Micing Amps vs. Direct

[Mllerrin]

My band has been recording through one of our friends that records through his GNX 3000 rather than before we were using a Fostex Mr8. One thing about this friend that annoys the crap out of me. Is he refuses to Mic Amps. He thinks it sounds like crap (while I think it sounds great). I tried hooking up my amp through his GNX but it sounded like crap and I didnt want to do something wrong and break my amp (which happened once before when he wanted to go direct from my amp to a computer) so I had to go straight through the GNX3000 not using my amp at all. I don't know how to use the pedal and although we did get kind of close using an amp model, it still sounded pretty digital, and nowhere near the clarity. And our Rhythm Guy who actually uses an MG100 Half Stack, sounded completely like crap compared to the recording we did with the Fostex because he also had to go through the GNX.

Is there a way to hook it up so that it doesn't sound like complete crap? When we tried it I think I connected my Slave out to the GNX and something where I connected the GNX to the Cab. The result was a sound that sounded like a really cheap solid state 1x12, Rather than my Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier.

If we can't work something out I'm putting my foot down. Even if he is recording us for free and is a friend, it's wasting our time to get crappier recordings IMO. The rest of the band is fine with it but I'm not, we could be using this time to write. Especially with 2 of us in Full Time Jobs, getting together is rough.

So for you guys to hear I uploaded both versions on Soundclick:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=648336

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Micing Amps vs. Direct

The only way I've found where direct doesn't sound like **** is when you record the direct signal from an amps preamp (fx send) and then apply an impulse of a mic'd cabinet to it. It's complex and takes time to get right, but it does sound good.

 

[wahwah]

Re: Micing Amps vs. Direct

Micing the amp is generally gonna sound much better, because you are getting the benefit of using the amp's power stage and your speakers as they were intended. Coming straight out after the preamp stage of the amp (line or slave out) also gives a crap sound, as you know, and unless you have a dummy load for the power stage, will kill your amp, as you also know. The problem might be the volume of the amp while recording, which can cause headaches for the guy recording it. This is why so many great guitar recordings have been made over the years using low wattage amps, say 15 to 20 watts, which can be cranked so that they sound great, without inadvertently involving the police. I realize that it may not be as simple as going out and buying another amp just for recording, but this would be the optimum solution.

I doubt that this guy's refusal to mic amps is from a place of knowing better, because clearly the sound he got from his modelling box was ****. If he just won't budge, and you really want to get the tracks recorded, the only advice I could offer is that you make yourself familiar with the modelling box, learn how to get the best out of it, and record your tracks that way. Considering that he's pretty green at recording anyway, you just might get a great result for the sake of the excercise, because you have a better idea of how you want to sound by comparing it to your amp's tone. You might spend a couple of hours familiarising yourself with the pedal, but it would be worth it in the end for future recordings. Think of it as a reasonable compromise to get the desired result.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.................wahwah

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Micing Amps vs. Direct

I think the other reason that micing an amp generally sounds better to a guitarists ears is that it's what you're used to hearing. I mean, you play though an amp when you practice, you play through an amp when you play live, you listen to records which are mostly made by people playing through amps . . . that's the sound that most people have in their heads that an electric guitar should sound like. Maybe your friend is just used to the sound that he gets out of his DI box.

 

[VTM Mike]

Re: Micing Amps vs. Direct

That's a good point, you are the guy who needs to be happy. You'll hate the final product if your not happy now, and it will affect your playing. Is this guy recording you with a pc? I have Guitar Rig 2 on my computer, and although I haven't used it for recording anything, I have checked out a lot of the amp models on it and they're really good. Maybe he could look into that. OR you put your foot down and mic the cabs. Direct sucks.