Record Bass To Your iPhone The Easy Way (Plus It’s Cheap-As-Chips)

►► FREE: Get the tabs, notation and practice tracks for all the bass lines in this lesson → becomeabassist.com/blues-bass...
Do you think the tone when I record to the phone is any different to all my other videos when I record to my laptop? Is it better? Worse? Somewhere in between? Let me know in the comments.
Right now though, let’s talk about how to record bass to your iPhone.
A few months ago, I published a video about how to make your own professional bass recordings on the cheap. You can find that video here:
becomeabassist.com/record-you...
One of the most common responses I got back when I sent that video out went along the lines of:
“What if you don’t have a computer? Can I record bass to my iPhone instead?”
Absolutely, you can! And provided you already have a smartphone, this is even cheaper than recording to your computer. You only need one tiny extra piece of equipment that’s super affordable.
I picked my phone/bass interface up for 60 Australian dollars, but I just checked on U.S. Amazon and they were 40USD. There’s even a basic version you can get for less than $10 - and it sounds just as good as when I record to my computer. At least, that’s what I think.
In fact, try something for me. Watch the video and see if there’s any difference in the tone of my bass when recording to my phone vs. all the other videos when the signal is being recorded to my laptop. To me, it sounds just as good, but you may notice a difference in tone I missed.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Now I used my iPhone for this video, but if you use an Android-based phone, the principles are exactly the same. In fact, you can even use the same gear, although you’d have to use a different recording app if you’re using Android.
As far as what to record when you get to that stage, you’ve got heaps of options. You can try some beginner bass lines:
• 5 Beginner Bass Lines ...
• 5 MORE Beginner Bass L...
Or you could try creating some Bass Lines From Scratch:
• How To Write A Basslin...
If you’re a total beginner and need to know the absolute basics of bass playing before you start recording, then check out the Become A Bassist Beginner’s Starter Pack. It’s some of my best material for beginners, carefully curated to make sure you get the most out of your bass.
You’ll discover the three main areas to focus on to skyrocket your bass playing abilities, plus the all-important order to learn them in. It’s all 100% free as well. Just go here:
becomeabassist.com/bab-beginn...
Fill out the form on that page and I’ll send it all straight to you. Like I said - 100% free and 100% awesome.
Good luck with the lesson and happy recording!
Cheers,
Luke

[@thomasfioriglio]

Thanks Luke! Just got my iRig 2 today. Cheap as chips it was. Super easy to start recording. Your video was super easy to follow and get recording. Now to work on my groove!

[@alixramos3589]

The most helpful video Ive seen on how to connect bass guitar on my iphone. Thanks. Stay safe.

[@caryheuchert]

Thanks, Luke! Great video and lesson. Keep up the good work😊

[@BecomeABassist]

Thanks so much @Cary Heuchert! Will do!

[@musicfromthegreatbeyond2024]

Just saw this. Amazing. A few months ago Tom Whitworth asked about recording bass over a song, and you said that if you had an mp3 or wav file on your phone, you could do it w/Garageband. Can you do a separate video detailing this process? It's seems like a fast, super-simple way to add a bassline to a new song. Thank you!

[@MikeF031]

Super helpful. Thank you!

[@TarnishedNation]

Super helpful, I couldn’t figure out the monitor thanks so much!

[@merplight]

'Slim-thick sound', lol. This wast simple, to the point and extremely helpful. Thank you Luke

[@Khakable]

Thank you for sharing and reviews

[@jakejake2095]

this was very helpful m8

[@ianmackenzie686]

Excellent, thank you!

[@s.a.n4i.k634]

Thanks!Will try it definitely)

[@gabehinman6917]

You are awesome bro thank you for sharing this

[@TheFayka69]

thank you luke this video help me a lot

[@DrumTeacherManila]

this is super helpful

[@DanielLizzama]

I didn't know that. Great Video

[@Studio1215]

I thought the recording was decent enough to use for practice, learning a new tune, or just noodling around on a rainy afternoon especially for the total amount of investment you have in the rig. It's ironic, I just am starting to do some recording to compare tones and have been struggling with an audio recorder and external microphone. Needless to say, it's been a pain, but this idea of using my iPhone is a good one. Thanks, Luke for reading my mind!

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Wow!!! Super cool!!

