miking guitar distortion

[yanquiu.x.o.]

Hi, I'm pretty new to recording and I have a question regarding miking a distorted guitar sound. I have a Vox 120 watt amp (one of the new valvetronix models) and a fender stratocaster and I am using a hi-gain distortion. I'm wondering how to mic it so that it will sound very full and not quite so mid-heavy as it does right now. I've also been experimenting with a direct out of the amp and an effect pedal that works pretty well but it doesn't make up for the mic's. I play a fast, heavy, style of ########/punk so I'd like it to sound aggressive but still clear and full. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Outlaws]

After you toss drums and bass into the equation, I am sure you will find that that midrange you so hate is the only thing really keeping you guitar in the mix.

 

[Light]

Read Slipperman's big distorted guitar thread over on the MARSH at prosoundeb.com. It is more spicifically about nu-metal sounds, but it has information which is good for any style of music.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Son of Mixerman]

Hi, I'm pretty new to recording and I have a question regarding miking a distorted guitar sound. I have a Vox 120 watt amp (one of the new valvetronix models) and a fender stratocaster and I am using a hi-gain distortion. I'm wondering how to mic it so that it will sound very full and not quite so mid-heavy as it does right now. I've also been experimenting with a direct out of the amp and an effect pedal that works pretty well but it doesn't make up for the mic's. I play a fast, heavy, style of ########/punk so I'd like it to sound aggressive but still clear and full. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

2 amps... One clean, one dirty. Isolated and split the guitar with one of these... http://www.littlelabs.com/pcp.html Back off the distortion so that its not too fizzy. Get a good parametric eq to carve out the uglies. Double your parts.


SoMm

 

[pennylink]

After you toss drums and bass into the equation, I am sure you will find that that midrange you so hate is the only thing really keeping you guitar in the mix.

Wholeheartedly agree with this. If you record with what appears like a "normal" bass level on your guitar track, you'll only have to roll off the bass once you hear it in context of a mix. The only exception would be if there are no other bass-heavy instruments in the mix, but that wouldn't be rock 'n' roll now, would it?

 

[yanquiu.x.o.]

hey thanks

thanks for the help guys! like I said I'm new to recording so I may post a couple more times about problems I have. Just let me know if I'm being annoying and asking dumb, easy, questions. But yeah thanks for the help a lot!!

 

[Scottgman]

Thanks for the link, Light!

yanquiu.x.o., don't get frustrated if you aren't getting the tone you want on tape. I have been struggling with recording guitar tones that I'm happy with for over a year now. The funny thing is that I think I'm better at capturing good drum sounds than guitar sounds-- and I'm not a drummer but I've been playing guitar for 16 years! You'd think I'd be better at recording guitar! I think the key is just experimenting with different guitars/pickups/amps/mics/preamps/mic placement until you find something you like. But-- as the thread Light linked to indicates-- tracking is only half the battle... because you then have to get that great guitar tone to sound great in the mix.

 

[gasal69]

Thanks for the link, Light!

yanquiu.x.o., don't get frustrated if you aren't getting the tone you want on tape. I have been struggling with recording guitar tones that I'm happy with for over a year now. The funny thing is that I think I'm better at capturing good drum sounds than guitar sounds-- and I'm not a drummer but I've been playing guitar for 16 years! You'd think I'd be better at recording guitar! I think the key is just experimenting with different guitars/pickups/amps/mics/preamps/mic placement until you find something you like. But-- as the thread Light linked to indicates-- tracking is only half the battle... because you then have to get that great guitar tone to sound great in the mix.

En experiment gives allways some results.
I did experiments with miccellanous guitar pedals without amps.
What I say is I connect pedal directly to PC's line in or mic input.
Mic input usualy gives better results.
But be patient my friend! The results are mostly bad.