how should my band record guitars?

[nevermentioned1]

ok, we are quite new to this we are currently recording with a behrub1832 behringer or something like that mixer then into a computer using cakewalk hs 2002, to record guitars we put a mic up to the amp and recorded it like that but i was wondering if it would be better if we just went directly from mixer to the cpu, know what i mean i'll try explain.... cpu----->mixer---amp and also from the mixer is the guitar so if anyone could help that would be great thanks

 

[radiorickm]

confused?????

i was wondering if it would be better if we just went directly from mixer to the cpu, know what i mean i'll try explain.... cpu----->mixer---amp and also from the mixer is the guitar so if anyone could help that would be great thanks

sure dude. just rewire the xlr plug and hook it up to that Celeron.


sorry, being a smartass, but i really don't understand your question at all.

There are basically 2 ways to get an amplified guitar signal onto "tape" (as it were). You can either go the direct out route, or mic the cab.

i guess if you can clarify the qeustion a bit i'll try and help

 

[manning1]

search under my name and add the word triangle.
its a technique for recording a band.

 

[chris-from-ky]

What guitar amp are you using?

What mic are you using?

What soundcard are you using?

What stompboxes (if any) are in the signal chain?

Does your guitar amp have a direct out on it?

 

[nevermentioned1]

ok sorry of you dont under stand my question

i'll try again. oh i have a behringer mixer a amd duron 1.3ghz 256 ram, and the sound car is just a generic 5.1 sound card. we have 2 fender strats one tom delonge a fender roc pro 700 and a fender....not sure right now buts its bigger then the 700 we rented some mics and they are all shure mics not sure which ones, ok so this is how we have it set up we put the mic from the mixer in front of the amp the guitar is plugged in to the mixer and the mixer is pluged into the computer. i was just wondering if its easier to not mic the amp and not use the amp at all just plug the guitar to the mixer and the mixer to the computer, would that be better since the amp creates some extra noise? the rest of my band say all the bands record by micing the amps...we i hope this is more clear and someone can help me thanks

 

[glimmer_doll]

not all bands record by micing amps. Both practices are quite common, though micing an amp is usually preferable...unless the amp sounds like crap...

 

[chris-from-ky]

Well, if i were you I'd forget about recording myself and find a cheap studio in the area to get a recording done. I'm not suggesting that it can't be done cause it can but, you'll be worrying about more than just the performance. And THAT is everything. The headache of rounding up the right gear to make it work and doing it right could easily be the responsibility of your engineer and NOT you. Surely, you could get the tracking done reasonably and take the wavs home and mix them yourself on your PC. Where you guys from??

Chris

 

[LRosario]

Go dual,


Have a direct in from the amp as well as a mic setup.


Most of the time, we don't even bother miking up guitar cabs in the studio. We just have an arsenal of amp heads to choose from and run it through a DI unit all from the comfort of the control room.

 

[Wireneck]

Most of the time, we don't even bother miking up guitar cabs in the studio. We just have an arsenal of amp heads to choose from and run it through a DI unit all from the comfort of the control room.

Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of owning an arsenal of guitar heads? Im sure its cool for an effect every now and then but using it most of the time? There is just something about an amp and speakers interacting with the room and the mic that you can never achieve going direct.
Most of the heads I ever heard direct, sucked ass as soon as you turned on the dirty channel. Which heads do you like for going direct?

 

[LRosario]

Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of owning an arsenal of guitar heads? Im sure its cool for an effect every now and then but using it most of the time? There is just something about an amp and speakers interacting with the room and the mic that you can never achieve going direct.
Most of the heads I ever heard direct, sucked ass as soon as you turned on the dirty channel. Which heads do you like for going direct?

We do this more for accurate recording purposes for the client. We generally prefer to have the client play his/her parts through the monitors, that way, whatever he hears is what's being recorded. Remember, the only reason you really have a cab in the first place is to be heard playing live.

In the studio, we can break rules anyway we need to.

To be honest, it sounds every bit as good as cab miking. But should we need the cab, we'll send him back to the booth and record along with any previous parts. Of course, initially, everything is miked out in the sound stages and we'll use that scratch track to do a number of things, soundwise.

When it comes to the heads, I've always had a thing for the mesa boogie triple rectifier.

 

[hasbeen]

We generally prefer to have the client play his/her parts through the monitors, that way, whatever he hears is what's being recorded.

Have you ever put a mic on the monitor while you are doing this?

 

[LRosario]

Have you ever put a mic on the monitor while you are doing this?

Oh no, not at all...the sound coming off the monitors is the sound thats being recorded. So there's no need.

 

[Ronan]

Remember, the only reason you really have a cab in the first place is to be heard playing live.

I could not disagree with this more.

 

[chessrock]

To be honest, it sounds every bit as good as cab miking.

I don't know what the heck they're teaching you kids these days at full sail.

 

[LRosario]

I could not disagree with this more.

To each his own...


Many ways of acheiving the same thing. Thats the bottom line.

 

[fenix]

To each his own...


Many ways of acheiving the same thing. Thats the bottom line.

Contrary to what they are teaching at Full Sail, miking an amp and DI'ing a guitar are not the same thing.

 

[The Seifer]

just use t-racks on it

 

[fenix]

just use t-racks on it

yes, but make sure you let the tubes heat up first. This will give you a warm, punchy, analogue tone.

 

[LRosario]

Contrary to what they are teaching at Full Sail, miking an amp and DI'ing a guitar are not the same thing.

Ultimately it's all a matter of preference. DI's and miking aren't the same thing, but through the results I've gotten over the years, I can argue that there is no one best way. Hence my previous statement, "more than one way to get the same thing".

But to redirect the question to nevermentioned...

the best thing you can do is try everything availible to you and take what you like and don't like.

 

[13th_Omen]

..with all those great heads you could always re-amp it!

I am a big fan of the mic and direct method. For scratch track i go direct ALWAYS, but for overdubs I throw a 57 on the cab and run direct as well.

I'm not suggesting that it can't be done cause it can but, you'll be worrying about more than just the performance. And THAT is everything.

chris, couldn't agree with you more! My band finally has a useable studio but we now suck! While getting everything to work and recording all the time we have gotten rusty as hell! Not to mention our bass player (who could care less about recording) is losing ambition from lack of shows.

I do, on the otherhand think that doing some of your own stuff will be VERY benefitial to you guys to prep you for the "real" studio. Get your songs REAL tight and have an idea about what kind of overdubs and arranging you will want to do before you dish out the loot!

Have Fun! That's what everything is all about!