Instrument Recording Suggestions

  • saghaulor
Posted: Thu, 08/16/2007 - 00:45
So I'm playing around right now, trying to find the best technique to record the songs I've writing. Presently I'm only recording electric guitar. I have the following setup. 1 Gibson Les Paul Studio 1 Mesa Boogie F-30 1 Marshall Major (Custom Rebuilt to 150watts) 1 Shure SM57 mic 1 Audio Technica mic 1 M-Audio Duo 1 Behringer Mixer (2xlr inputs, 6 1/4"mono inputs) I'm not using the Behringer, but I'm going to try it out, see how it affects the sound. Also, I line out the Mesa into the return on the Marshall. The Mesa offers effects and more control the Marshal doesn't have, and I prefer its preamps to the Marshall. But the Marshall has the bottom end that the 30watt Mesa is lacking. I know that sound is a matter of preference, but I was wondering if any of you had suggestions on what to do with the gear I have. Perhaps you could make suggestions as to methods you prefer, and I can try to adopt my gear to your suggestion. I'm not just looking for physical setups, ie mic placement, or direct line; I'm interested in hearing pre/post signal setups you employ as well. I'm sort of new to the studio setting and I'd like to try out some tricks that you guys use. Thanks for your time.
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nice preamps matter-

  • david-0
  • 09/17/07
  • Thu, 01/24/2008 - 01:07
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Hi all, I use a focusrite Octopre-LE into my Hammerfall 9652 card. The original Octopre had compressors which i find unnecessary since i can use better, more versatile ones if need be. On the LE model, the preaps are left to shine for themselves unadorned, and are really impressive. Whatever your sound interface, nice preamps get more out of your mics! On guitar cabs, i like a Shure sm57, about four inches or a bit less, from the cone, and a condenser further away in the room, or maybe two. It's possible to get huge sounding guitars with the amps listed above. Angling the mics away from, or towards a soundsource is useful, especially at close distance. My amp is a Burman 502 pro series head ( about sixty or so watts ), a British, hand point-to-point wired head from the seventies. Serious gain available on this one... whatever your mic techniques, getting a nice tone out of your amp is paramount, so mess around with that first. happy recording!

have a look at these ...

  • MrsColumbo
  • 01/11/08
  • Mon, 01/21/2008 - 07:58
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http://emusician.com/tutorials/emusic_recording_electric_guitar/ http://homerecording.about.com/od/homestudiobasics/a/micing_amp.htm

analog console mean pre-amps....

  • ttoine
  • 11/15/07
  • Thu, 01/17/2008 - 23:58
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hey, I am more for having a good (even small) analog console : it means that you have good pre-amps, and that you can do a bit of analog summation of your mix/records. Then, just use your ear : depending of the type of mic, the best place is often where your ear that it sounds great. And remember that the mic don't ear the same than your ear, so you may have to test a bit before finding the best place, depending of the room, type of mic, pre-amps, etc... Think that Ardour2 will play exactly what you have recorded. Then... it is to you to play well (guess that you have a pure good base sound with your guitar hardware ;-)) Toine

Preference

  • Quentin Harley
  • 05/24/07
  • Thu, 08/16/2007 - 06:17
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As you said, it all boils down to personal preference. I have a digital mixer, and I spend a bit more time to perfect my mic placements for the best raw sound. Remember that you have to start with a good source to have an excelent result. I record RAW in 24bit, so that I have the full fidelity of the signals available when I start my mixdown. As for mics, whatever sounds best wins. You have to know the sound you are after, and place your mics without any effects applied until you get the sound that is the closest to your goal possible without the effects. Only then you could start playing with that. Placement on your amp: place the Shure about 15cm (6") away from the amp, just a little off centered to the cone. That's the safest bet to get a decent sound into your system. BUT: Do play around. Sometimes you get a very good sound by mistake... write it down, and post it here! Effects (Eq, Compressors etc.) is a way to fine tune your sound. Some guys record with effects applied, but I get the best results (having a Digi mixer) by doing it in the mix if necessary. I'd like to hear from the analog guys...