How to record an amp ?

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Lux84

New member
I have a couple of tube amps i wish to record and i don't know where to start.. currently i have just zoom q3 handy recorder and it sucks.. i have 2 cabs, Marshall 1960 A and Orange PPC 112. amps i wanted to record are: randall diavlo rd 45, ceriatone jcm 800 2204 and blackstar ht-5. i know i need shure 57, but don't know anything else really. i have a reaper and studio one recording software. do i connect microphone straight into an interface than and record it with reaper ? is that enough ? how high do i put the volumes on amps ? can i turn the master volume of a 50 watt tube head somewhere in the middle and than record it through just interface and daw ? can i record amps even on full volumes ?
 
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Re: How to record an amp ?

Lux84 said:
I have a couple of tube amps i wish to record and i don't know where to start.. currently i have just zoom q3 handy recorder and it sucks.. i have 2 cabs, Marshall 1960 A and Orange PPC 112. amps i wanted to record are: randall diavlo rd 45, ceriatone jcm 800 2204 and blackstar ht-5.
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Nice backline. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Lux84 said:
i know i need shure 57
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Not necessarily. A 57 will be great for leads as it will be very focused and mid-rangy relative to other options. An e609 is great for rhythm tracks as it has a slight scoop that keeps it out of the way of leads, vocals, etc. MD421s are also a fine choice, a little bit nicer/smoother than a 57 and has a 5-step bass roll-off switch that helps dial it the way you want.

Where you place the mic relative to the speaker will change the sound also. Putting a 57 straight into the center dome seam will get you a hot, midrange only Slash lead kind of sound. Tilting it toward the sidewall of the speaker cone will smooth off the top end and bring in a little bass. Aiming at the outside seam will darken it and make a nice even flatter sound for rhythm. Also the distance from the cone will change the sound. You need to play with placement.

Don't know your budget, but a standard I landed on over time was a U87, but it requires particular preamps, compression and outboard treatment to get that famous sound out of any amp/cab.

Lux84 said:
i have a reaper and studio one recording software. do i connect microphone straight into an interface than and record it with reaper ? is that enough ?
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You'll want a microphone preamp to get it sounding good and the right level before hitting your DAW.

Lux84 said:
how high do i put the volumes on amps ?
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Set the volume where the amp sounds good. Don't tweak the amp/guitar sound to solve DAW problems. Make the source sound good and leave it. Troubleshoot levels and other issues in the signal chain where the trouble lies, not with the guitar and amp.

Lux84 said:
can i turn the master volume of a 50 watt tube head somewhere in the middle and than record it through just interface and daw ?
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It's been so long since I tried that, I recall it sounded thin/weak/anemic and didn't work. You really need a microphone preamp before going into the interface. (The interface might/usually has a mic pre in it) What interface are you using?

Lux84 said:
can i record amps even on full volumes ?
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Yes you can, but you may have to back the microphones away to avoid capsule distortion/pre amp input distortion.
 
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Re: How to record an amp ?

First, thanks for answers & tips ! i have a Roland Duo Capture MK-2 interface. it looks like preamp is built in that one, it has input and output volumes.. currently i am on a pretty low budget so i'd like to get something cheap but also useful. i am planning to do review videos of the amps i have on you tube. mostly metal styles.. can you recommend something for my low budget ?
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

NOT like this....lol

Marshall-Fail.jpg
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

:lol: Love that pic :lol:

A low budget and a desire for better quality than the equipment is capable of does not change the physics of the equipment. Get a bigger budget and do it right. YouTube is not going to collapse without your video. Amp sales will not dwindle without your review (though if your video sucks hard enough, it might turn people off to the amp, no matter how many excuses and apologies you make in the video about your recording gear and budget).

If I look for a review of an amp, I want to hear the amp as if it was in front of me, not excuses about the crappy mic or camera. You don't do reviews for your benefit, you do them for the benefit of others. Getting your face on YouTube is not important. Ozzy's not going to see it and pick you as his new guitarist.

