General Music Chat

I'm a feedback player so I need real amps and speakers recorded at a loud volume with great microphones. You can't get that from a DI.

A few epic guitar recordings and how they were done:
http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/F ... d-521.aspx

Jimmy you do make a good point, but something I found for rythym tracks a lot of times the preamp route sounds tighter to me, while for leads a amp cant be beat.

But still whatever works for you is the route to go, I guess Im fortunate cause I have an arsenal of different amps and preamps.

I'm a feedback player so I need real amps and speakers recorded at a loud volume with great microphones. You can't get that from a DI.

Yes, me also. If the guitar sound is off I will be too. I don't know if I could play the distortion parts of my music "clean" . . . perhaps more related to my lack of experience, but it is what it is.

No you're right George, most of what I play is by feel, so if I'm not feeling it, you get doo doo. You can get away with recording some parts directly but for the most part rock guitar should be recorded authentically, with amps, speakers and mics.

No you're right George, most of what I play is by feel, so if I'm not feeling it, you get doo doo. You can get away with recording some parts directly but for the most part rock guitar should be recorded authentically, with amps, speakers and mics.

Maybe I wasn't clear guys. I do record most guitar tracks with a mic and amp but with a modern DAW, you can route a clean DI signal to your recording track but route a badass plugin to your monitor so it sounds like 5 Marshall stacks are right behind you. The only difference is if you print the track with all the stank on it, you can't change it later. Really good recording engineers like choices so by going DI and mic/amp simultaneously, you can have your cake and share it with the engineer.

and so...in summary:

CHOICES....

we're lucky to have 'em!

No you're right George, most of what I play is by feel, so if I'm not feeling it, you get doo doo. You can get away with recording some parts directly but for the most part rock guitar should be recorded authentically, with amps, speakers and mics.

Maybe I wasn't clear guys. I do record most guitar tracks with a mic and amp but with a modern DAW, you can route a clean DI signal to your recording track but route a badass plugin to your monitor so it sounds like 5 Marshall stacks are right behind you. The only difference is if you print the track with all the stank on it, you can't change it later. Really good recording engineers like choices so by going DI and mic/amp simultaneously, you can have your cake and share it with the engineer.

Yes that would be better than trying to lay down a clean track and adding to it later.
Thanks for the clarification.

Good tone is where you find it. In recording use whatever you need to get the guitar tone that works for the piece.

Front and center, a recording is a tonal palette with a range of freguencies that need to be respected. Instruments that compete for the same sonic space sound muddy and confused together. Remember you're not the only one in the world and your guitar tone is not necessarily the most important consideration.

In some genres there is an expected guitar tone. Most advanced electric guitarists can get these tones with whatever tools work for them. Keep in mind the sonic space the guitar needs to live in in terms of the tonality of the piece and make adjustments as necessary. For instance, a tele should never duke it out with a dobro for the same real estate.

Guitar tone becomes a different animal when the guitar is a supporting, enhancing instrument. One needs to have a clear concept of what the purpose is of the guitar in the piece. Once you understand what the instrument needs to accomplish, use your tools to get the tonality that is just right. If you need to play under another instrument in counter melody, fills or call and response make sure your tone is the punctuation on the statement and not a competeing statement.

In sum, unless you're a single genre player with a single set of needed guitar tones, use all the tools at your disposal and experiment with the full range of tonality. Electric guitars are absolutely amazing in their ability to produce tones and create emotive force.

Would you rather set up and mic a real rig, or use a plugin to lay down tracks with?
Radio quality in mind.

Scratch track doesn't matter...but always always always record the actual track with a mic so the guitarist can have the sound he wants it to have.

Otherwise you could get what I call the Rockman effect. It was ok in the 80s but lame today.

Would you rather set up and mic a real rig, or use a plugin to lay down tracks with?
Radio quality in mind.

Scratch track doesn't matter...but always always always record the actual track with a mic so the guitarist can have the sound he wants it to have.

Otherwise you could get what I call the Rockman effect. It was ok in the 80s but lame today.

Wait...Rockman is lame?

Would you rather set up and mic a real rig, or use a plugin to lay down tracks with?
Radio quality in mind.

Scratch track doesn't matter...but always always always record the actual track with a mic so the guitarist can have the sound he wants it to have.

Otherwise you could get what I call the Rockman effect. It was ok in the 80s but lame today.

Wait...Rockman is lame?

You still have one of them Mike?
I loved those, even though they were a commercialized version.