Direct vs. micing a guitar amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Reilley
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stash98 said:
you don't have to record loud with a tube amp to get a nice tone. You crank a tube amp only if you want it to sound broken up, which is not always the sound you really are going for.

First off, when you mic a tube amp at a regular volume correctly you will always get a more 3d image then through a digital modeler. It's not even close. A micd amp always sounds better then direct guitars. I have used amplitube and Grig for years when I could use an amp, and I never was happy with tones until i went with a micd amp.

Also people that say its the skill of the engineer or whatever..thats nice..but there is no amp plugin that distorts like an amp right now. What you may think is great distortion is probably not as great as you think. Go play a Bogner through a 421 with a TS9 in front and track that. It will have a much more 3d image and a tone that can not yet be replicated though a direct line into a modeler.
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I'd have to agree with all of this. I used amp modelers, both hardware and software, for the first couple years I recorded and always thought they sounded ok, not much of a quality difference between that and my little solidstate combo. Then I happened to score a great tube amp at a relatively cheap price and it was like waking up from a coma. The difference in tone and the way a tube amp seems to sit in a mix was night and day when compared to modelers and even my solidstate. I've since sold every modeler and solidstate amp I've owned in favor of a decent tube collection and it really shows thru on my recordings.
 
jonnyc said:
I'd have to agree with all of this. I used amp modelers, both hardware and software, for the first couple years I recorded and always thought they sounded ok, not much of a quality difference between that and my little solidstate combo. Then I happened to score a great tube amp at a relatively cheap price and it was like waking up from a coma. The difference in tone and the way a tube amp seems to sit in a mix was night and day when compared to modelers and even my solidstate. I've since sold every modeler and solidstate amp I've owned in favor of a decent tube collection and it really shows thru on my recordings.
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Hi,
funny, I went the complete opposite!!...oh well!....I'm happy!...and very proud of my recordings!! :)
Superspit.
 
Reilley said:
Do any of you prefer to go direct, rather than micing an amp? [I'm doing my homework before assembling a DAW.] Can you get as good a sound directly?

Thanks very much.
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it depends on the application.

But no.

In nearly every experience on the subject, i have ended up preferring mic'd amp than direct. Only in one case that i can think of the direct sound was cool. But it was an effect rather than a well recorded electric guitar track
 
superspit said:
Hi,
funny, I went the complete opposite!!...oh well!....I'm happy!...and very proud of my recordings!! :)
Superspit.
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That's awsome, but IMO modelers have a very long way to go before I'd prefer them over a quality tube amp. You have any clips I can hear?
 
OK, I'll comment. I am a tube snob from the word go. I will say that I have made my career in music with my ability to yield great guitar tone both in the studio and live. I have never heard a modelled guitar tone that can rival the likes of Michael Schenker (especially the UFO and early MSG days) Gary Moore, John Petrucci (for a more modern example), Uli Jon Roth, or Blues Saraceno to name but a few. Most of the great distorted guitar tones are cranked tube amps with a dynamic mic on the cab and a room mic of some sort. A lot of guys with home studios especially those that are married can't crank a tube amp so they do the best they can with a modeller but I'm really sorry I have to disagree that the guitar tone of a modeller is as good as a cranked tube amp. I just don't buy into the DI scene. Although, I have taken a DI feed off of the output of a tube amp and ran it through a cab sim and the tone is decent. The deal is there is an interaction between the guitar/amp/mic that cannot be duplicated by a modeller and I'm sure the day will come that the technology will be able to duplicate it but we surely aren't there quite yet. The bottom line is when you consider what is noted in history as "great" guitar tone nothing modelled is even on the list. That should show us something. Hot glass and a speaker that is pushed hard into a microphone yields the best tone in the guitar recording business.
 
Micter said:
OK, I'll comment. ............ The deal is there is an interaction between the guitar/amp/mic that cannot be duplicated by a modeller and I'm sure the day will come that the technology will be able to duplicate it but we surely aren't there quite yet. The bottom line is when you consider what is noted in history as "great" guitar tone nothing modelled is even on the list. That should show us something. Hot glass and a speaker that is pushed hard into a microphone yields the best tone in the guitar recording business.
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Hi Micter,
in the whole, entire history of mic'd amp recording, the modeler has taken up only a 'poofteenth' of that time, it's simply way too fractional on the terms and context you speak of. (?)....would that be a fair comment?
Kindest regards to you.
Superspit.
 
