HELP!! Recording Guitar (DI)

[RuZZRoXX]

What uppp!?! Hokay so, my band and I are doing a pre production demo on a BOSS 1600 so we can be as sharp as possible when we go into an actual studio. Normally I would mic up my rig, but have been mixing the drums at my home and decided to try directly inputting my guitar. I'm shooting for a Metallica type distortion. I am having a Sisyphus dilemma with my Distortion. My problems being: clarity, sound actually hurts the ear at times, sustain (with minimal unnecessary fuzz), and it simply sounds tooo processed.

Equipment:
Mics:
Rode NT1-A
AKG Perception 220
Shure Sm57 n 58

Rig:

Fender American Deluxe Fat Strat
Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Plus Humbucker + 2 Single Coils
Crate BV 120
Boss GT-6

These are my Guitar's settings on the 1600 I'm messing around with:

Compressor: On
Sustain: 35 <- When raised, I get a cloud of fuzz
Attack: 25
Tone: 0
Level: 60

OD/DS: On
Type: Booster
OD/DS Drive: 35
OD/DS Bass: 0
OD/DS Treble: 0
OD/DS Level: 50

Preamp: On
Type: Lead Stack <- Also mess around with the Drive n Metal Stack, n 5150
Gain: 60
Bass: 55
Middle: 40
Treble: 60
Presence: 0
Level: 40
Gain Mode: Middle
-
Speaker Simulation:
Type: 8x12
Mic Setting: Center
Mic Level: 100
Direct Level: 0
-
Ambience Pre-Delay: 0.5ms <- Unsure of what this does.
Amb Size: 10.0ms
Amb Density: 10
Amb HF Damp: Normal (Dark, Bright)
Level:5


EQ: On
Low EQ: +12db
Low-Mid Freq: 500hz
Low-Mid EQ Q: 1
Low-Mid EQ Gain: -2db
Hi-Mid Freq: 8.00khz
Hi-Mid EQ Q: 4
HI Mid EQ Gain: +5db
Hi EQ: +10db
EQ Level: +2


Noise Supressor: On
Threshold: 100
Release: 100


Delay: On
Type: Single
Delay Time: 160ms
Feedback: 0
High Cut Freq: Flat
Effect level: 10

Open to any help/ suggestions/ comments other than micing my rig

 

[Descalabro]

Hi.

I also do direct recording, for reasons different than yours, and I really don't know that much about all those EQs you mentioned, but maybe you should look at my recent thread on which I had similar issues:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=295402

My recent sound still feels a bit processed, but I'm ok with it because it suits my style of music.

You should also try to post online some of your samples so that more experienced users may help you. Put them at http://soundcloud.com/.

 

[nate_dennis]

So are you using the GT6 before you go into the BR1600? If so, make sure it's set to go a mixer and not an amp. Also, if you're using the GT6 it's going to have a lot of the same things (i.e. noise surpressor, compressor, etc.) I would choose one or the other. Use the 1600s processor, or use the GT6. I may have you're set up wrong, but if you're processing it twice, it's going to sound a whole lot more processed than if you only process it once. Just a thought.

 

[Sen]

If so, make sure it's set to go a mixer and not an amp.

Either that or the phones/line output..sounds the best for direct recording IMO. I've had that GT6 box for years and never could/tried hard to get a decent sound out of it , but after a bit of tweaking the other day, I realised that it's actually a great little pedal..So keep at it, with a bit of patience, good results can be had..

 

[RuZZRoXX]

Thanks for the responses. I am not going through my GT-6 to record. I am just DI'ing right into the 1600. However, I have experimented with that, along with going through my head into the 1600, or the Head -> GT-6 -> 1600. I am recording bass and vox tomorrow soooo I will have a sample up of the mix very soon and will be looking for suggestions. As for the GT-6, I have mastered that pedal and absolutely love it. Took a long time to solidify my sound. I harmonize with myself in any key, in any chromatic step, its got a great live sound, as long as you don't turn up loud... You can get some nasty feedback with that thing. I used to have a ton of pedals, but I live in Las Vegas and your money disappears here :/