If you don't know about the gear and software, it's clear where you need to start: learning about them. As you learn about them, you'll run into their limitations, and then understand why the good stuff costs more. It doesn't hurt to ask, since that's where learning starts, but you've got at least a year to go before you should be putting up gear review videos.
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

And what you consider to be a good mic and interface, preamp then for good enough recording of the gear DrNewcenstein ?
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

DrNewcenstein said:
:lol: Love that pic :lol:

A low budget and a desire for better quality than the equipment is capable of does not change the physics of the equipment. Get a bigger budget and do it right. YouTube is not going to collapse without your video. Amp sales will not dwindle without your review (though if your video sucks hard enough, it might turn people off to the amp, no matter how many excuses and apologies you make in the video about your recording gear and budget).

If I look for a review of an amp, I want to hear the amp as if it was in front of me, not excuses about the crappy mic or camera. You don't do reviews for your benefit, you do them for the benefit of others. Getting your face on YouTube is not important. Ozzy's not going to see it and pick you as his new guitarist.

If you don't know about the gear and software, it's clear where you need to start: learning about them. As you learn about them, you'll run into their limitations, and then understand why the good stuff costs more. It doesn't hurt to ask, since that's where learning starts, but you've got at least a year to go before you should be putting up gear review videos.
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And what you consider to be a good mic and interface, preamp then for good enough recording of the gear DrNewcenstein ?
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

There are many brands of mics, interfaces, recording software, video editing software and cameras, and mic preamps that get good and bad reviews. You will have to sort through those and make an informed decision based on your needs.

You spent the money on good amps. Don't skimp on the things that you intend to use to tell everyone else how good those amps are. It just doesn't make sense.
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

Ok, thanks ! it seems to be more complicated than i expect to be.. for now i will just stick with speaker emulated xlr outputs, i have that options on blackstar and randall, for anything else i am gonna need more money which i haven't got at the moment.
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

For the budget level I believe you're hovering around, I'd recommend an AKG C214 and a Focusrite Scarlett to achieve studio-quality recording of an amp.
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

Call me old fashioned, but I use an SM57 for recording anything guitar amp related. I then use pedals, EQ'ing and some post-production techniques (not recorded an amp via a mic in a long time mind, so perhaps my opinions would change) to enhance the sound of my leads so they don't become mushy and blend into the sound. One technique, albeit quite a difficult one I used to do in the past, would be to record it twice, in two separate takes, and have one in the left channel, one right channel, hmmm about 75% balance. I found that playing it twice would essentially fill any audible gaps that might be missed by recording once. I would get a super fat tone which would cut through the mix and give my favourite lead tone. Of course, it was a timely process, as no matter how many takes I did, I would always think "i can do that better, I can do that better", there's an element of self discipline involved because at some point you have to accept that it's probably as good as it'll get.
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

The SM57 is a classic for a reason. It will work just fine. The Duo Capture mic preamp will also work fine. A dedicated/fancy preamp is the last thing you need to worry about.

I would strongly recommend placing your cabinet in another room when recording and getting decent ($80-100) closed back headphones for recording. I like to keep the amp head at the desk and run a long speaker cable so I can make all of my adjustments without having to run around TOO much, though you certainly will at first as you dial in the mic.

I would also suggest getting a passive reamp box and start reamping straight away. Trying to record a guitar performance whilst you are trying to learn the craft of recording is an unnecessary burden and reamping will make your life much easier!

I recorded these guitar tracks yesterday with a single SM57; none of my gear is fancy. This is the raw, unmixed track. I reamped all of the guitar parts.

 
Re: How to record an amp ?

That's a fat rhythm tone. Sounds good man.

Not sure I like the string noise on the acoustic part, is that intentional :P ?
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

TwilightOdyssey said:
Thanks!


It's an oud, and yes -- it comes with the territory with that instrument. :)
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There was me thinking it was an acoustic ha! Although I did think at the time it sounded a bit odd for an acoustic. Never heard of an oud, will have to check them out. You got a very nice neo-classical feel to your sound.
 
Re: How to record an amp ?

So i don't need preamp, i just need a microphone, something like 57, right?
 
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