help pleas...why did this turn to mush?

[Gtrjunior]

help pleas...why did this turn to mush?

Whoa...yuz guys is talkin' quantum physics stuff...just trying to direct record one guitar thru two amps and not get clipping from the mesa high notes...

Simple answer. Record two separate guitar tracks and turn your input gain staging way down.

[Swampy]

Re: help pleas...why did this turn to mush?

As for levels, shoot for -12db on each track. That should keep you well below clipping. I sometimes go to -6db but it doesn’t leave a whole lot of headroom to work with later.

If you go beyond just recording guitars, one tip on the bass (not bass guitar specifically), is you should really high pass/low cut everything except the actual bass guitar. Even if you can’t hear a lot of bass in the other instruments, it’ll all add up in the final mix and could get muddy.

[Cynical]

Re: help pleas...why did this turn to mush?

Multi-tracking and micing multiple speakers don't create the same effect. That said, if you're micing two different amps entirely (rather than just micing a V30 and a K100 in the same cab, for instance, to fatten the V30 up a touch), you're probably just setting yourself up for a nightmare. Phasing issues are a pain when using multiple mics at the best of times, but with two amps in the room creating destructive interference in the waves... yeah.

Also, read LLL's tips on mic placement. That stuff is absolutely crucial. If you're looking for a good starting point, try an SM57 one-finger back from the grille cloth, placed at the point where the dustcap meets the cone, angled dead-ahead.