Distorted Guitar - direct or mic'd?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rweiss
  • Start date Start date
R

rweiss

New member
To record distorted guitar, would I get a better sound putting the line through a DI box (any recommendations?), or mic'ing the amp (Marshall Valvestate 100w w/ Marshall 412 cab) with an sm57 (anyone recommend a better mic under $150 for this application?)?

If you really care, our music is at www.rta.ssxh.net so you can see what kind of sound we're trying to make.
 
rweiss said:
To record distorted guitar, would I get a better sound putting the line through a DI box (any recommendations?), or mic'ing the amp (Marshall Valvestate 100w w/ Marshall 412 cab) with an sm57 (anyone recommend a better mic under $150 for this application?)?
Click to expand...
I have many mics, quite a few over $150, and I still constantly reach for the ol' SM57 for distorted guitars. It just works great. Other favorites of mine for distortion include the Senheiser 609e, the Studio Projects C1 (not live, obviously), and the AKG C1000. I find if I'm tracking multiple guitars I like to switch the mics up a bit...especially if I'm stuck with only 1 guitar/amp to play.

And to answer the original question, I'm a mic guy myself. I imagine direct recording solutions like the POD have their place and their uses, but it's not my style.
 
OMG Mic definitely

mic and place it like at an angle I think. I am no expert but I feel I am pretty good. I have lots of mixes around the net that are just not mastered.

I will tell you though I personally found using an SM58 better than the SM57 for recording heavy guitar. I will probably get slammed for that but for my apartment it just seemed to give me a better sound. It wasnt muddy like with the 57.
 
nonreversebird said:
mic and place it like at an angle I think. .
Click to expand...
Why place it at a right angle?

nonreversebird said:
I will tell you though I personally found using an SM58 better than the SM57 for recording heavy guitar. I will probably get slammed for that but for my apartment it just seemed to give me a better sound. It wasnt muddy like with the 57.
Click to expand...

The 57 and 58 are the same mic basically. You probably just had a bad 57 or a different gain staging.

rweiss, either way is ok and which sounds better will depend somewhat on your skils at miking and the room and equipment setup.
 
Hi,

I'm new, so please don't kill me!!

You could try recording both ways, setting one channel to be the di and one channel to be the mic and then play around with the mix of the two to see what sort of sound you prefer?

Only a suggestion.

Cheers
Jim
 
Yep, try it and see. I also like the Sennheiser E-609 (silver) on distorted guitar--it's around $100 new. I'll occasionally use it along with an SM57 and blend the two. I've never really gotten a direct tone off a processor I've liked, but you never know.
 
57 on your best speaker off center. Bam, you have instant guitar heaven.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top