[@groovyshades8055]

Good stuff Luke I was told that the I rig did not wok well for bass.

[@grizelda4526]

Great info! Thank you

[@BecomeABassist]

No worries @Grizelda - glad you like it!

[@ivanjeremiah921]

Thanks Luke!

[@cynthiaarmstrong7972]

Thank you!

[@markwigand1433]

thank you so much🙏🙏

[@BigGuyPrime]

Thank you for this video my brother…

[@niallsbasstones9713]

Hey from Dublin. This is really cool. But, could I use this to record a Video (play along to a backing track) and then I would have great Audio & Video

[@RichardHaleShaw]

Really nice. Can you add how to do the same but record video of yourself playing again using the iPhone? So: record bass input against a track of your choice mixed with video of yourself playing? What's involved, do we need add'l equipment, etc?

[@BigDro1323]

Question, my dude. Could I use the same concept to record onto izotope spire? I realize Izotope has its own interface or whatever, but that suckers pretty expensive 😂😂😂 I guess what I’m asking is, will it work with any daw?

[@mariusgaarde2309]

Can you send the link to that plugin thing? on your website it was a link to a diffrent one.

[@BlackuLaLa]

Have you tried newer models of the irig? How can you play through it to your amp?

[@ericdelrio4614]

Can you upload the stems from garageband to logic to edit them??

[@HenryRiosD]

Hi, bro. How do you make GarageBand or any other application not to pick up the sound of the in-built mic when using FX? I don't know if i have problem with the doggle.

[@dogncat]

Can someone help me what accesories I need to use to connect my ipadpro 2020 to irig 2 and my bass guitar?

[@trrevino]

is there any way to put my own audio to play along to, like to cover songs ?

[@aJ-4T7]

Luke your vids are awesome. Im from Melbourne, do you play in any band? Would like to watch you live.

[@BecomeABassist]

I do! I play a ton around Brisbane just as a freelance - doing corporate gigs, a bunch of jazz stuff as well as working with a few originals projects. I haven't got any gigs in the calendar in Melbourne at the moment though. Thanks so much for checking out the videos too - I really appreciate it.

[@TheScepticalThinker]

Can you use irig 2 with android phones too? And what app is similar to GarageBand?

[@guthriegovan4878]

i have a bass amp and bass guitar and i accompanied a song can i use this?

[@brianwilson7928]

If you duplicate the bass track can you mix-in a dirty signal to get some clanky tone?

[@emmanuelsabado6580]

Luke where can i find the song in 6:05

[@squidy2302]

What if i have a specific tone on my amp, is there not a way i can use my amp to play while recording?

[@PotatoSeeds2.0]

Is there a way to do it on an Android tablet? Maybe an online amp?

[@user-qd2vf4ws5s]

Question my one keeps recording from the microphone on my phone and my settings don’t have monitor

[@adityarao5721]

@Luke - Thank you for this. Just a question - We can import and export track from garage band right? Meaning, import a song (that you want to learn and cover) and export it after playing bass over it? Also your bass tone sounds great, Can we get that just by tweaking the amps in garage band? or do we have to invest in plugins/VSTs? Im new to recording please help me out here.

[@BecomeABassist]

Yeah - you could totally do that. Just create a 'track' in Garageband and dump your song there, create a separate track to record your bass on, record and then export the finished product. And I didn't use anything 'extra' in this video to get the tone - just plugged my bass in and that was it. No extra plugins or VSTs or anything like that. I'm sure you could if you wanted, but it's not essential.

[@Joselrs5]

I use to use spotify to play a song and record to GarageBand but I’m trying not to record the song in the background because it’s recorded and you can hear it in a lower volume

[@popitn2nd]

Can i use this to make bass cover with youtube content?

[@noldmarsumiwan647]

Is it possible if u use iRig on vivo phones?

[@slayfn5250]

How do i record myself while i play and while i record the bass ?

[@alitantara]

what iphone does work for irig1? because i use my phonex doesnt work 😢 any clue??

[@adityaarafian2751]

But if i didn't plug in the headphone onto the irig. Is it affect to my bass sound?

[@ricardo-yz6vr]

what's the name of the app for an android?

[@endymohamednoor1650]

can i playalong to a song via this set up?

