Recording Distorted Guitars

[Sonixx]

Nice git sound there.....but a lot of low end rumble (?), which is a problem i found on my git recordings when using my V amp pro....sinced fixed it by switching the bass control completely off on the v-amp.

I wonder if it would be easy to use that sound within a mix??....but by itself that git sound is hot!

hey thanks. I'm not sure what "rumble" your referring too but nothing that's not easily adjusted.

 

[ecktronic]

After dialing in the right distortion tone that the guitarist likes on the GT-8, we found that the "solid state sizzle" was attrocious. Two slightly angled mics, a combination of 2 separate EQs inside the GT-8 unit, then some more subtractive EQ'ing on the mixing board and we got a guitar tone that kick-ass guitar tone we wanted.

Do whatever it takes to get your sound!

Id say its better to use mic placement, amp EQ and guitar knobs before using other EQ like GT8 EQ.
Try getting the tone goos as you can with these 3 things then as a last resort use the GT8 EQ.

Eck

 

[ecktronic]

have you considered using Cab Impulses. here's a clip I did today using a Cab Impulse file...

Example Impulse Clip

Cab Impulse files can be used with any type of music...

What is a Cab Impulse file?
Eck

 

[Sonixx]

an Impulse file is the Frequency response of a device such as the Cab/Speaker/Mic captured in a file such as a WAV file. the Impulse file is used by a Convolution Plugin like a Convolution Reverb.

the Impulse file is created by ramping a Sine Wave thru the cab and recording the output. that file is then Deconvolved using SW such as Voxengo's Deconvolver to create the Impulse WAV file.

to use the Impulse, record the Amps output (I use a Hot Plate's Line Out) and then feed that to the Convolution Reverb using the Impulse file. The Convolution Reverb substitutes the Cab/Speaker/Mic combination.

 

[chessrock]

If your amp sounds bad on a recording ...

That's just your recording telling you that your amp really sounds bad in the room ... but you just don't know it yet.

Listen to your recording when it's trying to tell you something.

.

 

[jonnyc]

If your amp sounds bad on a recording ...

That's just your recording telling you that your amp really sounds bad in the room ... but you just don't know it yet.

Listen to your recording when it's trying to tell you something.

.

See, I agree with douchebag on this. Your ears may say, "yeah that kicks ass" but if your recording says it doesn't then you need to rethink your approach. Work on room and mic positions and the settings on your amp itself.

 

[ecktronic]

an Impulse file is the Frequency response of a device such as the Cab/Speaker/Mic captured in a file such as a WAV file. the Impulse file is used by a Convolution Plugin like a Convolution Reverb.

the Impulse file is created by ramping a Sine Wave thru the cab and recording the output. that file is then Deconvolved using SW such as Voxengo's Deconvolver to create the Impulse WAV file.

to use the Impulse, record the Amps output (I use a Hot Plate's Line Out) and then feed that to the Convolution Reverb using the Impulse file. The Convolution Reverb substitutes the Cab/Speaker/Mic combination.

Cheers man.
I kinda get it, but not sure what the use of it would be.
Would it be used to determine the characteristics of an amp/pre-amp/mic ?

Eck

 

[Sonixx]

think of it as an alternative to micing. like having a large selection of reverbs, this can offer a large selection of tones. another tool in your sonic basket. it can also be used with a POD with the Cab Off.

 

[fishkarma]

Ideally the mic should be placed where you would have it placed for recording before you use it as a cab impulse not just the fuck a mic up against it and record an impulse other wise it will be an impulse of a badly mic'd cab
Just remember that when you make your own IRs

 

[NashBackslash]

Has anyone practised this guitar amp miking technique and come up with good results?

 

[P3PIT0]

Has anyone practised ... and come up with good results?

Yeah it's great.

 

[P3PIT0]

It removes a lot of fizziness while adding meat.

 

[fishkarma]

This one or one of the other ways stated there?

"A swedish magazine named "Studio" covered the Fredman guitarsound in an issue. I dont know if he used this for Clayman but the way he usually mikes his cabs is with two SM57's forming an arrow towards the speaker.
One straight on at the side of the dustcap, the other one angled towards the center.
It also stated that he sometimes uses a condensermike on a different speaker than the one that the SM57's cover"

 

[mrface2112]

IMO, recording distorted guitars really isn't that different from recording clean ones, at least from a miking perspective.

it just takes a lot more work (and practice) at sculpting the tone at the amp in order to make sure it's a sound that'll work in the track. that's where the "trick" lies.

and if you're talking about recording a full marshall stack or something like that, it's more of a case of dealing with extremely loud sources than anything.

YMMV

cheers,
wade

 

[surfmaster]

i got to work with a all tube marshall nice half stack yesterday. its hard to make them sound bad. i wish every local band had a lot of money to spend on good equipment. but the point is, if it is a nice amp, it probably will sound very good on its own.