POD JStation owners - do you record wet or dry?

[sync]

I'm getting started with home recording. Everything I read says it's best to record dry and monitor wet. I certainly appreciate the benefits of doing that, but it seems to add a lot of complexity. How I approach this will affect what equipment I need to some degree. So I'm interested in feedback about what others are doing.

 

[Track Rat]

I have one of each. For the most part I record dry. It's easy to ad reverb, it's a sonofabitch to take it off.

 

[Tom Hicks]

If you are unsure what the final effects should be,record dry and add them later.That preserves your choices the best.On the other hand,many players need to hear the effects to perform,like distortion and delay effects primarily.The v-amp can do that,give you both a wet and dry feed simultaniously.On the third hand,the j lets you record 24 bit stereo via s/pdif.This is a big advantage that I highly recommend.By the way,I have both the j and the v and I would recommmend the j as being more versatile with better tones.

 

[64Firebird]

Recording dry is much better. That way if some little part is not perfect you can punch in over it and leave the good stuff alone. Then you can add whatever effects you want.

 

[Track Rat]

VERY good point. Time based effects make it hard to match up punch ins.

 

[sync]

The effects that influence your playing have to be recorded at some point. How about recording those effects plus the amp simulator wet and then adding other effects like reverb in software? I plan on recording and mixing with a computer.

 

[sync]

I guess the issue of punch ins answers my last question. I want to keep things as simple (and inexpensive) as possible. But I don't want to get something I'll regret because it's too limited either.

 

[cstockdale]

I use the J-station, and record the S/PDIF signal dry, and take the analog outs into a preamp, and into Sonar wet (in other words, I record it both ways, that way I can compare the dry signal with various effects to the wet one, and decide which I like best)

 

[64Firebird]

I use the J Station too and I record using s/pdif. I like to get my basic sound out of the J (amp and speaker cab) and then add the effects like flange, reverb, delay, phase ect. later. There are some effects that I don't think you can get around recording live, like a wah and feedback (okay feedback isn't an effect but you know what I mean).

 

[Major Tom]

Mr. Firebird and others are right on. Dry as you can. Hey guys, I don't have an s/pdif capable soundcard yet - do you notice a significant difference in quality from the analog out??

 

[sync]

I'm thinking of get the M-Audio Delta 66 and Omni Studio package. Would I be able to record dry and monitor wet along with monitoring previously recorded tracks with this setup?

 

[64Firebird]

Mr. Firebird and others are right on. Dry as you can. Hey guys, I don't have an s/pdif capable soundcard yet - do you notice a significant difference in quality from the analog out??

It's the only way to go. None of that messy audio to digital to audio and back to digital again. Every time you convert you lose a little.

 

[LocusLarsen]

I like to do both. Sometimes I just mic my electric and don't even plug in. You just have to know what you want and do it right the first time. Every retake seems to get further and further of course for me.

 

[64Firebird]

I like to do both. Sometimes I just mic my electric and don't even plug in. You just have to know what you want and do it right the first time. Every retake seems to get further and further of course for me.

That's why it's a good idea to add the effects later.

 

[Gidge]

If Im doing something serious(seldom), Ill do wet and dry on the J-Station...dry(mono) thru the S/PDIF and wet(stereo) thru the analog....then i have lotsa choices.....

 

[cstockdale]

sync: it depends on your software and audio chain. With that soundcard I don't know, but if the only connection you use is the S/PDIF , then if you are recording dry, you will be monitoring dry. If you connect both the S/PDIF and analog outs, you could monitor them both. If you route your inputs/outputs from your soundcard through a mixer, then it is easy, you just connect your S/PDIF and record dry, and then you stick you analog outs from teh J into the mixer where you monitor.

 

[riotshield]

Just curious, what does it mean to record 'dry' with a POD/J-Station? Do you add other effects later with plugins etc.?

Also I got some odd timing problems using the J-Station digital out, and to my ears the analog sounds better.

 

[64Firebird]

Just curious, what does it mean to record 'dry' with a POD/J-Station? Do you add other effects later with plugins etc.?

Also I got some odd timing problems using the J-Station digital out, and to my ears the analog sounds better.

You do get a bit of a delay in the monitors with the s/pdif, so I only use it to record and I monitor with the other outputs.

Yes, recording dry means without using any effects at all. Many effects sound a lot better (like delay or reverb) if you add them later.

 

[Axe4Yahweh]

With my V-AMP2, I generally will have just a touch of Verb on while recording. But I'm a Blues/Rocker and don't use alot of effects anyway nor do I Punch In. If I blow a Solo, I get in the mood and redo it. If it's being recorded Live, it stays anyway.

CR ><>

 

[bdbdbuck]

I don't know about the pod, but the V-Amp is set up so that it is very easy to record dry and monitor wet.

bd