Recording Solid-State Amps

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Member Since: Jul 21, 2007

When recording a solid-state amplifier, should I use a direct line-in? Or am I still going to get a better, thicker tone by mic'ing it (I generally use one large diaphragm condenser and one dynamic, specifically an MXL990 and Audix OM-5).

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 22, 2007 09:16 pm

If you want, and many here do you can use both the direct line out of the amp and the mic's. If you like the sound you are getting now with the 2 mic's, then experimenting with recording a direct line as well will be good to see if it is better. Some amps are capable of putting out a great signal from the line out, others are not.

You can also try using one mic and the direct out as well if you are limited to 2 tracks being recorded at a time. Try one mic first then the other.

For years now I have recorded my guitar using nothing but a POD xt that is fully loaded, and lately using a UX-2 from Line 6. When I need that little something extra I will mic up some large speakers here and use that signal along with the direct signal from the Line 6 units to get a bigger sounds. It is all kind of a personal taste thing, but it is definitely worth the time to experiment a little and try it out.

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004


Jul 22, 2007 09:29 pm

Quote:
You can also try using one mic and the direct out as well if you are limited to 2 tracks being recorded at a time.


I use a Roland Cube 60, and that's exactly what I do. It's nice to get a little bit of "the room". Then I just blend the two signals at mixdown.

Member
Since: Jul 10, 2007


Jul 22, 2007 11:18 pm

If you like the sounds you get coming out of your amp, remember the speakers are part of shaping that sound too, when you pull them out of the loop, you're removing part of the character of your tone. But yeah, trying to get some good sounds from a room is a good way to make the tone more "real" and alive sounding.

Member
Since: Jul 21, 2007


Jul 22, 2007 11:25 pm

Interesting idea. For kicks, I just recorded a simple 2-guitar track using the Line 6 Uber Metal pedal and no amplifier. Double tracked both the lead and the rhythm on two different settings, panned them hard each way, and for some reason, it sounds good. What? I'm seriously considering not even bothering an amplifier on my next project. It certainly makes it easier, in that now I can record at 4 AM :). Maybe that's a viable route for metal.

On another note, I tried cold-running the line-out of one of the Line 6 Spider II amps. Sounds terrrrrrrible. That seems so odd to me, since I associate solid-state technology immediately with a digital send. Maybe I just don't realize that they incorporate the physics of the speakers the signal is being outputted to when it generates the waveform.

Beats me.

Member
Since: Jun 02, 2007


Jul 23, 2007 05:39 pm

Miking is the only way to go for me. I prefer ribbons if you got them, if not, two SM57s and a condenser for a room mic.

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


Jul 23, 2007 05:44 pm

Well I suppose the old "if it sounds good then it is good" applies here. I have found that any type of modelling is prone to sort of a digital harshness though. Re-amping threw a tube pre helped a lot.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 23, 2007 06:50 pm

One thing you have to remember if you are doing a direct out from the Spider II amp is to make sure you set the AIR circuit to on. Or maybe they have a direct out selection on it to emulate a speaker cab being pushed.

I know I have a lot of work into my patches for both the PODxt and the UX-2 to get away from the kind of digital sound that some people claim to hear. My feeling is they just have not spent enough time tweaking those things. Myself, while I love the feel I get from a cranked up tube amp I can't help but love the sound I get now after all these years of twisting the **** out of the Line 6 stuff and getting it to sound right. I do agree with BH though as there are just some sounds that I still need to warm up once they are recorded, but I tend to stay digital and use either the PSP Vintage Warmer or the VC64 Vintage Channel for doing that. Again, it isn't something that you just hit a preset and go, you need to really work at getting it set proper to do the job.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Jul 23, 2007 08:48 pm

Quote:
Miking is the only way to go for me. I prefer ribbons if you got them, if not, two SM57s and a condenser for a room mic.


what he said!

i used to record a direct out, and i found myself pushing it further and further back into the mix....too much white noize!

Member
Since: Jun 02, 2007


Jul 23, 2007 11:38 pm

If you don't want to mic, I would run straight from the guitar into your DAW and run an amp modeler like Guitar Rig or Amp Farm. I've gotten amazing result just going direct. But I'll say it again... Nothing beats a miked amp.

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