Small amps as recording amps?
- Thread starter MetalManiac
- Start date
everdrone
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I recorded my songs "forest wispers" and "segway" with my epi valve junior at low volumes (not cranked). as a recording engineer you are going to remove alot of low frequencies to make room for the bass, so it does not make tons of difference whether you use 5W or 100W. but ya, the low end "whomp" is not there in the recording.
I recorded my songs "forest wispers" and "segway" with my epi valve junior at low volumes (not cranked). as a recording engineer you are going to remove alot of low frequencies to make room for the bass, so it does not make tons of difference whether you use 5W or 100W. but ya, the low end "whomp" is not there in the recording.
whatshisname
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
Small recording amps? I present to you, the mighty PIGNOSE!
Small recording amps? I present to you, the mighty PIGNOSE!
drpietrzak
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I was in the music room this afternoon messing with speakers, attenuators and such. My daughter (age 11 years) came and started with dd-55 playing some rhythms. She then wanted to try guitar. I set her up with the P-90 Hamer (non-usa) and the Class 5 using stock speaker. I was playing my USA Hamer Studio into the Tweaker set for AC using a Weber Blue dog. We were loud TV level and just messing with teaching her basic 5th chords. I was playing some lead and rhythms. We were both playing dry signals. I have to say I was very surprised at how well those 2 tones fit together in the mix. I think these would have went really well ias a pair of tracks if I had things set up. So well I started charting out a couple of new pieces. These are 2 very good tones home studio amps. They sound good - not just for the price as some might add.
I was in the music room this afternoon messing with speakers, attenuators and such. My daughter (age 11 years) came and started with dd-55 playing some rhythms. She then wanted to try guitar. I set her up with the P-90 Hamer (non-usa) and the Class 5 using stock speaker. I was playing my USA Hamer Studio into the Tweaker set for AC using a Weber Blue dog. We were loud TV level and just messing with teaching her basic 5th chords. I was playing some lead and rhythms. We were both playing dry signals. I have to say I was very surprised at how well those 2 tones fit together in the mix. I think these would have went really well ias a pair of tracks if I had things set up. So well I started charting out a couple of new pieces. These are 2 very good tones home studio amps. They sound good - not just for the price as some might add.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
WRONG DUDE WRONG!!
Here is my little 1/12 25 watt Zinky Blue Velvet from last night unmiced
http://www.box.net/shared/m1k7am911s
And earlier that day at practice
http://www.box.net/shared/qim033vcxp
Drop a mic in front of it and I can play arenas. Forget lugging the 120 watt stacks anymore as I am getting a better heavy tone from this thing out front miced!!
Here she is
WRONG DUDE WRONG!!
Here is my little 1/12 25 watt Zinky Blue Velvet from last night unmiced
http://www.box.net/shared/m1k7am911s
And earlier that day at practice
http://www.box.net/shared/qim033vcxp
Drop a mic in front of it and I can play arenas. Forget lugging the 120 watt stacks anymore as I am getting a better heavy tone from this thing out front miced!!
Here she is
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drpietrzak
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
This was a post that was a quote from the original poster - it was sarcasm. He was "eating his own words" so to speak.
:wizard:
This was a post that was a quote from the original poster - it was sarcasm. He was "eating his own words" so to speak.
:wizard:
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I have a small tube amp from the 60s . . . it's probably about 5 -7 watts through a single 10 inch (very inefficient) speaker. It's also WAY too loud to crank late at night (I don't have a soundproof room to play in). Personally, I wouldn't want anything bigger than a watt if I was looking for quiet power tube distortion for late night recording.
I have a small tube amp from the 60s . . . it's probably about 5 -7 watts through a single 10 inch (very inefficient) speaker. It's also WAY too loud to crank late at night (I don't have a soundproof room to play in). Personally, I wouldn't want anything bigger than a watt if I was looking for quiet power tube distortion for late night recording.
everdrone
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
ya even those 1w blackheart angry ants are too loud based on the reviews for an apartment
ya even those 1w blackheart angry ants are too loud based on the reviews for an apartment
drpietrzak
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I have one of those. I would not think it would be much of an issue in an apartment. I love messing with that one as well. I just wish it had a tone knob.
I have one of those. I would not think it would be much of an issue in an apartment. I love messing with that one as well. I just wish it had a tone knob.
El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I'm sorry, but you must be working with crap mic preamps if this is your recording method.
I have a 73 Champ and I recently have been doing some demoing. The Champ with a 57 in front of it sounds EXCELLENT and HUGE when recorded. It's all about mic placement too. There is no textbook way to place it - you have to move it around and experiment until you find the sweet spot for that particular mic/cab/amp/speaker combination. I usually do some test records and move the mic around until I'm happy with what is being reproduced before I even touch the EQ.
