Horrible Tone, where am I going wrong?

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Southrnlyfe

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New to recording and I need to use DI because I live in an apt. My guitar sounds cheap and digitized. Here's my setup:

Presonus Studio One Pro w/ audiobox USB, Squier strat MIM w/ 2 EMG-S and EMG 81, Boss ME-70 and an HP laptop that could use an upgrade but it's gets the job done.

I know the guitar is sub par but I have a 1983 Greco LP on the way. Could it be a cord, the audiobox, the ME-70.....ect.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
My guitar sounds cheap and digitized.
Click to expand...
You're using a cheap guitar through cheap digital effects - With no amplifier, no speaker, no air moving, while the signal being created is tuned for all those things.

At the very minimum, some sort of signal processor that's made to be used direct. Line 6's POD (assuming those are still around) would be a reasonable place to go.
 
Do you have any sort of amp simulator software? I think that would get you closer to the results you're looking for.
 
yep. I second the amp simulator. I picked up a Line 6 GX for like $50 a while back. Sounds pretty good.
 
The Boss ME-70's Record Out/Headphones jack has an inbuilt amp simulator which provides a much better recorded sound than if you plug in from your L/R Amp output...I'm a beginner too, but that gives me marginally decent quality audio. Hope it helps!
 
+1 to all that.
Some pedals and many amplifiers (I must mention no names!) have "emulated" outputs that at least take the "hi fi fizz" edge off guitar.

Dave.
 
I'd be ditching the Boss unit and going for onboard amp sims/effects... the Boss has its uses for live gigs, but it's always gonna be really fizzy as a DI... as ecc83 above says..
 
Massive Master said:
You're using a cheap guitar through cheap digital effects - With no amplifier, no speaker, no air moving, while the signal being created is tuned for all those things.

At the very minimum, some sort of signal processor that's made to be used direct. Line 6's POD (assuming those are still around) would be a reasonable place to go.
Click to expand...

I would echo Massive's comment about amp sims. I don't have any experience with software-based sims, but I'm using a Line 6 POD HD Pro, and it sounds great. I've been reocring guitars straight through that and into a Tascam 2488 neo, and the results are very good considering the setup. I've played cheap and expensive guitars through it alike, and it all came out well. It's not a cheap unit by any stretch, so maybe look into demoing amp sim plugins before spending any money. Also, once that is done, double-track all your rhythm parts and pan accordingly - it makes a world of difference.
 
Simple solution Move to a different apartment, buy a decent amp, a couple of sm57's and a decent pre (eventually get a decent AD) then learn how to properly mic an amp and press record. problem solved
 
A few years ago I remember hearing some gtr tracks recorded through a pod that sounded pretty good.
 
I agree with Massive Master.. must be thats the problem as Massive Master said check it out once
 
Kudos for even identifying that your tone is bad. Many n00bs are so excited to get started that they don't even realize that what they're doing is not good. You're already ahead of the curve.

So yeah, what everyone else said. Get a decent inboard or outboard simulator. Lots of people get very good results with them.
 
Southrnlyfe said:
New to recording and I need to use DI because I live in an apt. My guitar sounds cheap and digitized. Here's my setup:

Presonus Studio One Pro w/ audiobox USB, Squier strat MIM w/ 2 EMG-S and EMG 81, Boss ME-70 and an HP laptop that could use an upgrade but it's gets the job done.

I know the guitar is sub par but I have a 1983 Greco LP on the way. Could it be a cord, the audiobox, the ME-70.....ect.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Just for the record............The MIM Squier strat is not the problem. I have owned many USA, MIM,
MIC, etc...strats and there's not much difference provided you have an amp or simulator to go
through. I use Amplitube 3 with my 90's Squier Strat and I get killer tones.
 
Massive Master said:
You're using a cheap guitar through cheap digital effects - With no amplifier, no speaker, no air moving, while the signal being created is tuned for all those things.

At the very minimum, some sort of signal processor that's made to be used direct. Line 6's POD (assuming those are still around) would be a reasonable place to go.
Click to expand...

I can vouch for POD. In my current set up i play through a POD 2.0 . I can pretty much replicate tones from all my fav albums. A great investment if you dont want to mess around with loads of amps etc
 
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