[@hamkaab3634]

I’m still using the older iRig1 for this... want to save & buy iRig HD

[@markwinckley6374]

Does it work with an iphone Xs?

[@yaffa3062]

I can’t seem to get a signal to GarageBand. I’m not sure what to do

[@ranggasanefa6205]

bro, I'm using this application but my black voice isn't playing but I can hear my voice. Is there a solution?

[@drkangel1134]

But can you create a video bass cover with i-rig

[@vladajeremic2102]

Is it possible to use it with Android?

[@sunnysubhadeepsaha1034]

Thanks for the Great info....but i have a q..how can i make a cover video on android???have any idea???

[@BecomeABassist]

As far as I know @sunny Subhadeep Saha, you can use the same kind of iRig and just search around for an app that's like Garageband for Android. I'm sure they're around. If anyone reading this has ideas, help sunny out by giving some options for Android DAWs.

[@Brewer1969]

I’m using the Irig2 with an USB C adapter to an IPad. I can’t hear the monitor no matter what I do, although sound does record (and it works though my Mac). Anyone know a solution?

[@nhel2387]

what app is that?

[@miska.1912]

Yo Luke, I appreciate the tutorial and tips. However, why is it that I hear feedback when I plug in my bass? I’m using Amplitube and Toneridge. Maybe I should try GarageBand? I tried it on my newer bass, and other cables, but it’s the same ear piercing feedback. It’s never happened on my electric guitars.

[@S.O.BProd.]

Have you tired turning the gain down on in IRig itself?

[@JJ-bm2jj]

WoW. Thats KooL. Will the original irig work???

[@BecomeABassist]

As far as I know @Jarrett James - I don't see why not. And they're less than 10 US dollars on Amazon right now.

[@gean2377]

Is it working on irig 1?

[@Jakewilley101]

Why is my iphone not even connecting my instrument? It only records the sound piced up from the phones mic.

[@ejjjjwin9779]

Does it pick up bass signal through the camera or does it only work with GarageBand ?

[@aaronjamesbarretto4149]

It does but you're unable to use effects.

[@joshpohlner8716]

What would you recommend for recording on your computer? I want to be able to record stuff that sounds better than just whacking my phone next to my amp, but I don't have any of the extra things I would need, like a DI box, or a DAW and whatnot. Any tips or recommendations would be a huge help. Also any amp sims would be a great help as I just use a guitar amp.

[@Al69BfR]

You perhaps can use a cheap passive DI-box (10 bucks) and/or some TS to mini TS adapter (or TRS) for your microphone input on your computer. You can use the free app Audacity to record. Within you can use any free VST amp sim plugin. I don‘t think that will cost you a fortune. 😊 I’ve just seen a cable that acts as an TS to USB audio interface for 12.50€.

[@joshpohlner8716]

@@Al69BfR thanks for the advice. I've looked up some DI boxes and they all seem to have XLR outputs, are there any converters from XLR to something I can plug into my computer?

[@BecomeABassist]

I actually have a video all about that @Josh Pohlner: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZCcea1qadtmmLM TLDR: Use a cheap USB interface rather than a DI. It's less hassle for virtually the same result. For a free DAW, I recommend Garageband if you're on Mac (tons of virtual amps built in) or Pro Tools First if you're on PC.

[@mohamedbenhari2294]

Cant find the app garage band

[@Joselrs5]

Hey what if I want to play a song in the background from spotify but I don’t want the song to be recorded in the background track from GarageBand

[@xMateox-]

I usually screen record with spotify

[@dangimalRXD]

Do you think you’re gonna do a follow up to this video about mixing and/or editing tracks?

[@BecomeABassist]

Probably not @dan grayson - it’s straying a bit far from the core purpose of Become A Bassist and to be honest, I’m not the absolute best person to teach that stuff. There are plenty of other resources you can check out on KZbin for that stuff though.

[@dangimalRXD]

I get it, Luke! I know there’s a ton of irig tutorials out there but I liked the idea of a bass specific one. And I dig the way you teach. Thanks for all the content man!

[@BecomeABassist]

No worries at all Dan. Glad you like it!

