Guitar, Amp, Mic, Or What?!

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BrianV

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ok, so i've been really disappointed in my guitar recordings, it all sounds really thin and muddy and i would like to know if there is anything i can do to improve the sound...

i currently use a Ibanez Rg350dx connected to a Marshall JCM2000 dual super lead, i then have a shure sm57 pointed at the center of the cone, the mic is connected to a Behringer Xenyx1002fx, and then goes into my computer which i use Cakewalk sonar 8.

ive tried many different amp settings and mic positioning, but everything sounds really bad

i would really like to know what i can do, im willing to spend up to $600
 
turn down the gain, turn up the mids. Maybe even dial some bass out? Or back the mic off a bit to get rid of proximity effect
 
what interface are you using? you cant just plug the behringer mixer into the stock mic in that came with your computer. atleast not with the mixer your using. give me a little more info and ill see if i can continue to help you solve this dilemma.
 
oh it goes straight into the mic in on my computer, so i am assuming that's the problem?

what should i connect my mixer into??
 
ok now we have found your problem. well there are several options for you too choose from. a $600 budget is more than enough for what you need. heres a link to show you several different interfaces. please pm me or reply to this thread and tell me what you think after you check them out. oh also, once you get one of these, you can bypass the mixer entirely. if you choose to do so. and just plug your mic right into your new interface.
 
Google USB Interface or Firewire Interface (depending on which type your computer will support). Get at least 2 inputs... so you can record your 57 and maybe a vocal mic without having to plug/unplug.

$600 can buy you a really nice unit....:cool:

I use a Lexicon U42S that cost me about $600 Canadian (but our prices are high compared to US)...
 
shortedaman said:
what interface are you using? you cant just plug the behringer mixer into the stock mic in that came with your computer. atleast not with the mixer your using. give me a little more info and ill see if i can continue to help you solve this dilemma.
Click to expand...

shortedaman said:
ok now we have found your problem. well there are several options for you too choose from. a $600 budget is more than enough for what you need. heres a link to show you several different interfaces. please pm me or reply to this thread and tell me what you think after you check them out. oh also, once you get one of these, you can bypass the mixer entirely. if you choose to do so. and just plug your mic right into your new interface.
Click to expand...

Not so fast...

Yes a decent interface (esp. with multiple inputs) is more useful for recording than a Behri mixer--but that doesn't mean that's the "problem" with his recordings.

I recorded electric guitars through a mic into a Behri mixer, then into the 1/8" mic input on my laptop for years. And they sounded good. Well they sounded bad at first--but I learned about recording electric guitars and fixed the sound without changing a bit of gear.

My point is this: we can have this guy replace his mixer with a decent interface because WE know it's a good thing to have--but I'll bet a dollar he's still disappointed with how his electric guitar tracks sound.

As long as he's not overloading something on his chain right now, his problem is far more likely to be in something other than that mixer to input setup.

Mic placement, amp gain, double tracking, etc. Lot's of things that strike me as more likely to cause such anemic recorded guitar tone.
 
Hi there,

You have said you plug the mixer into Mic In on you computer, right?

Are you shure you have configured this input to work as an Line in? Or is it configured as a microphone input?

cheerz!
 
ok so i found this old modeling pedal with a usb feature, so i hooked up my mixer into that put the setting on it do DI and connected it to my pc via usb, the sound did come out sounding full but it still does not sound bright. im hoping one of those interfaces make a bigger difference, because i honestly don't want to waste my money on something i don't need
 
BrianV said:
i would really like to know what i can do, im willing to spend up to $600
Click to expand...

OK send me the $600. and I'll see what I can do.

:eek::laughings::laughings::laughings::laughings::laughings::eek:

But all joking aside Try different mics and different mic positioning also try two mics a LDC and a dynamic for instance. and muti tracks mixed to one full track.
 
Do you have access to a good Les Paul you could try it with? I'm skeptical of Ibanez as I've never heard them sound "right" to my ears like a good Les Paul. Les Paul's sound "browner".

When something sounds bad, first thing I suspect is the playing, then the guitar, then the mic. Don't bother with amp modelers or extra stuff until the guitar and amp sound excellent by themselves. That's a massively huge amp to record with but any tube amp should work. I like tiny tube amps for recording.

I have had almost no success/happiness with SM57's... the mic I'd want on an amp like that is a U67 (big $), but many mics should work if the playing/guitar and amp are stellar.

