Need advice

[Nash45]

I am a beginner at home recording and having a problem getting a good sound on my Strat. I have a Fostex MR8-HD that I record into. I like to play lead guitar to the Shadows backing tracks. I record the BT on tracks 1 and 2 and it sounds pretty good. I use a Digitech 1101 and a Behringer DI box for the lead guitar part. . I am having trouble getting that clean, clear Hank Marvin tone. I get what sounds like a slightly distorted sound and no matter how much I tweek the 1101 I can't seem to get a good sound. Also it sounds a bit tinny. I play the recorder thru studio monitors to hear my play back.

Should I get some different effects?

Should I totally start over with what I am using to record??

Thanks
Carson

 

[mjbphotos]

Most people will tell you to plug your guitar into an amp, adjust the amp for the sound you want, then mic it and record that.

 

[FunkDaddy]

How are you connecting the Digitech and DI box within your DAW?

 

[Nash45]

Ok I will look into miking the amp. The Fostex is a stand alone unit and I just go from Strat to DI and then to Digitech and output the audio with 2 xlr cables to the inputs of the Fostex. Keep in mind I don't know that much about recording and I am a beginner.

I know the SM 47 is usually recommended, are there others I could try??

Carson

 

[moresound]

Check into using a cheap $100. ribbon microphone from MXL or Nady for recording a guitar amp ..... you just may like that!

 

[AbuseTheMuses]

I could be wrong about this, but I don't think you need the DI box in your chain at all, the MR8 already has a guitar line input, and most multi-effect pedals are made to output their signal directly into a board. I didnt like my Digitech distortion either but mine was made in 1992. I assume they have gotten better than that by now but I always thought that it was a bit tinny.

If I am not mistaken, I think the MR8 has its own guitar sim effects too doesn't it? (or maybe that was the Mk.II) you might try digging around in their sounds.

If you think the digitech is causing your bad tone, try editing the patch from scratch, don't just use the presets. I NEVER use presets on multipedals without at least a bit of tweaking and I have used tons of different multipedals. Even the top of the line ones sound to me like the presets were knocked together in about 5 minutes as an afterthought. Best way to set up a guitar tone on a multipedal is to turn every module off to start with just a plain old clean signal. Then add the gain/amp sim/distortion/etc gradualy until you get the sound you want (for the sound you describe I am guessing a very low gain crunch with the master level turned up a good deal so it will still be loud enough with just a hint of distortion crunch from the gain. Next, tweak the EQ to your desired thickness, and leave it at that. Reverb and such can be added via your recorder after you record the pure track.

 

[Nash45]

Abuse
I am trying to get as clean a tone as possible. I don't know if you are familiar with Hank Marvin's sound or not. You can pull up the Shadows on u tube and listen to the lead guitar there. I will try what you said on starting with a clean signal and then adding effects step by step. I havent been doing that. But I AM NOT trying to get a crunch sound...I was trying to explain that the Digitech is distorting the sound, which is what I DON'T want.

Thanks to all for their input.....I am open to ideas and trying them out.

Carson

 

[moresound]

Abuse
I am trying to get as clean a tone as possible. I don't know if you are familiar with Hank Marvin's sound or not. You can pull up the Shadows on u tube and listen to the lead guitar there. I will try what you said on starting with a clean signal and then adding effects step by step. I havent been doing that. But I AM NOT trying to get a crunch sound...I was trying to explain that the Digitech is distorting the sound, which is what I DON'T want.

Thanks to all for their input.....I am open to ideas and trying them out.

Carson

Then I hope that means you'll try a ribbon microphone!

 

[PRHunt]

A guitarist friend of mine has been quite happy using a little Naiant X-S omni draped over the front of his cabinet.

Probably not a universal solution, but it works for us.

Paul

 

[moresound]

A guitarist friend of mine has been quite happy using a little Naiant X-S omni draped over the front of his cabinet.

Probably not a universal solution, but it works for us.

Paul

You should try it out in front maybe 3 feetish and have it facing straight up.

 

[Nash45]

I hear ya loud and clear

Moresound,
I havent ignored your advice about the ribbon mic. I saw the type you recommended on Craigslist for around $75. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Carson

 

[PRHunt]

Referencing Naiant X-S

You should try it out in front maybe 3 feetish and have it facing straight up.

That sounds like a plan

 

[grimtraveller]

I am trying to get as clean a tone as possible. I don't know if you are familiar with Hank Marvin's sound or not.

I am having trouble getting that clean, clear Hank Marvin tone.

Hank Marvin's influence on rock guitar has been sadly underplayed and neglected in rock history. British rock lead guitar really begins with him and guys like Mick Green. Most if not all the standard 60s stalwarts of Brit rock guitar took their cue from Hank, not least because he played a Fender Strat {many say it was the first time they ever saw one} in the late 50s/1960~ish. The Shadows with their lead, rhythm and bass guitar line up and the Pirates with their three piece {guitar/bass/drums} line up also set in stone the standard rock band format and were instrumental in pushing guitars to the forefront of rock and wresting control from the piano and sax which had been the dominant instruments in rock'n'roll up till then.

Sorry that doesn't help you at all Carson, but I was feeling not a little historical !

 

[timtimtim]

Apparantly Hank Marvin was one of Frank Zappa's big early influences

 

[gehauser]

The Fostex is a stand alone unit and I just go from Strat to DI and then to Digitech and output the audio with 2 xlr cables to the inputs of the Fostex.

To get the cleanest highest quality signal, remove as much as possible from your signal chain. Previous poster (AbuseTheMuses) had it right - plug your guitar direct into the channel A of your Fostex (set the switch on the back of the MR8 to GUITAR). Input A with the GUITAR setting is intended to be your DI.

 

[buzzard bass]

Something in the chain may be overdriving the input on the recorder. Nice thing about micing the amp is there's only one thing in the chain to the recorder, the mic, well the cable too, but you know what I mean. The mic you're thinking of is the Shure SM57. Lot of people here like the GLS knock offs, the ES57 and 58, for 2/3 the price of the SM57 you could get one of each. I'm impressed by their quality, a lot more than what you'd expect for the price. If Shure is the way to go, the 57 is a great all purpose mic, never seen a sound company or studio without some of these kicking around.

 

[Nash45]

I have a shure beta 57A mic here. Haven't tried to use it for a recording mic. Will that mic work for recording??

Carson

 

[moresound]

I have a shure beta 57A mic here. Haven't tried to use it for a recording mic. Will that mic work for recording??

Carson

It should work well on a guitar cab just put on a set of headphones and listen as you move the mic around while the guitarist is playing soon you'll find the sweet spot of that particular cab.

 

[moresound]

Referencing Naiant X-S



That sounds like a plan

PM me and let me know how it works out for ya PR.