Heavy distorted guitars

  • Thread starter Thread starter ecktronic
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ecktronic

ecktronic

Mixing and Mastering.
Does anyone have any tips, on what to do to avoid getting an overprocessed recoding of heavy distorted guitars?
Here is an example of what I mean by overprocessed guitars.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/downloadSong.cfm?ID=2744659&key=BF07712D-D

Its that grainy sound I want to not be in my recordings. I would prefer a smoother, but still heavy distortion recording.

My set up for this was. Marshall JCM2000 DSL with 1960 4x12 cab and Boss GT6 effects processor, and the 2nd guitar used some box stomp boxes, cant remember which ones.

Im thinking that its the distortion boxes, and processors thats causing the grainy distortion. I dont like the distortion from my amp alone.

Does anyone know of any good distortion stomp boxes that produce smooth not grainy distortion?

Thanks in advance.
Eck
 
the distortion sound good, but a little grainy. I just recorded this morning a heavy distorted guitar, with same results as you. What I did I recorded the first session (2 tracks with sm57) metal master pedal > peavey tube amp, but I lowered the volume on the amp. I lowered it down until I got a cleaner sounding distortion. On the second session (two tracks with sm57) distortion that came with the amp, I did the same thing lowered the volume. Now with 4 tracks, I got a fuller heavier sound. I just slapped very little compression, and some eq. Im totally happy. I hope this helps


john

www.hellholestudio.com
 
Instead of using pedal distortion try using the amps distortion with an overdrive pedal. Also don't ever be afraid to crank down the gain.
 
The DSL is capable of really good sounding distortion tracks. Mic placement is crucial! Also as stated earlier use less gain than you think you need as gain translates differently in a recording situation. If you do a hard roll off at about 10k it will get rid of some of the grainyness (IZ 'AT A WERD?)
 
jmxdrummer said:
the distortion sound good, but a little grainy. I just recorded this morning a heavy distorted guitar, with same results as you. What I did I recorded the first session (2 tracks with sm57) metal master pedal > peavey tube amp, but I lowered the volume on the amp. I lowered it down until I got a cleaner sounding distortion. On the second session (two tracks with sm57) distortion that came with the amp, I did the same thing lowered the volume. Now with 4 tracks, I got a fuller heavier sound. I just slapped very little compression, and some eq. Im totally happy. I hope this helps


john

www.hellholestudio.com
Click to expand...


Yeah thanks.
Id love to hear a sample of your distortion in a mix (or if its not in a mix on its own)

Eck
 
jonnyc said:
Instead of using pedal distortion try using the amps distortion with an overdrive pedal. Also don't ever be afraid to crank down the gain.
Click to expand...

Good idea. I dont like my Marshall DSL50 distortion, but with an overdrive pedal that might do the trick.
Cheers,
Eck
 
Micter said:
The DSL is capable of really good sounding distortion tracks. Mic placement is crucial! Also as stated earlier use less gain than you think you need as gain translates differently in a recording situation. If you do a hard roll off at about 10k it will get rid of some of the grainyness (IZ 'AT A WERD?)
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I find that I end up with a muddy sound if I roll of the his at aound 10k with my recordings.

Suppose I just need some practice.

Cheers,
Eck
 
What is it you don't like about the JCM2000's distortion?
Have you tried recording it anyway? Maybe a sound that you don't like as much in the room will translate better on your recordings. Especially if you're going to layer the guitar performances.
My suggestion would be to experiment more with the amp, and with layering sounds.
I would say stay away from the processors if you want an unprocessed sound. You should be able to get something good out of that amp.
 
What mic or mics are you using? What guitar? The best thing to do is keep it simple. First get a good basic sound from the amp with no pedal on, then with a classic overdrive or distortion stomp-box get a nice loud crunchy sound from the amp, then throw a Shure SM57 or Sennheiser MD421 or E609 on there, and that should do 'er. Nuthin' Fancy!

The problem with a lot of modern multi-effects processor boxes is that they are designed to get you sounds like you hear on finished major-label records. (They're also designed for live use where you have to switch tones quickly). This can result in them sounding too hypey and too compressed (overprocessed). Typically the sounds you hear on your favorite records were NOT gotten with these fancy multi-effects, but with a couple good guitars, a couple good amps, and a couple decent mics.

One of the pedals that gets used a lot in my studio is the good ol' Boss Super Overdrive, that pee-yellow classic. Classic Boss Overdrive and Distortion Pedals
 
metalhead28 said:
What is it you don't like about the JCM2000's distortion?
Have you tried recording it anyway? Maybe a sound that you don't like as much in the room will translate better on your recordings. Especially if you're going to layer the guitar performances.
My suggestion would be to experiment more with the amp, and with layering sounds.
I would say stay away from the processors if you want an unprocessed sound. You should be able to get something good out of that amp.
Click to expand...

