Can't Get Guitar to sound right when recording

[ecc83]

So I bought two new Shure cables and this is the results the only thing is I think my audio mixer is faulty or something because if I was to pan the audio to right or left it doesn't work at all it still a stereo sound. So this was recorded with the solo. So on eBay I was looking at a 'Focusrite Scarlett USB Interface 18i8' for $140 USD which I might return the mixer and buy that instead as that has four XLR inputs which seems a bit to much for what I need it for but it would give me lots of options and I wouldn't need to upgrade it. I have the mics about half a inch away from the grill maybe less.

What is this fer***** mixer!? Pan SHOULD work into the two Solo inputs. I.E. pan both hard left and right and you record two discrete channels. Pan both centre you record two mono (mixed) channels.

The new F'rite is a good idea but, make haste slowly! Best to fix one problem before you move on to "18" more!

BTW "stereo" is a movable feast, for example, DAW s can record two (or more) discrete 'mono' tracks or two 'stereo' tracks. The first are treated separately (for EQ say) the second as a pair.

Dave.

 

[Steenamaroo]

So I bought two new Shure cables and this is the results the only thing is I think my audio mixer is faulty or something because if I was to pan the audio to right or left it doesn't work at all it still a stereo sound. So this was recorded with the solo. So on eBay I was looking at a 'Focusrite Scarlett USB Interface 18i8' for $140 USD which I might return the mixer and buy that instead as that has four XLR inputs which seems a bit to much for what I need it for but it would give me lots of options and I wouldn't need to upgrade it. I have the mics about half a inch away from the grill maybe less.

I'm not sure I follow but just for clarity, in case you don't know,
with a straight up audio interface recording to a DAW,
Input one on the interface presents as input 1 in the daw.
Input two on the interface presents as input 2 in the daw.
etc

There's generally no confusion. 1 is 1, 2 is 2, 3 is 3, etc

With stereo USB mixers generally you have multiple inputs, often of different types, and your daw can see two channels of audio.
Those two channels don't correspond to the mixer inputs 1 + 2.
The are the mixer's final output, left and right,

so the only way to record two channels of completely separate audio into your daw via a mixer,
keeping them totally separate for later editing,
is to pan one of them hard left and the other hard right.

The hard left one will come into your daw as input (L) or input 1,
and the hard right one will come in as R or input 2.
In the digital realm you can choose to pan them wherever you want later, don't worry about that,
but for recording via mixer they must be separated hard left and right.


Failing to separate like this means your two tracks, once recorded, are irreversibly mixed together, which isn't ideal especially when troubleshooting a problem.

You say these clips were recorded with your focusrite solo...
They're the same performance, I.E. one take, so how?
It's only got one XLR microphone input so tell us, please, point by point, what is your recording chain for those two files?

 

[ecc83]

"It's only got one XLR microphone input so tell us, please, point by point, what is your recording chain for those two files?"
AND! MAKE, MODEL number of that mixer PHUUULEASE!

Dave.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Poor Dave! ?

It's a Kmise 6 channel USB
The only link I could find was Amazon CA.

https://www.amazon.ca/Channel-Kmise-Professional-Streaming-Podcasting/dp/B0DBLVQRSN?th=1

 

[ecc83]

Poor Dave! ?

It's a Kmise 6 channel USB
The only link I could find was Amazon CA.

https://www.amazon.ca/Channel-Kmise-Professional-Streaming-Podcasting/dp/B0DBLVQRSN?th=1

Thank you! Well that looks ok, nice to see Behringer being ripped off! I has pan controls so that should do as I said above. One caveat, 'pan' sometimes is not routed to USB recording. I had a little Soundcraft like that.

Dave.

 

[TalismanRich]

So I bought two new Shure cables and this is the results the only thing is I think my audio mixer is faulty or something because if I was to pan the audio to right or left it doesn't work at all it still a stereo sound. So this was recorded with the solo. So on eBay I was looking at a 'Focusrite Scarlett USB Interface 18i8' for $140 USD which I might return the mixer and buy that instead as that has four XLR inputs which seems a bit to much for what I need it for but it would give me lots of options and I wouldn't need to upgrade it. I have the mics about half a inch away from the grill maybe less.

I agree with getting something more capable than a Solo, and ditching the mixer, unless you need something to feed a PA system. I have never used a mixer into an interface except to pull a feed from a group of vocal mics that are feeding a PA system. The vocals were then fed to one channel of 8. The instruments were all mic'd directly.

As for thinking it might be "a bit too much for what I need", that's the last thing I ever considered. Usually it's "Is this too little"? I bought an 8 channel interface, not because I always use them but because now I CAN use them. Two mics on an acoustic, a different one for vocals. That's a barebones setup. I've tested multiple microphones for an acoustic guitar, 4 SDCs at one time, just to see which I liked best. If you ever have a buddy come over, you probably would use 4 inputs right there. Heaven forbid a drummer comes over. He can take up a half dozen easily.

When I get together with my buddies, we have guitar and bass, 4 vocal mics, and I think he has 6 drum mics. That's a dozen right there.

 

[ecc83]

"When I get together with my buddies, we have guitar and bass, 4 vocal mics, and I think he has 6 drum mics. That's a dozen right there."

And so that ^ is why I will suggest OP hangs on to the mixer if possible. The 18i8 has 4 more line inputs on the back and so with the mixer that is 6 discrete mic channels and IF a drummer turns up, a ready means to mix his 6 mics to a stereo feed!

The 18i8 is not the model I had in mind (18i20) and does not have 'full fat' ADAT but can usefully take 8 tracks from a suitable ADAT pre amp.

Dave.

 

[Simplex09]

"It's only got one XLR microphone input so tell us, please, point by point, what is your recording chain for those two files?"
AND! MAKE, MODEL number of that mixer PHUUULEASE!

