Getting nice - rich sounding guitars...
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > Getting nice - rich sounding guitars...
Posted on Oct 19, 2006 03:50 pm
get2sammyb
Member Since: Oct 19, 2006
I recorded some bass (I have the full bass an drum track made) and thought I would do a little bit of guitar work (I am not really a guitarist) on top to see if I could get it to fit. What I found was that my mix sounded fairly passable but lacked any real sparkle. The guitars sound a little crunchy (which I am guessing was to do with my Toneports distortion settings)...
Here is my sample:
www.slipperynipplerock.co...sseqhomerec.mp3
I was just wondering what you thought. What you'd change with the EQ, levels, panning and how you'd get it to sparkle a little more?
How can I get it to sound richer?
[ Back to Top ]
Oct 19, 2006 06:00 pm Without making drastic hardware changes - such as new pickups, amp, etc - try a combination of a dynamic mic right in the amp's grill, then a condenser about 6"-12" back slightly off the center of the speaker cone. If recording direct, move around the selector switch to vary pickup selection and toy around with various settings in your recording software/plug-ins or I/O- processor units. The distance and type of mic(s) can have great bearing on the final sound. Good Luck.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 19, 2006 09:20 pm Welcome to HRC.
Which model of the Toneport are you using? Also have you updated the firmware/software portions of the unit lately. They have some amazing stuff coming out of those things these days.
I use both a POD xt fully loaded and upgraded. And also a Line 6 Tomeport UX2, again fully updated but not fully loaded as there is no need for the redudant sounds.
One thing I firmly believe in and have used for years is multiple tracks of guitars. That can really add tons to the sound.
Also on the simpler side something as easy as adding a chorus effect will really thickin the sound up considerably. Dont over do it though as it can quickly become a messy wash of sound.
Compresion is also something to think about, it will really help pump the sound up. THe bass guitar as well really benefits from some good solid compresion which can be added to both the guitar and the bass tracks in your recording app.
Oct 20, 2006 05:00 am Hey,
Yeah it's a Toneport UX2. Everyone is telling me to double up my tracks so it seems like that is the way to go to get the phat sound I'm really looking for. Thanks for the advice guys :) Any more would be appreciated.
And I am yet to update the firmware yet. Worth it then I presume?
Oct 20, 2006 06:59 am I spent a couple of hours playing with the sound. Got this:
www.slipperynipplerock.co...bledguitars.mp3
Thats with like 6 guitar tracks. Sounds a lot brighter. Still doesn't have that thick commercial sound I'm going for.
Did I cut out too much low end?
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Oct 20, 2006 10:46 am Somebody posted recently about recording one track of guitar with the crunch, and then doubling with a clean sound. Get's all the frequencies and juices going. All the definition is there, with the tone just oozing.
Tried it. Not sure how I lived without it...
I use emulators rather than amps/mics (neighbours/wife).
Oct 20, 2006 11:04 am I'll give that a try. :)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 20, 2006 01:19 pm Ya, the firmware updates and so on are well worth the time. You will need to get the Line 6 Monkey softare installed and then let it take over and do all the downloading and updating for you. They are constantly tweaking the innards of the thing and refining the sounds so it is worth keeping up on it.
As for the double tracked guitars. My biggest suggestion is using as TallChap stated some differant guitar tones mixxed together to get a much fatter sound. Recording mutliple tracks of the same tone or very close tones will only thicken it up so much. But using differant tones and blending them together will really help the sound out.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Oct 20, 2006 01:21 pm Last time I recorded in a studio, they had two 57's at the speakers and a condenser a bit farther out. But as stated before, he also had a DI box in the mix for the clean signal, it indeed worked wonders on the tone.
FreddyMember
Since: Oct 21, 2006
Oct 21, 2006 08:08 pm You could try some EQ too.
Cut around 800. Boost around 2,500 for some extra "sizzle".
It will depend on what else you are mixing it with as to what else you may want to do. I am assuming you will want to leave space in the mix in the lower numbers for bass and drums, otherwise you could boost to fatten around 200ish. Roll off the EQ below that.
Best bet would be to use 2 tracks and boost each at different frequencies. Say one at 3K and one at 4K - possible lower the other guitar at the point you boost the first - give each one some room in the mix.
Oct 21, 2006 09:54 pm yeah dude, you really have to be going for something to only want one guitar track. Doubling, tripling, even quadrupling will make it sound so fat. I'm a fan of the close dynamic and distanced condenser, but actually putting two separate takes together is what thickens the sound.
Oct 23, 2006 08:45 am What sort of clean tone should I be going for - should I be trying to capture say a clean guitar preset type sound from the Toneport - or just the direct signal of the guitar?
How would you pan it? - two guitar tracks close miced centreish (sorta 25ish to either side)... then the further back miced tracks at sorta 50ish either side? Where would you put the clean tracks?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 24, 2006 08:51 pm Split the clean track in the 25 ish postion and keep the heavier distortion or gain track outward. It works a charm for me everytime.
For the cleanish tracks, I dont go too clean. But I dont go into overdrive either. Just add enough gain to warm it up a bit yet the clean tone will cut better and add more depth.