The JCM2000 distortion sounds muddy to me and doesnt seem to have much meatiness to it. Yeah your right I should experiment with it though.
I would love to get that smooth metal distortion sound that Deftones have.

Cheers.

Eck
 
Drewcifer666 said:
What mic or mics are you using? What guitar? The best thing to do is keep it simple. First get a good basic sound from the amp with no pedal on, then with a classic overdrive or distortion stomp-box get a nice loud crunchy sound from the amp, then throw a Shure SM57 or Sennheiser MD421 or E609 on there, and that should do 'er. Nuthin' Fancy!

The problem with a lot of modern multi-effects processor boxes is that they are designed to get you sounds like you hear on finished major-label records. (They're also designed for live use where you have to switch tones quickly). This can result in them sounding too hypey and too compressed (overprocessed). Typically the sounds you hear on your favorite records were NOT gotten with these fancy multi-effects, but with a couple good guitars, a couple good amps, and a couple decent mics.

One of the pedals that gets used a lot in my studio is the good ol' Boss Super Overdrive, that pee-yellow classic. Classic Boss Overdrive and Distortion Pedals
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.
I used a Fender Strat, an Ibanez S series, and sm57 and sm58 mics.

For the next sessions I will be using a PRS MCcarty Soapbar, a Gibson Les Paul Standard, and I have a choice of mics from sm57, sm58, NT2, AKG C414.

Cheers,
Eck
 
i used to think i had the same problem when recording distorted guitars. but then it hit me...........

- if it sounds good un-mic'ed,..... then your not mic'ing it right.
- EQ out the muddyness (notch out around 350-450hz by 4 db), or try a small boost of 3k for clarity and bite, but i like to cut instead of boosting.
-track it twice! layer your guitar parts to make em sound huge!

after this is done, youll still notice that your guitars dont sound as nice as deftones and other commercial CDs..........thats because your mix hasnt been master yet! Mastering the mix usually made my guitars sound more present, and meatier.................
 
Do you have some examples of what kind of distortion/tone you are trying for??
 
Want my guitars to resemble Deftones in the smoothness and full deepness.

You can check out samples here although the MP3s aint too hot.

Go to http://www.deftones.com
Then albums, then Deftones, then Good morning beautifull.
 
right not in the mood to reall evrything to see if its been sugested but record the guitars clean from a DI box.
They can still have the distortion from the cab with the pedals ect using the link on the DI use mics to record the distorted sound try using a spaced pair and a couple of room mics.

And try adding the distortion afterwords to the clean signal with you outboard or VST plugins.

Remember try and make as meny posibilities as possible specialy with digital you got all the space in the world to record as much as you can.

Just mind and watch for phasing


BTW the NT2's are great on guitars :)
 
spaced pairs work great on distorted guitars...usually about 3' out...
then a 57 or i5, whichever,
then a DI

layering does make your guitar sound huge, but it also tends to make the attack of the guitar sound muddy, since multiple parts can't be played EXACTLY. if you something like Vocalign, that could help cure the muddiness of the attack, but it's not a complete fix.

I think the best thing to do is set up as many mics as you possibly can, getting a good sound out of each, then you can decide which ones you want to use...being cognisant of phasing...and you don't get that muddy attack that comes with double-tracking a guitar
 
Good points yeah.
Best to do as much as I can at tracking so when at mixing I have more control over the tone.

Eck
 
After checking out the guitarist from the deftones rig in guitar geek, 'unprocessed' is probably the LAST thing you would want to call his sound.

Stephen Carpenter of Deftones guitar rig

Having said that, it sounds to me like highly (max?) saturated tubes using the low level input on a tube amp. I don't know what the Boss hyperfuzz sounds like, maybe that contributes to the sound.
 
Thats awsome.
Thanks for finding the link for us. :)

Now the fun begins. :)

Cheers,
Eck
 
gutiars

I find the best metal/hard rock gutiar tone comes from the mesa cabs. I use the 57, off axis on the lower right speaker of the 4x12. On the top slanted speakers, i use my sennhieser md421. When i mix them, i'll set the 57 at 0db, and the 421 at about -12db. This gave me the power and warmth of the 57, with the crystal clarity of the 421, without having to EQ the gutiar. And less EQ is always more. Getting a clean tone is also all about the amount of gain you have on it. I find that cranking the amp and then just turning the gain up enough to get a clean distortion, will make it sound really heavy in the mix. If you use alotta gain, it tends to sound scratchy and thin. A nice preamp always makes things easier too.

check out a tune i did latley, the gutiar sounds pretty good.
www.myspace.com/thebarnrecording
 
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