What's Wrong With This Recording?

[ImmortalSix]

OK, so I record a lot of clips, mostly so I don't forget what I write, and they all sound like ****.

PLEASE ADVISE me on how to get better sound out of my "spartan":laugh2: recording Setup:

Guitar -> Fender Ultimate Chorus Solid State 2x12 -> EV Dynamic Mic -> Laptop with Audacity

(I know, I can't expect much with this junk setup)

Here are a few clips for you to hear what I think sounds so Awful:

Clip 1: MIA Jackson RR with Dimebucker + MIA Strat with stock pups
Alt Song we wrote that is a keeper

Hearos

Clip 2: POS Samick PRS knockoff "Ultramatic" with "Duncan Designed" SH6 knockoff
BS Pop Punkish / OC Soundtrack / what your girlfriend listens to clip I wrote to test new guitar / new pickup

Ultramatic Duncan Test

Mic'ing techniques? I have the mic aimed not at the center of the 12" driver, but about 60% to the edge, about as close as the grille would be if I had it on the amp.

Thanks!

P.S. Even though I have minimal gear, I still have far more gear than skill :chairfall

 

[larry_emder]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

To me, it lacks bass and has too much upper mids. try moving the mic further towards the centre of the cone possibly...play with eq....its VERY 'fizzy'.

Try mic'ing off axis maybe?

A bit less gain too IMO

In conclusion; get a proper interface i think

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

fizzy. too much gain. turn down the treble a bit

Most importantly you are distorting something in the recording chain. A very different sounding distortion than what the amp is putting out

 

[Osensei]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

Yeah, all that gain is creating white noise in the background like a TV station thats off the air. Your tone is also very dry. Do you like reverb any? Roll back on the treble and add touches of bass until you get the right mix. You might try experimenting with different presence setting also if your amp is equiped for it.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

1) Yeah, I hear that I am overdriving something in the record chain...as we all know the concept of headroom in a digital environment is...uhhh...a lot more important. I'll try to fix that by turning all the levels down.

2) How do I get good "chug chug chug" tone with he gain turned down?

 

[ShredFetus]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

I turn the gain all the way down & slowly adjust it up until the bottom end is just between chugging and mushing out. It's kind of a feeling thing. It doesnt feel like I'm controlling the guitar if it just mushes out with gain when I play, especially palm mutes.

 

[ShredFetus]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

Oh and the others are right, I think you are clipping somewhere.

Cool riffs though!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

I turn the gain all the way down & slowly adjust it up until the bottom end is just between chugging and mushing out. It's kind of a feeling thing. It doesnt feel like I'm controlling the guitar if it just mushes out with gain when I play, especially palm mutes.

Is it even possible to record solid state amps with gain without it sounding like a robot?

 

[ShredFetus]

Re: What's Wrong With This Recording?

Absolutely! It is true you dont get the same feel that makes tube amps so special, but for ages my rig was all solid state and I set my tone by that priciple. You can still get solidstate stuff sounding good, you just have to work harder for it!