Trying to capture that insanely overdriven hardcore industrial guitar sound

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Gollum

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I guess the title says it all. I've been unable to repro this sound, and was wondering what rack effects and other processing people use to accomplish this sound. I'm talking about the guitar sound that Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Front Line Assembly, etc. have. Sounds like they crank up a cabinent with lots of heavy distortion, but there has to be a lot of additional processing going on to get that extra sizzle that makes the sound so distinct.
 
Reznor has basically every effect pedal in existence, the most distinctive being those made by z vex, which you can listen to here. Besides that, Guitar Geek is a good source for info on specific guitarist's setups. I'd say your best bet is to pick up an amp modeler/effects unit like the Johnson J-Station. Getting a good heavy sound by micing an amp rarely works as planned, in my experience.
 
Hmm... only one idea out of the bazillions of people who wander around this board? I know there's more to it than getting one of those pedals the above poster mentioned...
 
hmmmm. i tried that guitar geek website
no mark knopfler
no david gilmour
my two faves. what kinda website is that?

as for gollum:
my precious!
my precious!
i have no idea about what youre asking, sorry.
i listen to mark knopfler and david gilmour type stuff.
ha

peace
 
I don't know if NIN does it, but some of those industrial guys will mix a little pink noise in with the guitar sound to add more sizzle.
I also remember reading that Reznor uses one of the Zoom processor (only) for it's amp simulator, he didn't like or use it's distortions or effects.
 
If you have a pod, shut of the speaker cab emulation & it'll be close to that fizzy/nasal sound, If no pod, try just going direct into your recording device, e.q/layer/process, rinse & repeat.
 
Ministry/RevCO

don't know about NIN, but I know that Ministry used to track at insanely loud volumes through Marshall heads and cabs when they recorded in Chicago. Their control room volume was very loud as well....

So if the neighbors don't mind....

( Maybe they use Mesa Boogie now but not sure)

I am pretty sure everything that Trent Reznor records goes into the computer and gets mangled though.

nP
 
Cool...I went to ISU for 2 years, and I should be graduating from UI this summer, and then I'll probably get the hell out of Iowa. ;) Mainly just because there aren't too many jobs I want here.
 
Many of these industrial guys don't mic their guitars, they just run direct in from their guitar processor. Try that.
 
Ya, I've tried that, but the results just sound like complete crap. I was hoping that maybe someone who has recorded this sound might share their configuration. I'm sure there's a few components that chained together can produce this awesome vicious crunchiness.
 
You may have considered this already, but:

These bands (especially NIN) have TONS of other crap going on along with the guitar. All of this other crap can mask frequencies of the guitar with their own along with adding their own tones to the entire mix. Thus, the guitar in the final mixed product may sound radically different than the guitar alone.

Therefore, don't just listen to the guitar alone and ponder why it doesn't sound like those industrial groups. Listen to your recording in a mix context to determine how it should sound. It most likely may only need some EQ tweaking to emphasize the "sizzling" frequencies.
 
Layers

Have you tried to record multiple amp settings on the same track? IE. one heavily distorted and a more crunchy track, and mix that. If you own more than one amp, you could split yor guitar cable and record 2 amps with one signal, so that it will fit perfectly over eachother.
Also, if you like the later effect, you can DI your guitar strait to your recorder, then put the output of the recorder into amp one and record it. Then put the same IDed output into the other amp (or the same one with different settings) and do the same.
Try that, hope it works.

EZP
 
the guitar goes chug chug chug

if you have a modeling amp or processor like the line 6 stuff, a pod or something that has a cab simulator (ex tone Works AX1000G+) ...

your midrange should be set at about 20~30%
bass .. almost full blast.
treble .. 70% 'ish'

heavy metal distorion on 80% at least

tune your E string down a whole step.

now chug on the E string whilst tuning the prescence knob to your liking.

add reverb as flavor.

i recommend a DiMarzio super distortion bridge pickup on a thick, dense guitar.
 
crunch and chug

also, on top of what i just said ...
you can also use an overdrive pedal on top of all your distortion for some slayer-eque chugging.

The whole thing becomes noisy but there's lots of crunch and chug.
 
Boss SD-1...then tune your guitar down to D tunings, play stacked 5th power chords...Easy as pie! Double track it baby :0)

Peace,
Dennis
 
Ive gotting that sound by using an old distortion box like a big muff and a very loud and distorted amp.Mic it with a 57 and thats it.Those new pedals and processers are to clean and pretty sounding they dont have the balls like a good old stomp box does.A big muff pushing a loud amp will almost be uncontrolable thats what you want.It will be noisy but a little noise never hurt anybody
 
Also somtimes when Im doing industrial guitar sounds I put a wah-wah pedal after the big muff and instead of going up and down with it I just leave it all the way up or in between up and down just play with it you can get some great sounds like this.Its a trick I got from HELIOS CREED if you havent heard him you should he gets great guitar sounds check out the album "LACTATING PURPLE" I think you'll like it
 
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