Syntrillium Backup Forums :: View topic - Electric Guitar Recording

Irrelevantuser · Posted - Thu May 15, 2003 8:51 am

Which way would sound better: Running the guitar cord direct into my mixer and recording, or micing up a crappy guitar amp with an SM57 and feeding that to my mixer?

zemlin · Location: USA

Depends on the sound you are looking for. Try them both out and decide which one you like best.

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

I would usually say..... "amped wins hands down", except you also allude to... "micing up a crappy guitar amp". I'm afraid your kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. Disapprove

the3jsgrve · Location: USA

I'd still shoot for mic'ing the amp if you are really going for an electric sound. If you have a few bucks to spend, you might look at a Johnson J-Station or something similar. Then you'll be able to plug direct and still get something resembling an amp sound. It's actually quite convincing.

Josh

djwayne · Location: USA

It all depends on what type of sound you're looking for. I have an acoustic Taylor 12 string with a Martin Goldline pick-up, that sounds great plugged directly into the board. A lot also depends on what type of pick-up you're using, and how you have you're eq's set. The keyword here is "Experiment". You can also add ton's of effects after the intitial dry recording to spruce up the sound.

the3jsgrve · Location: USA

Oh yeah, definitely! If you're recording acoustic guitars, plug direct... or better yet, mic it (or both). For an electric sound though, I would almost never recommend plugging into the board.

Josh

SALTY_DOG · Posted - Fri May 16, 2003 12:12 am

do both!!!! then blend

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

Or... beg, borrow or lease the right tools for the job! If your music and time are worth anything to you, then that justifies the effort and expenditure to do it right! Wink

AMSG · Location: Sweden

I would also go for miking up. You say it's a crappy amp so I guess it'll still sound a bit better when miked up than directly.
Even those Marshalls sound crap I think when recorded directly.

post78 · Location: USA

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

This is akin to saying.... one canker sore has less puss that the other, which would be better to have. It's still a canker sore! Disapprove

AMSG · Location: Sweden

Were you reffering to my post voodoo? If so, I just wanted to say that it's good to get the best possible out of the things you have to work with. That's what I think at least:D

tomc · Posted - Mon May 19, 2003 2:34 pm

I posted this on a forum I found
I'm wanting to do a bit of live recording with my band... on a bit of a budget. I'd like to mic two guitar amps, so need a couple of mics for under �200. I've heard good stuff about the SM57 as a stage mic, is it good for recording too? If not what would you suggest?

Cheers
Chris

This is what I got back
May want to consider a pair of AKG C1000s (condenser which can be either battery or phantom powered). They are far superior to SM-57 and will cost around �200 for the pair.

The C1000s is also a good recording mic which can be used on vocals, acoustic instruments, drum over-heads/ hi-hats.

Regards, Darren.

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/forum/topic.asp

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

I prefer SM57's or Sennheiser 421's, but if you can buy a PAIR of AKG C1000's for $200 bucks you ought to scoop em up! Shy

zemlin · Location: USA

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

Ahh.... I see now. My bad! That had me serious trip'n... Boo! Approve

twright · Location: USA

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

Tuskin · Location: Finland

I've had good experiences using the direct and micing. I've plug an acoustic thru mixer and then used a Rode NT1000 to record a bit of roomsound with the guitar. Then I just mix the two together (they make beautiful music).
I'm totally in love with this mic. It does require some discipline from the player. Absolutely no coughing, sneezing, tounge clucking, no foot pounding.... It recordes everything.

motorhead6 · Posted - Thu May 29, 2003 3:52 am

Whatever sounds like you want to sound. Personally I would never record a guitar direct.

liquoricegirl · Location: Canada

RE: AKG C1000 mic versus SM57s or SM58s......When I first tried the C1000s, I was blown away, however one thing I found with them is they can be a bit on the "hot" side so for me, a female vocalist, this created problems when recording from a low to a high. I had to think about the mic too much on loud parts so I've settled back with the SM58 because the sound is good and dependable.

RE: Recording with a cheap amp. Here's a magical trick that i litterally stumbled onto in one of my experimental moments with my tiny practice amp (my main amp is a Fender Princeton tube amp). I borrowed my friend's AudioBuddy preamp (they cost less than $100) and pluged into that then went into my little amp and the sound litterally exploded - all of a sudden I had this warm full big sound as opposed to the tinny noise i was used to from that amp. I still recorded with a mic, and no one could tell that I was using my cheap amp.

I got that idea actually from a violin player who did the same thing plugging his pickup into a preamp and then into his acoustic amp.

:) Cool

Joe Scumbag · Posted - Thu May 29, 2003 11:07 am

Try to get your hands on a Line POD 2.0. Many have upgraded to the POD XT so you most definetly are able to find a bargain on the second hand market. The Pod 2.0 preamps sound really fine connected straight to your soundcart. I personnally like the Boss GT-6 better for recording but it's more expensive.

jonrose · Location: USA

VoodooRadio · Location: USA