Running through two preamps when recording?

[gordholio]

I hate to sound stupid, but I'm going to do it anyway. I want to record myself playing my beautiful '74 Gibson SG. For one particular song, I want to use a couple of distrotion effects from my Digitech RP200 multi-effects unit. My problem is that my recordings are sounding pretty danged noisy (really quite bad, lots of crackles, etc.)

My question is: When I record through a multi-effects unit like the RP200, do I still run through my mixing board then on to my Delta 44 sound card? When I do, the quality absolutely sucks. Is that because I'm running through two pre-amps (the one in my RP200, then the one in my mixer)? What do you guys do? I have this strange feeling that running through two preamps is a definite no-no.

Go ahead, flame away!

gordo

 

[dr.colossus]

i can only make some suggestions, no gaurantee i'm right but here goes... have you tried placing a d.i. box between the multi fx unit and the mixer to assist with impeadnace issues? (i dont know exactly what that means but it works).... secondly the crackiling thing, isn't that usually dodgy leads? i'd check those, otherwise, maybe your running into your soundcard to hot (i'm no expert on p.c. recording, but i'm pretty sure it crackles if the signal is too high)... i really hope this helps

 

[TexRoadkill]

You need to run the guitar into an instrument preamp. Some guitar effects units accept instrument level but most want line level. If your mixer accepts instrument level than you can use the effects in a loop or as an insert effect.

If your mixer or effects unit doesnt accept instrument level than you need an instrument pre. You should be able to get a decent signal through the board if the pre's on it are quiet enough to boost the signal. Since your recordings are noisy there is probably an imepance matching issue going on.

 

[jrlemonz]

Using the RP200 or anything like it, you can just plug the HEADPHONE out, not the amp out straight into your sound card. The mixer is un needed in the path.

Jake

 

[gordholio]

Thanks everybody for your replies! Very much appreciated. I'm gonna try all these suggestions and see what works best. Feel free to offer more any more advice you might have.

gordo

 

[area510studios]

the effects you are using may only sound good when amplified.you may just want to mic your amp and record it that way.otherwise if was meant to be a direct recording preamp it should sound good by itself with or with out a mixer.you could also run yur guitar into yur mixer,run your effects into the send rutrn of your mixer and then on your mixer sguitar channel adjust how much of the guitar effect you want .i would just mic the amp.