Questions about my setup and distortion

[jstcrzyengh]

Hello to everyone,

First time on here and I had a few questions. First let me tell you about my setup.

Tascam us-224 (USB)
Soundblaster Audigy live platinum
AMD 1.3ghz
1gig of ram
7200rpm 80 gig drive
n-track

My problem is I am using the cabinet output through my marshall head unit on my stack directly into the US-224. I have a metal gear pedal that I am running distortion through. Anyway, for the life of me I cannot get the right distortion sound through the amp without seriously going into ol and having the quality of the track sound terrible. How can I play loud and get that right crunch and record it that way, without getting such a bad recording? This is also having the same affect with a normal bass, no distrotion, very low levels. I just spent a lot of money with the n track and tascam and really want to get this down. Thanks for any and help.

 

[Slackmaster2K]

The problem is that you're recording direct right from the amp, and that's usually going to produce a bad sound.

Try mic'ing the amp, or use an amp simulator type box instead of the amp itself (POD, vamp, j-station, etc).

Slackmaster 2000

 

[jstcrzyengh]

I changed it up a bit and went directly into the 224 with the pedal and used the "phones" output to plug directly into my half stack, that seemed to work, but still cannot get the levels I wanted.

However, playing bass and doing the same thing I am still having a problem.

Also two things I noticed.

1. When I add a second track and than listen them together... the second track sounds "wavey" and goes in and out like it is on a phaser.

2. 'When I convert it to a wave format and play it through winamp it crackles and just does not sound good at all.

Any ideas?

Thanks again.

 

[sae]

One thing I have noticed, is that distortion will ALWAYS sound LOUDER recorded than it does in real life. I would record the guitar miced (like sugguested) and do the same for bass. Make sure you are in TUNE! Keep the levels as high as you can when you reocrd but NOT distorting. Make sure it doesn't distort when you mix down to play in winamp. This can be done through the options in the mix down window.