I'm Confused and Pissed.

Posted on

Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member Since: May 28, 2007

Can anyone tell any reson why when I record Heavy distortion guitar my recordings are really fuzzy. It sounds like it's playing off a really bad record.

What could cause this.

My mic is new and so is the cable.

[ Back to Top ]


Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 05:19 pm

oversaturation....turn down the preamp gain for BIGGER distortion.

experament and start with it all the way down, and slowly bring it up whilst playin' your favorite palm-muted 'chunk' powerchord. listen for when and how the signal begins to break up.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Aug 09, 2007 05:20 pm

I would guess you're using too much distortion and not enough mids.

Too much distortion makes the guitar sound fizzy and indistinct when recorded. When you record, turn down the distortion. Even the heaviest guitar tones you hear on CDs don't actually have that much gain/distortion.

Not enough mids makes the guitars hide in the mix. Up the mids to bring them out front more.

Remember that what sounds good to you while standing in the room and what sounds good to a mic that's pressed up against the speaker grill are 2 totally different things.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 05:20 pm

and try to avoid stomp box 'metal' type settings...they suck

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 05:21 pm

digitech metalmasters, what's that?

red flag!

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 05:23 pm

after a bit of research....if you're using this ^^^ , than that is your problem.

Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member
Since: May 28, 2007


Aug 09, 2007 05:32 pm

Would a certain type of preamp help?

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Aug 09, 2007 05:34 pm

Yeah, you'd probably be better off to take that thing out of the signal chain. Those metal stomp boxes normally only make your sound more harsh and thin. The only exception I can think of is the Boss Metal Zone. And thats not even because of the distortion (which is as harsh as you'd think), but because of the EQ with sweepable mids on it. Nice tool for tone shaping.

Its not a bad thing to use distortion pedals to compliment your amp's gain, like to add a bit more preamp gain or to shape your distortion a bit. Its just that people want to get carried away and crank the gain/distortion at every gain stage in their signal chain.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Aug 09, 2007 05:36 pm

By the way, WYD is talking about your guitar amp's preamp section, not a microphone preamp.

Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member
Since: May 28, 2007


Aug 09, 2007 05:38 pm

oh! I just have that pedal but don't use it. No power supply.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 05:40 pm

cool, then how are you gettin' your distortion? what's your signal chain?

Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member
Since: May 28, 2007


Aug 09, 2007 06:28 pm

My amp has Different Filters like Flat , mid boost , high boost bass boost, Scoop. I use my amps distortion it is nice.

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 07:19 pm

Less is more...
A little dab'll do ya...

Too much crunch/distortion can mean a whole lot of fizz on 'tape.'

Keep the distortion minimal (as noted a lot by the wonderful people above), and go for 'fat' rather than the 'wasp in a jar' sound. Once it's all mixed in, you'll be so surprised at how crunchy the guitars will sound.

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 07:22 pm

Read up on the guitar miking in the tips section as well....

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Aug 09, 2007 07:26 pm

try this one out as well (Slipperman)
www.badmuckingfastard.com/sound/slipperman.html

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 09, 2007 07:28 pm

Ooooh, good call :-).

Member
Since: Jun 02, 2007


Aug 09, 2007 09:44 pm

I always hated when people would come in to record and have their amps with all this fuzz and no mids. When in reality, it's all about a little bit of crunch and some mids, then you can get some articulation on their sound. I told them, just trust me. So I dialed in their settings and they were happy with the final product. Scooping the mids to nothing is not cool.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 10, 2007 04:52 pm

wow! i remember that thread on the slutz page, i can't believe someone actually built a website out of it! holy crap!

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Aug 10, 2007 05:08 pm

That has stood as one of my very LEAST favorite articles in the history of the internet. That guy needs to get over himself and let somebody write an article with the same good information without the douchebag attitude.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 10, 2007 05:11 pm

oh i dissagree, the attitude keeps the reading interesting, and there is a goldmine of knowledge hidden in there.

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 10, 2007 10:16 pm

Definitely wyd, that article is classic! HOHOHO

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.