Direct Recording - Guitar & Bass

[loveofjazz]

Like many, my recording situation isn't ideal for micing loud guitar amps to get a good sound. I've been direct recording pretty much this past year, and while it's not the perfect sound I have managed to find some really good sounds. I've learned a bunch...especially about what sounds I'm trying to get and how to get them. I thought I'd share what I've picked up over the past 3 or 4 months...

Granted, I'm not getting "that" sound, the awesome perfect tube amp tone in a perfect room with a well placed microphone...but I've found some solid stuff that I'm pleased with for now.

I've tried the following software simulators (and am still using some)...
* Line6 POD Farm - My brother has it with Reason & Record. It sounds real nice, and was easy to tweak. Makes me almost wish I was using his set up.
* GTR Solo - Free for a year to try, sounded okay. Solid, for sure.
* Amplitube 2 - easy to use, guitars sounded good, bass through Ampeg SVX was incredible. Shit...I liked how the guitars sounded.
* Acme Bar Gig DIG 2.0 suite - cool for guitar & bass, heavier than I like but very, very cool & free. The cabinet shaper comes in useful with my external amp emulators. All their Preampus stuff is very cool, too.
* Bass PreAmp (Ronald Passion) - Sounds great for bass, my processor won't handle recording with it active. I guess it's real processor hungry. I have to record bass and apply it after the fact, but it sounds awesome...and it's free.
* NoAmp by Mokafix Audio - Looks just like a SansAmp GT2. I guess it sounds like one as well, but I only played with one of those once and can't quite recall. NoAmp is very cool & sounds (to me) great, and a cabinet simulator behind it can make a big difference, too.
* Green Machine (Patick Wurr) - I was on a download binge when I found this. I haven't found a sound I'm particularly crazy about, but I haven't given up on it yet, either.
* LePou - LeXTAC I think is what it's called, though they may have others. Free, useful, and pretty cool.
* Nick Crow - 7170 & 8505 sims...I've played with them, but not recorded with them yet. I liked what I heard, but haven't had a reason to do anything with either as of yet.

Amidst all that software plug-in mess, I still have other stuff I've been picking up along the way. None are perfect, but each one has a use so far...
* SansAmp Classic - Just got this a week or so back. Recorded once with it. I see why everyone loves it. Really. I can't wait to do more with it.
* Line6 POD 2.0 - Another recent discounted Ebay purchase. I bid low and still won. Turned out to be a good deal. It was easy to see why some people get buzzy sounding guitar from these...it's too easy to turn it up to chainsaw buzz distortion. I backed off the gain and double tracked and got a very full sounding rhythm guitar. Can't wait to do more with this.
* Line6 POD XT Live - This is going to be used for live stuff now that I found another POD to leave at home, but it sounds really good.
* Johnson J-Station - Bought it from another member here on HR.com. Good deal, clean product, records clean guitars and bass very well. It sounded real good with my Tele.
* SansAmp Para Driver DI - Good with bass and direct acoustic signal. Easy to tweak, easy to find a good sound...or at least an acceptable sound (for those of you with a more discerning ear)
* Behringer Bass V-Amp - I never found a bass tone I absolutely loved, but the leslie simulator worked well with clean guitar. I think that's the only reason I still own it.

 

[yag]

Have you tried Guitar Rig? You can download demo Guitar Rig 4 from their website. Demo means you have to restart the program once in 30 minutes and you can not save settings but I think it is worth trying.

 

[loveofjazz]

Have you tried Guitar Rig? You can download demo Guitar Rig 4 from their website. Demo means you have to restart the program once in 30 minutes and you can not save settings but I think it is worth trying.

I've read some really good things about Guitar Rig, but I can't say I have tried it personally. I'm in the process of moving my recording set up to the furthermost depths of our garage/basement. Once I've gotten everything set up again, I might give it a shot.

So you have to restart it every 30 minutes and you can't save settings? That's not bad for a demo. I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks.

 

[Zaphod B]

I've found the Pod XTL to be a really nice direct-in rig.

loveofjazz, you might be surprised at how little volume is required from an amp - even a sizeable one - to get a good mic'd recording.

 

[loveofjazz]

I have wondered what necessary volume would be needed. I have an early 70's Fender Princeton Reverb. I've mic'ed it a couple of times with my SM57, but I've not fooled with micing it too much. I guess I'll have more of an opportunity to experiment with it once I'm set up downstairs.

I'll need to work out some sort of isolation for the amps (from the heater/AC noise) as well as climate control (no heating ducts of any sort downstairs).

 

[Zaphod B]

I have wondered what necessary volume would be needed. I have an early 70's Fender Princeton Reverb. I've mic'ed it a couple of times with my SM57, but I've not fooled with micing it too much. I guess I'll have more of an opportunity to experiment with it once I'm set up downstairs.

I'll need to work out some sort of isolation for the amps (from the heater/AC noise) as well as climate control (no heating ducts of any sort downstairs).

I've gotten very good low-to-mid-level-volume tones from my AC30 as well as my rack rig, which uses a 50W amp.

I don't worry too much about isolation. I make sure the ceiling fan and/or the space heater is off, and that the doors are shut to my bedroom. Half the recording I've done, the kids have been watching TV in the den only two closed doors away.

I use a hypercardoid dynamic so maybe that helps with off-axis noise rejection.

 

[loveofjazz]

I've gotten very good low-to-mid-level-volume tones from my AC30 as well as my rack rig, which uses a 50W amp.

Maybe there's hope for me yet. When I mic'ed it up, I was upstairs and it was during the evening after dinner.

I don't worry too much about isolation. I make sure the ceiling fan and/or the space heater is off, and that the doors are shut to my bedroom. Half the recording I've done, the kids have been watching TV in the den only two closed doors away.

I use a hypercardoid dynamic so maybe that helps with off-axis noise rejection.

The main concern will be the heater/AC cycling on while I'm recording. Perhaps that SM57 won't pick up too much of that if I isolate it a bit.

I guess I'll find out soon enough.

 

[miroslav]

You really don't need to dime 100W amps in order to get good tones.

I use 12W to 50W amps, though I rarely turn them up real loud to get good tones. If I want to push the amp, I'll use an attenuator to control the overall output levels.

Also, the room can be irrelevant...just put a "tent" over your amp & mic setup. That's how I record most of the time, by making a frame with a chair and some curtain rods...then I drop a couple of heavy quilt blankets over the amp & mic....and I can even crank it up and not be too loud.

Then there's always the closet approach...just stick your amp & mic in a closet full of clothes, shut the door...crank it if you like, it will not be annoyingly loud.

 

[loveofjazz]

There won't be an available closet in the area I'm setting my gear up, but I'm not above creating a tent or cover to help limit any volume issues. I appreciate the input, both with the direct recording and mic'ed amp approach as well.

 

[saads]

Guitar rig is pretty amazing. I was always a huge believer that DI recording couldn't match micing a good amp. Not so much anymore. You should definitely try it.

 

[loveofjazz]

I'll probably give Guitar Rig a try once everything is set up again. I know Amplitube 2 has impressed me, and GTR Solo wasn't bad either.

The software simulators sound good, but the coolest feature (to me) is being able to plug in to the board and start recording without having to plug in other hardware.