[@reggaebass1857]

Quick question, at 3.42 the option for monitor doesn’t come up on my app , either on an iPad or iPhone , so I can’t hear myself when I play over something , any ideas, thanks 🙏

[@user-qd2vf4ws5s]

I have the same problem

[@reggaebass1857]

@@user-qd2vf4ws5s hi I I sorted my one, you must be powered up and connected to your interface, for the option to come up , I also unplugged and plugged it back in a few times and it worked 🙂

[@mazig8]

It looks easy enough to simply record directly with the input from the bass, but can you record audio AND video in the camera app? I'm looking to buy this to make Instagram videos with but I don't want to buy it and find out I cant record both video and audio in real time

[@BecomeABassist]

That's a good question, although I'm afraid I can't give you an answer on that - I've never tried it. Have you tried reaching out to some bassists on Instagram itself and asking about how they do it? I'm kind of curious as well now.

[@mazig8]

@@BecomeABassist I went to my local guitar center and picked one up to give it a shot. It definitely records straight through the camera app, but for some reason it was incredibly quiet even on full volume. I had to hold the phone up to my ear when playing the video back lol. Recording through garageband or amplitube where you have the ability to set the recording input volume seemed to work fine. If only apple had a section in the normal settings app to dial in the exact input volume for videos, something like that would probably solve my issue!

[@nikosw254]

You can Use i Ring only With i Phone?or With another Smartphone or Tablet too?

[@ricardo-yz6vr]

yes you can

[@themagicalspoon5789]

Android users be like: 'Sad B A S S noises'

[@ricardo-yz6vr]

what's the name of the app for an android?

[@jakejake2095]

@Bseries .mp4 *sad android beeps*

[@RockNRolisss]

99% of iphone users dont use this.

[@AceRave]

@@RockNRolisss You're forgetting the amount of people who messed with garageband while bored in school

[@RockNRolisss]

@@AceRave yeah. I'm talking about connecting a bass guitar to your phone.

[@leodubert7060]

Hi @luke I tried this but Garage band is taking the sound from the phone as an input instead of from the guitare. Do you know how to change input settings ? Thanks a lot !!

[@yamahatrbx5053]

I am facing the same issue.. how did you fix yours? Any updates? Some where i read one has to use a headphone/ earphone without integrated mic.

[@leodubert7060]

@@yamahatrbx5053 I gave up :/

[@yamahatrbx5053]

@@leodubert7060 Oh you returned the iRig 2? I just received mine 2 days back. I have just sent IK multimedia an email and raised a ticket. Let's hope they fix it. The headphone out is picking up breathing noise, foot tapping, ceiling fan sound, people talking in other rooms, I am not getting to hear crisp clear bass tone as Luke is having here. I think my headphone has a mic in its wires. That may be causing something. Secondly, the Bluetooth of iPhone gets turned on otherwise the lightning to 3.5mm connector won;t work. Strange as it gets this connector is Bluetooth dependent god knows why. Had i known this I would have spent on M-Audio M Track Duo. Absolutely feeling bad.

[@MiggsFigs]

Can you record for more than 8 seconds at a time? Or can you just do that and have to loop it over and over?

[@Joselrs5]

Yes you can. You just have to clic in the plus icon and set the bar in automatic instead of 8 bars

[@Al69BfR]

When I got Garage Band I had to pay 3.99€. 😉 But that hasn‘t destroyed my budget.

[@BecomeABassist]

Haha! Good to know!

[@trail_rider.7118]

Why when I do this, I could hear my self talking and everything🤔, idk if I doing something wrong or……

[@MichaelHsieh1]

Running into the same issue

[@yamahatrbx5053]

Same issue man... 😭😭😭 Totally gutted... The signal is picking up from phoen not from guitar

[@NOVATokyoNova]

@@yamahatrbx5053 have you found a fix for this?

[@grantscorpionhiba2151]

Is there a fix?

[@anthonycook4297]

With the I RIG If another artist/musician sends you a MP3 track,say vocals and guitar or piano and vocals, etc. Can you record your bass over the track sent and pass it on back to sender with bass track added?

[@fbsanrs]

What can i do to make the sound louder? im using irig hd2 + garageband (mac) and earphones. i think the volume i got is too low. (ibanez active bass, for instance).