I just wonder if you'd have the same problems with a good vintage Les Paul, somehow I doubt it.
 
my friend has one, so i do have access to one, but the sound coming out of the amp itself sounds nice, its the recording that bothers me.

and what do you think would be some good condenser mics to try out?
 
BrianV said:
my friend has one, so i do have access to one, but the sound coming out of the amp itself sounds nice, its the recording that bothers me.

and what do you think would be some good condenser mics to try out?
Click to expand...

If the sound coming out of the amp sounds good, then that's good enough and scratch the Les Paul idea. Sounds like the mic.

I don't know any economical condensers... the only ones I like (and I constantly piss people off by feeling this way) cost automotive prices. I'd check around on this forum to see if there's something someone can recommend, sorry.

Every day on this forum, you have people listening to their heroes who are probably using a $3 - 10K mic, and wondering why the sound they are getting with their $60 - 400 mic isn't as good. Sorry to be blunt but that's a broken record.

On the other side of the coin, I know a guy who had $10K Neumanns and when Carlos Santana came in his studio, they used an SM57 on a Twin.

NOTE: sometimes SM57's can be fake or blown.
 
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alright thanks alot! il just keep trying different mic placements and check out some condenser mics
 
BrianV said:
my friend has one, so i do have access to one, but the sound coming out of the amp itself sounds nice, its the recording that bothers me.
Click to expand...

One problem that a lot of guitarists have, is the amp being down on the floor.
The treble/presence is boosted, and then you stand back up and play, and it
sounds right, where your ears are. You're hearing all the bass and low mids
perfectly, but the highs are getting lost at your legs so you use the EQ to
compensate.

The problem normally lies when a mic is put at the same height as the amp. The
mic is picking up the amp sound that you're not used to hearing. The extra high
end is making the guitar sound brittle and harsh, so moving the mic closer to
where you're listening could be a suitable option. Or turning down the treble and
presence until it sounds like you're used to hearing it. I'd recommend putting the
amp on a table or chair and try to listen to it at ear height. Then mess around
with your settings to get it sounding right. Then it should sound right going
through the mic.

If you're double tracking the guitars, reduce the gain to a level lower than
you expect. Once the other guitars stack up, it should sound as you intended.

Now, this mightn't necessarily be the problem, but it's definitely something the
guitarist should be aware of before recording.
 
philbagg said:
One problem that a lot of guitarists have, is the amp being down on the floor.
The treble/presence is boosted, and then you stand back up and play, and it
sounds right, where your ears are. You're hearing all the bass and low mids
perfectly, but the highs are getting lost at your legs so you use the EQ to
compensate.

The problem normally lies when a mic is put at the same height as the amp. The
mic is picking up the amp sound that you're not used to hearing. The extra high
end is making the guitar sound brittle and harsh, so moving the mic closer to
where you're listening could be a suitable option. Or turning down the treble and
presence until it sounds like you're used to hearing it. I'd recommend putting the
amp on a table or chair and try to listen to it at ear height. Then mess around
with your settings to get it sounding right. Then it should sound right going
through the mic.

If you're double tracking the guitars, reduce the gain to a level lower than
you expect. Once the other guitars stack up, it should sound as you intended.

Now, this mightn't necessarily be the problem, but it's definitely something the
guitarist should be aware of before recording.
Click to expand...

Good stuff philbagg. That "amp on the floor" thing gets people all the time. You really have to stick your ear right down on the speaker grill and hear what the mic is gonna hear. (You have to turn it down of course!)

I use angled stands for my amps, and I even forget that. I just bought a new amp and it was way darker than I expected from listening to samples--duhh!! it was on the floor.
 
WhiteStrat said:
Good stuff philbagg. That "amp on the floor" thing gets people all the time. You really have to stick your ear right down on the speaker grill and hear what the mic is gonna hear. (You have to turn it down of course!)

I use angled stands for my amps, and I even forget that. I just bought a new amp and it was way darker than I expected from listening to samples--duhh!! it was on the floor.
Click to expand...

I know I shouldn't, but when I'm just jamming, my ideal place for putting the
amp is standing normally, on the floor, on a carpeted surface while I'm standing.

I know it's not how the amp actually sounds, but f**k it, it's not being recorded,
nobody cares. I love the darker tone and it sounds much better to me :D

OTOH, I despise my recorded guitar tones (distorted rhythm only, clean stuff
and lead stuff are ok).

Cheers d00d :D

EDIT: I heard that new amp ya bought, ya bastaad :mad: It's friggin SWEEEEET :D
 
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