BossAreaForum

Well, I pulled the trigger on a Focusrite Scarlett Solo Gen 4.

Comes with Ableton Lite and a few plugins. Looking to setup a small recording unit here just for fun. I'd like to use the "instrument" input and amp/cab sims to minimise setup and setup time, but they all react pretty poorly to the use of my pedalboard and the learning curve has not been as fun as I thought.

Started with bass, and it seems like I cannot get any output (volume) without some clipping. Been using a pair of HS-5 monitors from Yahama bought second hand (and they clip a lot, cannot hear the bass also) and a pair of ATH-M50 headphones. What I hear is good in the phones, but sucks in the monitors. I liked the idea of being able to just plug the bass in my soundcard and play along music to practice on the same speaker/headphone.

Next thing I'm gonna try is using the balanced output of my Ampeg PF-350 instead of amp sims to see if I get better results but I am currently one XLR cable short of that possibility lol.

I've not tried guitar yet, maybe it's just a bass thing.

Can anyone share some experience they have with easy setups and maybe some good amp sims that will not cost me another fortune?

I don't really use plugins for amp sims but I did used to have AmpliTube on my phone some years back, which sounded pretty good.

The base set up is free and then you pay for additional amps/speakers/mics/pedals etc. It'll work inside your DAW. Probably worth try?

LINK

I currently use an EHX Battalion as my bass amp for recording. Far less options than with plugins but I just get on better with hardware.

Just dawned on me:

Do y'all think I should try the BB-1X DI out as an "amp"? Or is it not worth it, I need an amp?

Gasgano wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:40 pm

Just dawned on me:

Do y'all think I should try the BB-1X DI out as an "amp"? Or is it not worth it, I need an amp?

I'd try that for sure. I haven't used the BB1X DI out in a recording/studio situation, just once at band practice into the PA. Sounded great.

I have two setups with two laptops. One has a UA Apollo Twin that is Thunderbolt, the other a USB Sterling H224. The UA has really killer amp plug ins that load up, sound and react really favorably, but it also has an internal processor that takes a load off the laptop's processor.
The USB set up is more similar to your Scarlet, I tend to use this one more for personal practice and find that the amp sims in Garage Band work rather well. However, plugging in any of my external pedal preamps into a clean console channel works a touch better.

Speaking of UA, they are giving away a free download of their Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor plugin this weekend: LINK