Direct In ...where'd my dynamics go?

  • Thread starter Thread starter drewz0r
  • Start date Start date
D

drewz0r

New member
I have been recording some clips these past few days using a Fostex MR8 with the Direct Line-In function. My set up is:
[Guitar] --> [Line 6 POD XT Live] --> [Fostex MR8]

In my (overdriven) rythmn playing I use lots of 16th note lines with accents in weird spots, but when playing them back all I hear is straight 16th notes with the identical dynamics, no accents to be found.

Is this common for Direct recording? Will this problem go away if I mic an amplifier?

I know, extremely noob question.. but hey, what can ya do
-Drew

EDIT: oops, sorry if this should have gone in the Recording Method section
 
It isn't unusual if you have an impedance mismatch, but it doesn't sound like you do. My next guess would be that you are clipping the recorder, thus losing dynamic range. Check your levels and see if that helps.
 
The clipping light isnt coming up, I did another test with everything at low volumes and the accents still don't have the OOMPH. Thanks for the suggestion though.

EDIT: After listening to the tracks closely I can now hear them coming through, but not very loud. Could it be that my tones were too heavy (overdriven) for them? Anyway, the real question is still this: Would dynamics come through better from a mic + amp or from a direct line?
 
Last edited:
Well the question is can you hear them through headphones connected to the pod? If the answer is yes, then there must be a problem with the transfer to the recorder. If no, then you probably need a cab & mic in the signal path. That is generally the preferred approach, but a lot of people like their Pods too, so . . .
 
Alright, thanks man!

I think I just wasn't hearing the energy I was feeling as I played.
 
in my experience, direct recording limits dynamics. i'm not sure how extreme you're talking.

for example, i owned a line6 duoverb amp that i used for recording about a year or so ago. with a mic in front of the amp, i was pretty happy. i could play very softly to really agressive and it all came thru nicely. with the direct out of the amp going to a mic preamp and into the sound card, the dynamics were SEVERELY limited. i experimented like crazy adjusting the amp's mic out level, the mic preamp's gain, etc. i never got good dynamics direct with that amp. i currently have a trademark 60 that i use for bedroom recording and practice. same deal. sounds decent miced, crap direct. imo, the podxt is some what better at the direct thing but not brilliant. to each their own.

btw, i shoot for a pretty dynamic guitar sound. with the right amp, if i play softly, the sound is pretty clean and if i dig in, it's real agressive and distorted. the duoverb was pretty decent for that type of thing. the trademark 60 sucks at it. the podxt is some where in between.
 
Thank you so much for that post, that makes me feel alot better.
Tomorrow I will test out the mic to amp, ill let you guys know how it goes.
 
In my experience, modelers just don't have the dynamic response of a mic'ed (tube) amp. If you run the Pod as a front end for your amp, you still might have the prob.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top