I hate micing amps! Anyone else feel this way!?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DAS19
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DAS19

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Hey, I am just soo fustrated with micing amps I can never get a sound I am really happy with out of 1 track. Most of the time I have to put everything together in the mix to get it to sound good or even decent. I just feel like people get such better tones from micing amps and im wondering if im doing something wrong or what. I cant stand the loudness of amps and im wondering if I should just go out and buy a Behri Vamp 2.

Im really considering buying the vamp but most vst amps that I have like guitar rig and amplitube arent good at all soo im hoping the vamp is. Does anybody like guitar rig 2 I think it sucks and cant get a tone that I like for the love of me.

Just wondering your guys comments.

Thanks,
Dave.
 
What kind of amp and mic are you using?

Put on your headphones and play guitar while an assistant moves the mic around...trying different angles toward the cone, etc...when it sounds best, document the setup.

I like to record 2 tracks for all my guitar work. As long as you play it the same, it'll sound much bigger and fuller.
Also, it's all about getting the proper sound FOR THE MIX...not getting a great sound by itself. Keep that in mind.
 
I feel your pain man. Miking amps for some home studio guys, just not an option. Anyone who says "that ain't rock and roll" obviously doesn't have an 18 month old sleeping soundly under their 'studio". I digree.

Anyway, here's what I did. I went and bought myself a Vox Tonelab. I've got Guitar Rig 2, but found myself less than impressed. Brought the Tonelab home, played with presets, played making my own settings. Two weeks later, much the Guitar Center's amazement, I took it back. I've realized my lack of patience was costing me more dough (purchasing the Tonelab on top of Guitar Rig 2). I've spent some time tweaking presets and creating my own presets in Guitar Rig 2 now, and honestly, its very capable. If you take the time to make it your own.

What sounds are you looking for? I may can give some pointers to get you there.

6
 
Like you said just plain old rock and roll sounds. Mild distortion mostly. I like pop rock, beatles and beach boys but I want to turn that stuff modern soo I like a little more distortion but yeah if you want to give me some presets that would be awsome. The meters always go nuts in guitar rig 2 soo I find myself tweaking those but still they seem to sometimes bug out.

To answer the other question I have a fender hot rod deluxe and a sm57 along with a groovetube gt55 condensor that ive used. When using both and mixing the tracks I can get a good sound but im trying to really work on using just the 57 thats why im pissed I cant get a good sound just using a 57. Using a condensor and a 57 the sound seems alright I guess. Check out my sound and see what you think its using a condensor and a 57 mixed together on both the bass and regular guitars.

www.myspace.com/meyouanddaveytoo

The song was mixed by nl5 who is a professional soo that makes it sound a lot better then I could have probably gotten it.
 
I'm using a plexi head with a their tube screamer deal in front of it. Gain is about 7 on both volumes on the plexi, I don't have it in front of me, but I think the tube screamer is set to either "buttery" or "just warmer". I've had to pull all the bass out of the plexi, mids about half, and highs about half. The cabinet is 4X12 vintage type with a 57 on axis. Again, I had to pull the bass out of the cab. Lastly, a pinch of studio reverb.

If I can figure out how, I'll send you the setting file.

Let me know what you think of it.
6
 
I know exactly what you mean....been there, lost my mind there, came back, bought one of these..........

V-amp Pro (rack).......man!!!.....computer control, flexibility, sound quality.......and super cheap!!! (especially second hand!!).

Oh....did i mention that I now record late into the night, without pissing off my neighbours!!?

Seriously....pod, v-amp,etc.....they're all a very good alternative nowadays!! :)




Regards....
 
Mic'ing amps rock!



Experiment and try different things such as different mics, mic placements, room treatments.

What I have done and still do is record samples and document the settings for each telling what mic / preamp / mic distance / and so on. When all your samples are done listen to them one at a time. You can learn a lot from doing it.
 
I own just about every modeler ever made. While they're handy and all, none of them equil a real amp, tube or solid state. I much prefere miking an amp.
 
DAS19 said:
Most of the time I have to put everything together in the mix to get it to sound good or even decent. I just feel like people get such better tones from micing amps and im wondering if im doing something wrong or what. I cant stand the loudness of amps and im wondering if I should just go out and buy a Behri Vamp 2.
Click to expand...
Micing amps is cool. A good guitar track doesn't necessarily sound good on its own and if it sounds better in the mix, that is a good thing. What amps are you micing? I'm guessing that is 50% of your problem and the other 50% is the guitar playing itself :p.
 
DAS19 said:
To answer the other question I have a fender hot rod deluxe and a sm57 along with a groovetube gt55 condensor that ive used. When using both and mixing the tracks I can get a good sound but im trying to really work on using just the 57 thats why im pissed I cant get a good sound just using a 57.
Click to expand...

I agree that you should be able to get a decent sound out of a 57 but that does'nt mean a 57 will give you the best sound, especially if you have other mics to work with. Good sound is subjective. Does your amp sound good before micing it?

I'm all in favor of a miced amp but I heard a v-amp pro over at ninjam the other day and was pretty impressed. I never would have expected tone that good out of a digital box.

I've found amplitube to be nearly useless. The pod xt is a pretty decent modeler. Revalver is probably the best software modeler I've tried.
 
that's what i'm saying

i get to track some metal guitars and bass this weekend, and can't wait to break out the stacks and piss off some neighbors!
 
the only thing better than hearing a good amp is feeling a good amp. :D
 
You dont understand the only time I get to work is mainly into the weest hours of the night. And with the vamp I can record and get song ideas done at 2 oclock without bother anybody at all. I know how you feel about micing amps and some cases amps need to be miced but im going to try my luck with the vamp I think it seems to be getting some good reviews from what I here. The loudness is good and all but when no one else in your house plays music thye just get annoyed when your playing the same take over and over again at a really high volume. Plus I feel like its easier to get a take without a live hot mic and background noise. You dont know how many tyimes a take is ruin from a telephone ringing in my "studio" or a person barging in my room.

I know some of these guys know what I mean and others just dont feel like understanding. If I had a isobooth please the guitar amp would be on 11 not 10 but I dont soo it usally stays on 3 which is even to loud for my older brother to come storming in my room and start turning switches on my amp to try and get me to lower it.
 
DAS19 said:
If I had a isobooth please the guitar amp would be on 11 not 10 but I dont soo it usally stays on 3 which is even to loud for my older brother to come storming in my room and start turning switches on my amp to try and get me to lower it.
Click to expand...

Kick him in the nads and show him what rock n roll's about. :D
 
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