[@jogoeswest]

Same issue, I can’t hear my Ibanez bass thru the headphones

[@jogoeswest]

With Irig2, GarageBand on IPhone

[@tomwhitworthphoto]

Great vid! Can you record bass playing over a song? Like to do a bass cover with the actual song playing in the background, and your bass playing over the top? Any response would be greatly appreciated!

[@BecomeABassist]

I think so @Tom Whitworth. If you have a copy of the song (as an .mp3 or .wav file) on your phone, you should be able to drop it into Garageband as it's own track, then record your bass as a separate track.

[@tomwhitworthphoto]

@@BecomeABassist Thanks for your reply. I’ve just ordered one for hopefully this purpose. Thanks!

[@tomwhitworthphoto]

@@BecomeABassist I managed to do this. Thanks. Here’s my vid! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqvNi2Zto5mng80

[@eishazulfiqar3412]

I cant hear my guitar even after monitoring ;-; what am i doing wrong

[@jasonbryant.bassguitarplay3641]

Luke is this available for I phone only??

[@BecomeABassist]

I think the iRig will work with an Android device, but as far as I know, Garageband is only available on iOS. I did a quick search though and it looks like there are plenty of viable Android alternatives. Check this out: beebom.com/garageband-alternatives-android/

[@jasonbryant.bassguitarplay3641]

@@BecomeABassist thanks man ...you the best. . Big fan of yours but I'm in the caveman times with recording equipment. Cassettes and dual players that are junk. But I'm having a blast.

[@prodbykbeats]

Does this work for recording videos as well? (So the videos have bass too)

[@BecomeABassist]

Absolutely - the bass you're hearing in this video was recorded on my phone. Is that what you mean?

[@prodbykbeats]

@@BecomeABassist i mean if i record a video song in the car with my phone for example, will it record the bass too?

[@kevinlobovsky1105]

HELP PLEASE! I connected everything, but Monitor just grab the iPhone’s mic and not the bass I plugged to iRig1. Anybody know how to fix that???

[@elbacacha]

Kevin Lobovsky same problem here

[@yamahatrbx5053]

Yo.. i am having the same issue... How did you fix it? Please help. Some where some one said to use headphones or earphones without any integrated mic

[@neilvenpatena5197]

I think mine just broked. I can hear the sound from the phone using the headphone. But I could not hear the guitar anymore. 1 second it was there, next no more. Any ideas for a fix? Thanks

[@chromebasher2712]

WOW AMAZING VIDEO. NOW ALL I NEED IS AN IPHONE. *SAD BASSIST NOISES*

[@RettaTheRipper]

How would you set it up if you wanted to play along with an MP3 song, to make a bass cover?? I have yet to get a clear answer on this. I have the iRig 2 HD and an iphone, but I'm not sure what else I'd need to add a song to play with.

[@xMateox-]

Normally I would play the song from another app such as Spotify and screen record

[@RettaTheRipper]

@@xMateox- but once you hit record on your phone, the music stops playing. You can't play music and record with the camera app at the same time.

[@xMateox-]

Right but normally I have two devices, one to record with camera and another with the bass playing. I normally just sync the two afterwards on I movie

[@nicorosales6138]

How about the irig1?

[@BecomeABassist]

Sorry @Nico rosales - I don't have any experience with the irig1, just the irig2.

[@nicorosales6138]

thanks for the reply,love your vids

[@jamessmith-zk4co]

I don't have an iPhone.😔😔

[@asylumrain]

Is the irig bluetooth?

[@BecomeABassist]

As far as I know, it isn't. You actually have to plug it in to your phone/tablet.

[@izwanzaini145]

My irig not working with my iphone x..

[@Hotdogger808]

Great if you have an iPhone not so good if you have an android phone.....I dislike how so many cool devices are only made for IOS....the Android market is growing so hopefully we will see some gear for Android users come out soon.

[@rayjay3545]

Has an android

[@AbdullahSalehMuhammed]

chips are not 60$ worth

[@trentgrigsby333]

Slim thicc sound 🍑🎵

[@pxofpxof7782]

se oye bien feo

[@timblack1152]

You need to go to teaching school to learn how to explain things properly

[@BecomeABassist]

Care to be more specific?

[@thp8388]

Been to teaching school. It's over rated. You're good Luke.

[@JoinHerArmy]

Yeah?

[@BecomeABassist]

yeah

[@danielhonore265]

Can this be done on Android?