The Home Recording Web Site this is taken from Shawn's home recording FAQ Bass is frequently recorded direct - meaning plug the cord straight into the board.
Some folks like to add a little compression to bass.
Another technique is to place a mic in front of the bass cabinet and record the sound of the amp, or to split the signal from the bass and record both direct and through the amp. Again, experiment to taste. A combination of both sounds can be very nice. You can't create sound in the mix that wasn't recorded in the first place. A bass track that sounds good when soloed is not appropriate for many mixes.