question on mbox

[some156]

i have been recording on my mbox for about a month now. I have tried micing my amp tried plugging straight into the mbox and using amplitube for guitar sound. So my question is will a mixer make the sound quality any better or is there any way to get a better sound quality. thanks

 

[StarvingEyes]

well. kind of an odd question. there are hundreds of steps you could take to better your recordings. first, i would simply try to keep messing around with your mbox. the sounds you get from that cannot be THAT bad ! try different mic placements,. what mic, instrument, amp are you using, what sound are you going for?

 

[Riverdog]

I assume you're talking about the MBox interface

If the above is true - No - You're not really going to get much help from picking up a mixer... If you have multiple items you want to input or mix together - then you should purchase a mixer...

What is wrong with the sound you're getting? To thin? Don't like the way it sounds? What... The MBox If it's the one I'm thinking of is just an input into your computer... If so - what are you recording with? Are there onboard effects you can try to apply to the track you've recorded??

Let us know... Perhaps we can help more...

Good Luck...

 

[some156]

things i am using

i am using a ibanez sz720 guitar, mesa rectoverb, and a studio projects b1 condenser mic. I get good clean sounds either way plugging straight in to the mbox or micing the amp. Its when i blend two guitars together where the sound is bad. The mbox is a audio interface with built in mic pres. And also it is run through pro tools so there is a lot of onboard effects. So is there away to blend guitar parts better besides compression and by the way sometimes i have one clean guitar and one distorted so could that be the problem.

 

[AlexW]

It shouldn't be a problem. You just need to work on getting sounds into your computer cleanly that will mix together well. Don't use a lot of effects initially, try and just get recorded sounds that work well together. You might do well to pick up a dynamic mic to use on the guitar cabinet as well (SM57 or similar). The Mbox has decent mic preamps; better than those you'll find in most budget mixers so you're better off sticking with it and just practicing.

 

[Riverdog]

Agreed...

Sounds like you're doing everything right...
It's when you get to the mixdown phase that things sound like they're getting sticky... There's a few things you can do...

Like AlexW said: Don't record with a lot of effects... Get the sounds clean into the system (Ie: of course use the distortion and stuff on the guitar - But, try not to add reverb or "wild" effects like flanging and stuff until afterward...

Second - Try using panning - Move one guitar off center to the right and the other to the left... Add equal reverb to both sounds to blend together... If the sound is flat - try some light chorusing... If they're plaing in unision try bringing one out more than the other to give pronounciation...
This is all taste at this point... At this point it depends on what YOU want to do with the sound...

As long as you're getting good input and you like the sounds coming into the computer - the rest is up to the mix/effects stage...

Hope this helps...

 

[some156]

riverdog

i have done this i panned all my guitars one to 18 left the other to 18 right. I am not using any effects in this particular song i am doing i have my drums centered to the middle obviously. I think my monitors or my main problem right now. I hear it through my headphone and through my cheap computer speakers and it sounds like its good then i put it in the stereo and somethings off. i have tried about 10 cds mixed differently but nothing that am looking for maybe i just need to get good monitors,

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

If you are recording one track with the mic and one track direct in, concider this:

Electricity moves faster than sound, so your direct input hits Pro Tools a little bit sooner than the miced signal. When played back together they are so close in time but off enough to cause weird frequency cancellations and funky sound.

Also- concider your playing. If your 2 parts aren' played well together (in time, in tune) almost no amount of mixing will make them blend.

Another idea: most guitarists like a full, bassy sound. Trouble is, when you start layering that sound (or adding other instruments) the excessive low end tunrs to MUD and clutters up the mix fast. This is worse on regular speakers, too, becuase they tend to emphasize the lows. Try sccoping out some 200-500hz on your guitars and see what that does. Also cut everything below 60hz.

Just some ideas.
Take care.
Chris