Us-122

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steve15

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I recently bought a Tascam US-122 to record my band with. But, when I record the guitar (on distortion)- the sound I'm getting in the recording is awful. It's very dry and it's not that easy to notice chord changes and transitions. I'm using the following setup:

-Tascam US-122 Interface
-Shure PG57 Microphones
-Behringer Eurorack 6-channel Mixer
-Cubasis Software

Why is this happening? I only receive this awful sounding recording when I record guitar that is distortion, other than that (on the clean channel) it sounds excellent. Thanks.
 
I'd check your input levels. It sounds like they might be too high and it's distorting the recording.
 
The input levels are fine. They are staying in the green (on the US-122).
 
If you can record other sounds and it's okay, it kinda sounds like the problem is at the mic. Neither the Tascam nor your PC should be distorting the signal if everything else is sounding okay.

Try recording the distortion at a lower volume.

Also try making random sounds into the mic and see how they record. Talk, scream, bang pots and pans together, whatever; just make some noise and play it back.

It's strange that your recording equipment would discriminate against a particular sound you know? Sound is sound.

Maybe your Tascam doesn't like rock/metal?
 
I think it's something to do with the mic. Do you have any rock band recordings that I could listen to so I could compare to see how close/or off my setup is coming to yours? I just don't want to step up to a better mic if I'm not positive it will affect the quality of the recording. Thanks.
 
Here's 2 you can check out.



This is Les Pual run thru a Boss DS-1 distrotion pedal into a Fender Deville amp. Mic'd with a Marshal 603s condensor mic
*note* guitar comes it 9 seconds into the track



Acoustic and vocals only, all recorded with the same mic as mentioned above.
 
Hey John, I really enjoyed your recordings. I was especially impressed because you used a 603 mic (which I'm thinking of buying) to record a Fender DeVille, which I have.

I also though the vocal sounded good with the 603. I was planning on buying the 603 for recording acoustic, but it's good to know that mic has the flexibility to handle amp and vocal chores as well.

Nicely done.

Steve
 
j7b,

Thanks for posting those. My recordings don't come out that bad when it's just picked notes. But, when I play say a series of power chords and am really strumming it sounds so bad (quality, clarity, and tone of recording) - it's even hard to notice chord changes. Why does this happen? Could it be that a PG57 isn't a really good mic?
 
nice audio

great sound.. I like the low backing vocals... how many tracks for the second one? would you post your full rig? Thanks
 
steve15 said:
j7b,

Thanks for posting those. My recordings don't come out that bad when it's just picked notes. But, when I play say a series of power chords and am really strumming it sounds so bad (quality, clarity, and tone of recording) - it's even hard to notice chord changes. Why does this happen? Could it be that a PG57 isn't a really good mic?
Click to expand...


I can't think of what else it might be. One way to find out would be to rent a condensor mic from a music shop and try it with your setup.
 
Re: nice audio

blewgrass said:
great sound.. I like the low backing vocals... how many tracks for the second one? would you post your full rig? Thanks
Click to expand...

Thanks BlewGrass...

There's 6 tracks on that song:

1) Guitar
2) Guitar solo
3) Main vocals
4) Deep backing vocals
5) Alternate backing vocals ("smothered in jelly")
6) Female backing vocals


My setup:

Homebuilt PC, 1.8ghz AMD processor, 500mb ram, Windows 2000 pro

Tascam US-122
Cubasis software (that came with the US-122)
Marshal 603s condensor microphone

Gibson Les Paul Special Faded
Fender Deville (4-10's)
Boss DS-1 distortion pedal

Seagull S6 anniversary acoustic
 
This is weird...I thought it was just me.

Im finding the same problem. Im DI'ing though, through a Behringer V-Amp. What I find is that it sounds good when Im direct monitoring from the US-122, but when it's recorded it seems to lose something.

Same thing happens with bass (through the V-amp). I find I'm not getting out of it what Im putting in
 
Link,
Yeah, I know what you mean. I still haven't been able to figure my problem out. It really only happens when I'm recording distortion guitar; when I record clean it sounds very good. I'm going to try stepping up to an SM57, and try close mic'ing. Maybe that will help, I'm not sure.
 
thats not your mic. thats your interface.. clickin like a muhfuckin islander. what kinda computer do you have by the way cuz i have the same problem.

the reason your recordin sounds like that is cuz 122 dont like your computer. try changin the buffer settings. in the 122 manual it says us122 has been tested with and is compatible with the followin chipsets and my chipset is one fuckin letter off a workin one.

go into system in control panel and click the hardware tab and goto device manager and go all the way to the bottom until you see universal serial bus controllers. chances are yours dont match the 122s small ass compatibility list.
 
Steve, have you had a chance to try a new mic out.

I'm still running into the same problem. Losing tone, trouble defining fast picking. It turns into mush somewhat. backing off on the gain on the amp helps a little...but you shouldn't have to go to those lengths if you got a sound you're happy with to start with.

The sound Im monitoring through the US-122 is definitely not the sound that's coming back off hard disk
 
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