Setting up my guitar and bass DI channel strip (pics inside)

[TwilightOdyssey]

I spent a fair amount of time this morning dialing in the DI channel strip for my next album. This will be the first time I am going to attempt using DI/reamped guitars exclusively on an album. My main channel strip is an SSL Alpha Channel. Compressors is an ooold 2 channel Made In Germany Behringer optical comp based off of the dbx.

Signal chain is:

GUITAR/BASS > input on SSL Alpha Channel (Hi Z, pad on) > SSL insert Send to Compressor 1 (2:1; 6dB GR, 3dB makeup gain) > out of Compresor 1 into Compressor 2 (4:1; 6dB GR, 3dB makeup gain) > SSL insert Return > Analogue Out > DAW avg -12dBU input

I am running the insert summed with the direct signal (adds a touch of noise, but also cuts off some of the "klang" from the comps. Rolled off some high freqs, added a bit of mids to taste, added low freqs for bass guitar (doesn't seem to affect DI guitar at all).

It sounds VERY good!

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Setting up my guitar and bass DI channel strip (pics inside)

Cool; neat idea.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Setting up my guitar and bass DI channel strip (pics inside)

Wouldn't this be like using two compressors in front of an amp? For a guitar that seems a bit odd.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Setting up my guitar and bass DI channel strip (pics inside)

Nice gear. Must admit, I'm curious about the double-compressor treatment too. Tell us more about that.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Setting up my guitar and bass DI channel strip (pics inside)

Wouldn't this be like using two compressors in front of an amp? For a guitar that seems a bit odd.

If I were using a compressor like my Philospher's Tone, yes; it would squash all of the dynamics before the signal had a chance to go anywhere. Using mild, soft-knee, quick compression (even hard-knee if you do it just so) is more like riding the fader on the input.

A DI track is really nothing like playing into a guitar amp; it has a lot more dynamic range which can clip when you are recording; the inverse to that is peaks can clip the transformer on the reamp when you are recording the DI tracks.

Edit: Your guitar pickups have a lot to do with this as well; humbuckers are not as dynamic as single coils and it's easier to get a more even dynamic range from them.

The way a guitar amp handles peaks very different from recording direct. This is more akin to having someone riding a fader on your recording desk and pulling down the very loud peaks as they occur.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Setting up my guitar and bass DI channel strip (pics inside)

Nice gear.

Thanks.

Must admit, I'm curious about the double-compressor treatment too. Tell us more about that.

I wish I could claim it as my own idea, but it's actually a very old technique that I quite like using, especially on vocal tracks.

Some resources:

http://therecordingrevolution.com/2...er-mix-ii-stacking-compressors-part-17-of-31/

http://tapeop.com/tutorials/61/two-stage-compression/