Dave

So i recorded it using the Scarlett solo. I recorded it in a hurry so i just used the shure xlr to xlr cable into the xlr>line for mic 2. I know that wasn't the best but i hooked it up that way just so its recording at the same time. So the one input has the xlr and the other one was the line input. I do plan to do some recording tonight recording one at a time into the xlr port. I guess i could also use my looper pedal. (Record a whole riff/song using it then change mic postion and playback with another microphone postion.) Wouldn't be most efficient way of recording multiple microphone postions though with 1 xlr port.

If you have 1 microphone where is usually the most efficient microphone placement? I heard outside dust cap or middle. And touching the grill cloth or almost touching. With the sm57

Thanks for your help guys i have been having lots of internet troubles with my router so i haven't had my computer to type more detailed longer messages.

 

[TalismanRich]

I'm hoping that the first file is in the second input as it sound weak. The one by the dust cap sounds pretty much normal, especially the "clean" section.

I'm curious how you are getting your distortion. It is horribly shrill, there's no bottom at all to it. What's your amp and distortion pedal setup.

 

[Simplex09]

I'm hoping that the first file is in the second input as it sound weak. The one by the dust cap sounds pretty much normal, especially the "clean" section.

I'm curious how you are getting your distortion. It is horribly shrill, there's no bottom at all to it. What's your amp and distortion pedal setup.

So my pedal is DS1 and my amp is fender ultimate chorus. I have a twin reverb but I wanted to try the fender ultimate chorus for recording mic because my twin is stock with and I personally like the sound of the celestion speakers. I wanted to do more recording last night but my instrument cables are giving me trouble all of a sudden

 

[Simplex09]

I uploaded the results from the Ultimate Chorus here.
-Celestion Speaker 75
-Shure XLR Cables
-SM57
-Uploaded pictures of speaker positions.

I also used my stock 1980 Twin Reverb for just one recording and uploaded the results.
-Stock Speakers
- Shure XLR Cables
-SM57

Everything was recorded with the scarlet solo.

 

[TimOD]

4 balanced preamp inputs on the front.
Another 4 unbalanced lin-in jacks on the back.
And then 8 ADAT input channels, although I couldn't get the ADAT to sync with my Behringer ADA800.
The 18i8 does not provide an ADAT clock connector, but my ADA8000 works fine with other stuff which does have a clock connector.
Maybe it works ok with Focusrite's ADAT box.

I believe those outputs (and inputs) are balanced. Also, I have an ADA 8000 that does (did--I stepped up to an ADA 8200) sync up to a Focusrite 1st and 2nd generation 18i20. I'm probably just lucky; those interfaces do not get along well sometimes with Samplitude.

 

[TimOD]

It might be time--well past time--to start using amp sims. At least try it out. You can eliminate a huge amount of lost time. There are some really good ones out there, and even the cheaper ones are quite good. Things have progressed mightily in the sim department. I recently saw a story in my google feed about some older player who insisted youngsters and novices needed to play through an amp to get the proper experience. Perhaps for him, but not for everyone.

 

[ecc83]

It might be time--well past time--to start using amp sims. At least try it out. You can eliminate a huge amount of lost time. There are some really good ones out there, and even the cheaper ones are quite good. Things have progressed mightily in the sim department. I recently saw a story in my google feed about some older player who insisted youngsters and novices needed to play through an amp to get the proper experience. Perhaps for him, but not for everyone.

Sims yes. My son has done some good stuff with the ones in the free Cakewalk.

Dave.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

It might be time--well past time--to start using amp sims. At least try it out. You can eliminate a huge amount of lost time. There are some really good ones out there, and even the cheaper ones are quite good. Things have progressed mightily in the sim department. I recently saw a story in my google feed about some older player who insisted youngsters and novices needed to play through an amp to get the proper experience. Perhaps for him, but not for everyone.

My default path for electric guitars is through is through my Behringer Vamp Pro, and Bass Vamp Pro.
Effectively hardware amp sims.

 

[rob aylestone]

I have one of those, and it's great - the blue one, whichever that is!

 

[rob aylestone]

Those clips just don't sound like they should. Unless - that no bass, thin sound is by design. You posted a clip of you speaking on the 57 and it was fine. If you get a moment, can you repeat the speech, then without stopping move the mic to the amp and play. Also a clip of the clean guitar would help. A 57 is a fairly mellow mic, and it sounds just 'wrong'.

 

[Simplex09]

Those clips just don't sound like they should. Unless - that no bass, thin sound is by design. You posted a clip of you speaking on the 57 and it was fine. If you get a moment, can you repeat the speech, then without stopping move the mic to the amp and play. Also a clip of the clean guitar would help. A 57 is a fairly mellow mic, and it sounds just 'wrong'.

Ok! So you want a speaking clip then in a single recording move it over to the amplifier and starts recording the amplifier?

 

[Simplex09]

Those clips just don't sound like they should. Unless - that no bass, thin sound is by design. You posted a clip of you speaking on the 57 and it was fine. If you get a moment, can you repeat the speech, then without stopping move the mic to the amp and play. Also a clip of the clean guitar would help. A 57 is a fairly mellow mic, and it sounds just 'wrong'.

Ok thanks for your help I'm going to do some more recording tomorrow so ill try and grab that.

By chance would anything in cakewalk or any daw setting wise make this happen? Like the drivers because im not using asio drive im using the windows default.

 

[TalismanRich]

Normally a driver won't change the sound. Unless the software has some type of adjustments, it's purpose is to simply transfer the incoming data stream from the interface to the DAW. Why are you not using the Focusrite ASIO driver?

If you have enhancements enabled in your Windows device, that could affect the results.