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jonnyc said:
That's awsome, but IMO modelers have a very long way to go before I'd prefer them over a quality tube amp. You have any clips I can hear?
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Hi Jonnyc,
yes......this was a little experimental, silly thing I put together, just for fun!
Everything was put thru my x-vamp or my V-amp Pro, even my bass.
Charisma and Naked City were probably my favorites out of the 8 or 9 songs I recorded....but hey, it was all just fun with some like minded (sick) friends.
Be warned, the tunes will not be liked by all!! (and that's fine!!)
But it will give you an 'angle' of the styles that could be used with DI.
Regards,
Superspit.

http://www.myspace.com/obzcure
 
superspit said:
Hi Micter,
in the whole, entire history of mic'd amp recording, the modeler has taken up only a 'poofteenth' of that time, it's simply way too fractional on the terms and context you speak of. (?)....would that be a fair comment?
Kindest regards to you.
Superspit.
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Fraction of time or not you still have never heard a modeller rival the guitar tones of guys like I've mentioned. I'm sorry but I am a tone nut when it comes to guitar tones, modellers just don't generate the same overtones, feel, and warmth of a cranked tube amp. Maybe one day they will but sure hasn't happened yet.
 
Reilley said:
Do any of you prefer to go direct, rather than micing an amp? [I'm doing my homework before assembling a DAW.] Can you get as good a sound directly?

Thanks very much.
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1) Rarely, and then only if I'm torturing the sound severely in Live 6 and it scarcely resembles guitar when I'm done.

2) Generally, no, a direct sound is not as good for me.

3) You're most welcome.

Cheers,

Otto
 
Micter said:
Fraction of time or not you still have never heard a modeller rival the guitar tones of guys like I've mentioned. I'm sorry but I am a tone nut when it comes to guitar tones, modellers just don't generate the same overtones, feel, and warmth of a cranked tube amp. Maybe one day they will but sure hasn't happened yet.
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Hi again Micter...
well I certainly don't want to argue with a 'tone nut'.!!! :)
All I can do is point you to some of my git tones, done via DI...as per my link earlier, above.
Enjoy your day!
Kindest Regards to you,
Superspit.
 
superspit said:
Hi again Micter...
well I certainly don't want to argue with a 'tone nut'.!!! :)
All I can do is point you to some of my git tones, done via DI...as per my link earlier, above.
Enjoy your day!
Kindest Regards to you,
Superspit.
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To be honest I was way more impressed with the vocals. I'm not arguing but discussing. :D
 
Micter said:
To be honest I was way more impressed with the vocals. I'm not arguing but discussing. :D
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I'd have to agree, you're guitar sounds OK but not how it would if it was recorded with a tube amp. It just lacks whatever it is that a tube amp does, I'm no expert but I am a hardcore tone nut.
 
jonnyc said:
I'd have to agree, you're guitar sounds OK but not how it would if it was recorded with a tube amp. It just lacks whatever it is that a tube amp does, I'm no expert but I am a hardcore tone nut.
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fair enough.........thanks for at least having a listen.

and a big big big thankyou to Micter.....appreciate the nice rep!!
Regards....SS
 
superspit said:
fair enough.........thanks for at least having a listen.

and a big big big thankyou to Micter.....appreciate the nice rep!!
Regards....SS
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I think your tunes are cool, and everything sounds great, just not as great as it could if you were using a good amp. :D
 
darkecho said:
my buddy and I just recorded this little Master of Puppets cover, I am playing the keys and he is on the guitar, we used a Line6 modeler and I think the guitar sounds better than anything i have recorded before..

Master of Puppets - The Symphonic Videogame like Version :D
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Well then you must have been recording some real shit before this because this is some crap dude. I was really expecting something close to the real thing but that's definately not it.


edit: Sorry I know it's mean but, seriously.
 
jonnyc said:
I think your tunes are cool, and everything sounds great, just not as great as it could if you were using a good amp. :D
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Thanx go to you too JC. :)
 
darkecho said:
my buddy and I just recorded this little Master of Puppets cover, I am playing the keys and he is on the guitar, we used a Line6 modeler and I think the guitar sounds better than anything i have recorded before..

Master of Puppets - The Symphonic Videogame like Version :D
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Wpw, the performance is great but I'm sorry the guitar tone isn't good at all. IMO it's very sterile and lifeless. I'll say it again, great chops!
 
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