Is the problem in my recording technique?

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businessnotplea

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I have started recording my band, bass, drums, vocal, rhythm and lead guitar. I'm unimpressed with the results and dont think its all to do with my mixing technique.

I choose to use a tube preamp to record vocals (Through a condenser mic), the guitar and bass with the tube (Line out), then use guitar rig to treat them (As this has advantages). I've learned that double trackin guitar can be very useful and I wondered if micing the guitar amps would get me better results? A DI from the guitar amp and blend it in with the miced amp? A guy at a store once said you record with a amp and mic, like thats the only way. What are peoples views? Thanks.
 
businessnotplea said:
Sorry just realised its in the worng section
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No problem. I'll move it over for ya!!

Well, micing an amp is not the only way. Going DI from the amp could yield decent results and plenty of people have had good tracks from Guitar Rig. But there's much more to getting a good mix than just what is mic'd or what preamp you're using.

No one is going to be able to help without more info, like specifically is wrong with your mix. It's best to post up a clip in the MP3 clinic and see if someone can help out.
 
Cheap tube gear tends to sound fairly crappy compared to cheap solid state gear. I wouldn't bother with tubes until I could afford something well above the ART Tube MP range of equipment. A decent one-channel tube pre will probably cost at least ten times the price of a Tube MP. For example the Grace M101 retails for nearly $700.

The amount of distortion that sounds good to many guitarists is often about 50% too much for a recording. Try decreasing it by about a third.

That's about all I'll say without more info.
 
Thanks for your responses. Sorry I dont know how to move posts chili. I shall post some of my mixes soon, I realise I've made it difficult for yous. So a cheap tube is not much good then bouldersoundguy? I have the behringer mic200 (£50), I dont dislike it at all, I like the sound really and I heard it helps things cut through in a mix so I gave it a try. Would you choose to use the preamps of a focusrite 2 channel audio interface on its own, or use this tube before it gets to the interface? Thanks again.
 
If you like the sound then it's good. I would probably just go into the Focusrite.
 
businessnotplea said:
Thanks for your responses. Sorry I dont know how to move posts chili.
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No worries, only mods can move threads around.

Some Behringer "tube" preamps have the tube for show only. I used to have one that had an LED behind it to simulate a glowing tube. :rolleyes:

I have a focusrite scarlett and I don't dislike the mic pres on it. Focusrite has a good reputation and I think it sounds better than other interfaces in its class. (I have an older Phonic mixer to compare it to.) I don't remember what the old Behringer mi pre sounded like, so can't do a direct comparison.

But, there's a whole lot of other factors that affect the quality of the recording besides mic pres, interfaces, mic's, etc. You have to consider the room you're recording in, the room you're mixing in, your monitors, the instruments you're recording, the musicians/singers.... etc, etc, etc.
 
LED for a tube that is a cheap trick! Haha. I have the focusrite scarlett also, 2i2, its a good little box. I just thought the tube in tandum would add a bit of nice distortion, cut through a bit more, and take away some of the not very nice sound of a guitar plugged straight into an audio interface.

I know there is limitless possibilites why a recording might not work. I think I'm gunna get better results with an amp signal and mic this time instead of guitar rig. I couldnt make the guitars sound as they do live, get what you want from the source as they say :)
 
businessnotplea said:
I couldnt make the guitars sound as they do live
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When you mic the amp, play around with mic positioning, with a bit of experimentation you should be able to get a similar recreation of what it sounds like live, alot of it is down to trial and error
 
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