Problem with the guitars.

[darkesthourfilm]

We have been trying to record a decent demo for awhile now. We keep running into a problem with the guitar's distortion coming out like complete garbage when recorded. Our setup is a B-52 half stack running it's distortion, with the line out to the mixer then the recorder. We also have tried micing and direct input to the recorder. What should I do to trouble shoot the over modulation problems and get a decent sounding tone? Our bass, drums and vocals are coming out great with clean sound and no echo or bad reverb.

Guitar - B52 - 10/2 Mixer - 8track recorder

 

[Fishybob]

Micing should give you the best tone. I'd also add, make sure you use less distortion than you would do in a live setting. It gives much more power when recorded.

What mic did you try?

 

[Dani Pace]

Just a second vote for using less distortion when recording. You might also record the guitar part twice, one distorted and one clean then blend the two together, this keeps the grind and drive while making the notes more pronounced and distinguishable.

 

[giraffe]

yup, less distortion, and a mic.

 

[jonnyc]

You really should turn down the distortion, i usually tell the guitars players to turn the distortion down about a quarter and it always sounds good. Your amp may be a problem. I've heard the B52 amps really sound like crap, this is just what I heard so it may not be true, if the amp is a problem then a tube swap may be in order to get a bit better sound. IMO of all the things you'll record distorted guitars are among the hardest. And always mic DI sucks.

 

[nicolaad30]

You really should turn down the distortion, i usually tell the guitars players to turn the distortion down about a quarter and it always sounds good. Your amp may be a problem. I've heard the B52 amps really sound like crap, this is just what I heard so it may not be true, if the amp is a problem then a tube swap may be in order to get a bit better sound. IMO of all the things you'll record distorted guitars are among the hardest. And always mic DI sucks.

You don't get the sound after the source. I mean, you won't get a better sound on your recording than that given by the amp itself. So if an amp sounds great to you, and your mix don't, make sure you have propperly mic'd, you don't use more dist than what you need.

B-52 makes great sounding amps, I can get a Tripple Rect, a B-52 and A/B switch and you will be surprised how Mesa declines in front of this 1/3 price name.

Enjoy your recording.... John Boham did not get his sound out of nothing... his drums sounded so well that recording was just a step foward.

 

[scrubs]

Probably a bit in-depth for the newbie forum, but this is required reading for recording distorted guitar:

http://www.badmuckingfastard.com/sound/slipperman.html