Signal Chain, -what goes where?

[mcmd]

Normally, I mike the guitar amp for recording, but late at night it has to be Direct recording.

I have an amp with a Recording Output and a Loop Send/Return and an external pre-amp/compressor (JM VC3Q).

So, what should be my signal chain?

1) Guitar -->amp-->record out-->JM-->soundcard?

2) Guitar-->JM-->amp-->record out-->soundcard?

3) Guitar-->amp-->Loop send-->JM-->loop return-->record out-->soundcard?

#1 is what I currently Do.

What should I be doing?

Thanks,

DJ

[Track Rat]

Going direct in? Doing crunchy, distorted guitar;
Guitar>amp record out>sound card.
Clean guitar;
Guitar>amp record out>Meek(maybe)>sound card.

[mcmd]

Track Rat, Thanks for the response.

I understand that when recording distorted/overdriven guitar that the signal *gets* compressed by the saturation.

My problem is more with getting a clean sound.

When just recording from the amp Record Out, I get a sound I like, but I can't control the dynamics, I get overload on my initial attack when plucking a cord or solo note. And yes, i think it's as much my style in playing ...so I turn down the gain and get a clean signal, ...but not very hot.

(When I view the waveform, there is a very sharp peak-short duration, 100% amplitude, and then it goes flat to 10% for the duration of the cord/note. So, I am not clipping the whole cord, just the initial attack!)

What seems to work for the dynamics is; guitar-->Compressor-->soundcard, but the sound is D-R-Y and not interesting.

When I put the guitar-->amp-->record out--> compressor-->soundcard, --I can't tame the dynamics . So, how can I use the amp AND compressor, for the sound and dynamics control that I know are there?

Frustrating...as I have about 25 *songs/ideas* recorded and I can't seem to ever get this right.

Thanks,

DJ

[sonnylarsen]

I've used this in the past for direct ins

guitar -->compressor --> amp --> computer

and it worked pretty well.