Best method to record distorted guitar...

  • Thread starter Thread starter rweiss
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rweiss

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Heyas, our band is getting ready to record our new cd. For our last demo I had the guitar direct into my Fostex VF-16, then i messed around with it on my pc. This time, we've got a Marshall valvestate 8100 head through a marshall 412 cab, and an SM57. I was thinking of recording the guitar both direct and into the sm57, so there's 2 tracks for more room. The guitar is mainly fast and distorted (punkish/progressive indie?). If you guys have any advice on the best way to go about doing this, I'd be grateful!
 
Don't go direct, use two mics instead if you *must* try something different.
 
OTOH, if you record the geetar with a DI on the instrument (not the line out of the 8100), you'll be able to send the signal to the amp again in order to get a different sound.
 
Reamping is an option, but I prefer to just get the sound straight away. On a big session I can see the value of it, but not if you are just recording yourself or someone on a limited budget.
 
yeah... recording direct and Miced is a decent idea... pan them about 3 quarters left and right for a wider sound.

Also, if you've got another good amp (or can borrow one from a friend) you might try having that going as well with a splitter lead.. once again, pan them, or just use them in different parts of the song. I've always been one for getting alot of guitar tracks down, but I've never regretted it.

Edit: Only use the direct if it has an emulated out, or "recording compensated" or it will sound nasty

Edit 2: This may sound obvious, but if it sounds bad don't do it. Alot of people get ideas in their head, then when they don't turn out well still do it. The best thing you can do is play round with it, don't put it down to track untill you like the sound.. try and get it sounding as close as you want the final sound to be when it goes to "tape"
 
Definitely dont plug the mic directly into the mult-track, micing the amp is preferred.
 
Dont use a DI and mic and pan. That would produce nastyness in the balance. Just use a 57 and a 58. If you want to pan then double track and pan. Best results are to record same part twice rather than copy and pasting the same part and nudging it maybe 10ms.
 
Another thing I've heard for a long time and have finally learned on my own recently is to actually use less distortion than you think you want. What sounds really cool soloed can often muddy things up when you mixdown.
 
DaveO said:
Another thing I've heard for a long time and have finally learned on my own recently is to actually use less distortion than you think you want. What sounds really cool soloed can often muddy things up when you mixdown.
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And turn down your mid ranges on the amp. Gets too muddy there too!
 
ehm, question...
is it possible to connect an insert cable to a guitar output?
so that i can run one output to a marshall amp,
and one output to a 19" rack distortion unit ?

then i can record two signals at the same time,,,,

or is this something dangerous to do?
 
Rokket said:
And turn down your mid ranges on the amp. Gets too muddy there too!
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I would actually have to disagree with you there. That's where the guitar's focus is as far as frequency goes. If anything, use more.
 
earworm said:
ehm, question...
is it possible to connect an insert cable to a guitar output?
so that i can run one output to a marshall amp,
and one output to a 19" rack distortion unit ?

then i can record two signals at the same time,,,,

or is this something dangerous to do?
Click to expand...
An insert cable won't work. A 'y' cable will but you might get a nasty ground loop.
 
Rokket said:
And turn down your mid ranges on the amp. Gets too muddy there too!
Click to expand...
Turn up the midrange, that is where the sound of the guitar is. If you want the scooped sound, turn the mids down during mixing.
 
ok, this question might kill me......
is there lots of difference between Y cables and Insert cables ?
 
an insert cable is trs to 2 ts. The tip is conected to one end and the ring is conected to the other. One goes out and the other comes back (send and return)
A 'Y' cable is TS on all three ends. This is for splitting the same signal to 2 different places.
 
Yeah using a Y lead should be cool. Never tried it but i did once use a Two input to one output Jack connector, meaning two guitars going into one input on the amp. (just used a small practice amp, wouldnt use a decent amp for that!) But only problem was that when one person turned down their volume on their guitar, the other guitars volume also went down!
 
Personally I try to keep my amp's eq no greater than 5 or 6. Too many people crank the EQ's and wonder why they get a thin or muddy sound... well, you've over emphasized one of the components.

Think about how if you are EQ'ing a signal in a mix how 'weird' it gets if you add 10db of gain on a parametric eq band... it compromises the sound almost every time.

Guitar amps are no different.

For me, I 'jumpstart' an amp with a MXR eq with a few select minor (1-2db) boosts, maybe mild setting on an inline distortion pedal (vintage Rat being my preference, or a Boss Blues Driver), run the eq's conservatively, preamp gain mildly, and CRANKKK the master volume.
 
Farview said:
an insert cable is trs to 2 ts. The tip is conected to one end and the ring is conected to the other. One goes out and the other comes back (send and return)
A 'Y' cable is TS on all three ends. This is for splitting the same signal to 2 different places.
Click to expand...

incase you didnt already know this earworm...TRS = Tip, Ring, Shield (stereo cable)....TS = Tip, Shield (mono cable).
 
thajeremy said:
incase you didnt already know this earworm...TRS = Tip, Ring, Shield (stereo cable)....TS = Tip, Shield (mono cable).
Click to expand...

TRS = Tip Ring and Sleeve and TS = Tip and Sleeve. I never heard of it being called shield.

TRS is a balanced cable and is similar to the XLR mic cable and TS is unbalanced. Secondly you can use the TRS cable for a mono signal.

This link here will expalin all the different types of cables and its purposes.
 
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