I'm sorry, but you must be working with crap mic preamps if this is your recording method.
I have a 73 Champ and I recently have been doing some demoing. The Champ with a 57 in front of it sounds EXCELLENT and HUGE when recorded. It's all about mic placement too. There is no textbook way to place it - you have to move it around and experiment until you find the sweet spot for that particular mic/cab/amp/speaker combination. I usually do some test records and move the mic around until I'm happy with what is being reproduced before I even touch the EQ.
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I can make any amp sound small, distant, and muddy. I guarantee it.
On a similar note, I'm gearing up (figuratively and literally) to do a new tune mic'ing a 1 x 12" with a small (15-watt) tube amp, and I can already tell the house is going to have to be good and empty when I hit record.
I can make any amp sound small, distant, and muddy. I guarantee it.
On a similar note, I'm gearing up (figuratively and literally) to do a new tune mic'ing a 1 x 12" with a small (15-watt) tube amp, and I can already tell the house is going to have to be good and empty when I hit record.
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TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
^ Iso cabs are your friend when it comes to home recording!
^ Iso cabs are your friend when it comes to home recording!
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I should look into making one, you're right (although I seldom have time to record these days).
I should look into making one, you're right (although I seldom have time to record these days).
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
The 1x10 Princeton Reverb is supposed to be the most recorded amp of all time. They get the tubes breaking down right where they want them and record it. Pretty simple really.
The 1x10 Princeton Reverb is supposed to be the most recorded amp of all time. They get the tubes breaking down right where they want them and record it. Pretty simple really.
Dr.K
Formerly Active Member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
Some guys spend many hours, days upon days in the studio. Could you imagine spending 12 hours everyday for a month in front of a high wattage amp. How long do you thing it would take before you were so deaf that you couldn't hear your "Tone" or anything else? I've been to a lot of shows in my life and after spending 2-4 hours in front of Marshall stacks (Front row general admission) my ears were bleeding. I've got tinnitus so bad right now I can't even sleep without some background noise to drown out the ringing. Small amps for recording and practice are a huge benifit to musicians.
Some guys spend many hours, days upon days in the studio. Could you imagine spending 12 hours everyday for a month in front of a high wattage amp. How long do you thing it would take before you were so deaf that you couldn't hear your "Tone" or anything else? I've been to a lot of shows in my life and after spending 2-4 hours in front of Marshall stacks (Front row general admission) my ears were bleeding. I've got tinnitus so bad right now I can't even sleep without some background noise to drown out the ringing. Small amps for recording and practice are a huge benifit to musicians.
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
I used to have a Crate VC508 -- a 5-watt 8" combo -- and by the time it really broke up, it was about as loud as I'd want it to be if I had to track with it in the same room all day. I think I'd rather find alternatives to opening up a big amp all the way.
I used to have a Crate VC508 -- a 5-watt 8" combo -- and by the time it really broke up, it was about as loud as I'd want it to be if I had to track with it in the same room all day. I think I'd rather find alternatives to opening up a big amp all the way.
IanBallard
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
It sounds like the output was run through a harmonizer and likely other gear. There's no way a stock, dry Pignose could sould like that, even with Mr. Schenker at the helm.
Here's your stock, dry Pignose. Pretty friggen sweet.
It sounds like the output was run through a harmonizer and likely other gear. There's no way a stock, dry Pignose could sould like that, even with Mr. Schenker at the helm.
Here's your stock, dry Pignose. Pretty friggen sweet.
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Small amps as recording amps?
Small amps for rec? Use them without hesitation. The fullness of sound will also strongly depend on the applied mics and their characteristics, their placement and dimension/reflection/absorption of the recording room, the preamp used and of course on the player.
So, big or small - they work just fine, it's all about finding the sweet spot where both power and definition are present, and it's usually not where you fully crank it. In case of big (30W+) amps, using onstage levels can be misleading because your bleeding ears can't make a difference there. They are just not for linearly docking continuous 100-120dB noise levels. In the case of a really dimed amp, because of the bult-in limiters in your ears you will never hear what's really going on. Small (10W-) amps tend to be more sincere because they start to enter toneland before they make you deaf.
Small amps for rec? Use them without hesitation. The fullness of sound will also strongly depend on the applied mics and their characteristics, their placement and dimension/reflection/absorption of the recording room, the preamp used and of course on the player.
So, big or small - they work just fine, it's all about finding the sweet spot where both power and definition are present, and it's usually not where you fully crank it. In case of big (30W+) amps, using onstage levels can be misleading because your bleeding ears can't make a difference there. They are just not for linearly docking continuous 100-120dB noise levels. In the case of a really dimed amp, because of the bult-in limiters in your ears you will never hear what's really going on. Small (10W-) amps tend to be more sincere because they start to enter toneland before they make you deaf.
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