Recording Guitar... Questions About Preamps Etc... Options

[Righteous Bullet]

ok i know its a good idea to use a preamp for recording direct with guitar. this is a dumb question but im wondering if you should use it with a mic too. The reason i ask is because i am (for the time being) micing my amp sending that into my mixer and then mixer hooks to the pc, and im using free software just so i can record a little and get my ideas down since i dont have a good setup yet. Anyway when i record my amp with my guitar distorted it can often sound pretty crappy and im not sure why, and i think there are preamps in my mixer anyway... is this something i should fix with the sofware? like use a compressor or something? or what?

If i may i'd like to reccomend the POD 2.0. I use Line 6 equipment for goth live shows and for recording. I have a Vetta that I use onstage and love it, and I have a POD rack for home recording and as a backup in case anything should happen to the Vetta. Yeh, the POD is really that good. I have no fears about running straight inot it and into the board for live performance. I would probably do that more oftem in I waasn't concerned about the quality of our monitor system - (lol)

Check it out though - I think you'll be surprised!
stratman

[Panopticon]

Well, I've been around all the modeling stuff (A LOT...I've used everything from POD XT to Amplitube to Amp Farm, and everything in between). In my opinion, they're all interesting tools, but not suitable for getting really good guitar tone. They make o.k. tone. Right now, I'd say the best one is Rock Amp Legends, but no matter what I've used, all the modelers sound great in the mids and highs, but totally lose it below 250Hz. Obviously, MOST of a guitar's tone is above that mark, but the part that's below it is crucial if you want truly pro sounding tracks. Using equipment that can keep the bottom end tight, however, is not cheap; and budget IS a big concern for most of us.

And it depends on what kind of music and guitar tone you're looking for. But if you ever plan on getting, say, great sounding drop D palm mutes and chugging riffs, the modelers won't come close to a real Marshall or Mesa stack miked up. But they also cost SO much less...

Ok, all you POD and Amplitube guys, feel free to flame away...

[Righteous Bullet]

i was just wondering, i could record direct and use like a distortion pedal in between the guitar and mixer/interface and it would work the same way right? i know its alot more limited but just wanna make sure it works right.

[Panopticon]

Yes, a pedal will work going direct. Also, some pedals have an incredible amount of level to contribute...

[fingers]

Well, I've been around all the modeling stuff (A LOT...I've used everything from POD XT to Amplitube to Amp Farm, and everything in between).

Hi Panopticon

Have you tried the Sans Amp? and if so I wondered what uou thought of it compared to the Pod et al.

Thanks

Rich

peace

MacIDOL.com

[Panopticon]

Yeah, the Sans Amp has been around forever. I would say it's not quite as flexible as, say, the POD XT, but the POD is really the worst offender on losing the bottom end. I'd prefer the XT over the Sans Amp, though, because I don't think I'd really use either unit for recording guitar (you have to keep in mind that I have a Triple Rec on top of a 1960).

If you want to try out a POD you should just pick one up at Guitar Center, use it for a few weeks, and see if you like it. They have a good return policy