slightly cleaner, lower-noise signal and more headroom, but plugging straight into the Hi-Z input on a Focusrite Scarlett or similar works well for the majority of recordings.
Should I record bass with an amp sim already on it?
No. Record the dry DI and add the amp sim afterward. You can monitor through a sim while playing for inspiration, but keeping the recorded track clean lets you reshape or reamp the tone later without redoing the take.
What level should I record a bass DI at?
Leave plenty of headroom. Set the gain so your loudest plucks or slaps peak around -10 to -6 dBFS. Bass transients are bigger than they sound, and clipping the input is unrecoverable, so record conservatively.
