My recording woes with guitar. (Now with sound clips!)

  • Thread starter Thread starter jndietz
  • Start date Start date
I didn't listen to the more current song yet, but the last post is a really good point. Can you borrow another amp or distortion pedal to try? If your recording rig is the limiting factor, then it will let you down for all types of distorted sounds. But if you can try a bunch of different distortion sounds, you may be able to narrow in on one you like.

I find recording distorted guitar very difficult. A distortion pedal compresses the sound in a big way, so it sounds flat on the recording.

Maybe you can give the group a suggestion of a band with a great distortion sound to your ears...someone may be able to tell you if you are on the right track with your current distortion pedal.

I don't run a studio, I'm just a home recorder. But I went through this recently. My drum tracks, vocal tracks, and electric guitar tracks sounded fairly good - but my acoustic sounded fairly bad. I thought that my mic's or pre's just weren't flattering for acoustic guitar and bought a bunch of stuff. It turned out that it was my guitar. Which makes sense...if all instruments sound good except acoustic guitar, then it would make sense that the source sound is the problem, not the recording gear.

I use a danelectro Daddy-O distortion, and find it much grittier than your sound. More Black Rebel Motorcylce Club, or Joan Jett type of sound.
 
I think the clean stuff is about as good as it gets from your gear.

I think the distortion needs work. That is about the worst sound I've ever heard! (no offence). I think you've made these mistakes:
- no mids. You need mids, period. Turn that sh*t up (and not just a notch).
- WAY too much bass. Close micing already gives you extra bass. Turn that sh*t down.
- Too much distortion, which results in less growl and more treble. Too much treble that can't really be EQed out. Turn down you're distortion and keep your hand on the treble pot. Mess with it. It will help you I think.
- Close micing. Take your mic a couple of inches further back, and move it an inch or 2 or 3 to one side, still pointing straight at the speaker.
 
Dead Eyes See No Future
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2942385&q=hi

The Sounds of Silence
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2926323&q=hi

I have a similar problem as the threadstarter. I've got a similar setup (Various quality guitars->Randall RG75 amp->Shure SM57, and another quality mic that I can't remember the name of->Behringer UB1002->soundcard). My distorted guitar sounds always sound too ambient- The best way I describe it is that, wheras in most professional recordings, it sounds as if the guitar is plugged into the speakers, on mine, it very obviously sounds like an amp was mic'd. I've tried all sorts of mic placement, EQ, compression, and other effects, pre- and post-recording.

Any tips?
 
Kronpox said:
Dead Eyes See No Future
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2942385&q=hi

The Sounds of Silence
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2926323&q=hi

I have a similar problem as the threadstarter. I've got a similar setup (Various quality guitars->Randall RG75 amp->Shure SM57, and another quality mic that I can't remember the name of->Behringer UB1002->soundcard). My distorted guitar sounds always sound too ambient- The best way I describe it is that, wheras in most professional recordings, it sounds as if the guitar is plugged into the speakers, on mine, it very obviously sounds like an amp was mic'd. I've tried all sorts of mic placement, EQ, compression, and other effects, pre- and post-recording.

Any tips?
Click to expand...

that stuff sounds 10x better than my stuff. i wish i could hear the problems you're hearing.
 
jndietz said:
I'm using a Digitech Metal Master
Click to expand...
I really think that is your biggest problem. Twice I had this metalcore band want to record with a digitech metal master, and both times it sounded horrible. It comes across really 'glassy' and fizzy sounding - and this was through a mesa (yea I know, but that's what how these kids played). I thought your clean tones sounded pretty decent, and but your distorted tones - they have that metal master fizz. Try something else. I don't know what other kinds of pedals out there are similar but the metal master is horrible...
 
I like the way they all sounded, especially the first and third. I'm not in love with cheapo distortion pedal sound, but if you like the sound coming out of your amp, then you should try moving the mic around till what you're hearing on the recording is closer to what you're hearing in the room. A lot of people put the mics right up on the speaker, which usually doesn't translate too well to "tape". Putting the mic a few inches to a foot or more away usually produces a more natural sound.
You do have a nasty 60hz buzz going on that could be a bad cord, a bad ground, or RF from single coil pickups from dimmers or neon signs. It kind of adds to the flavor though.

Cool stuff
 
Well, finally an update to this thread! But, I dragged my Peavey out of the closet that has onboard distortion. And actually, I think it sounds pretty good for a tube amp :) At least it is a definate improvement over my old distortion recordings. Check these out:

Glycerin riff
Some E Blues

Anyone have any further suggestions? :)

OH yeah... that 60Hz buzzing is from my guitar pickups pointed towards my monitors on my computer :)
 
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