Guitar Rig 2 vs Real, Expensive Recording Rig

[adorian]

Anyone using PT's AmpFarm? I found I liked that one the best out of most of these, but I use it for different stuff. If for example I get a knucklehead client that insist he records his awful sounding amp - I reamp via AmpFarm from a DI track I recorded billed as a "safety track" or adjust their awful grinding tones to at least bring some semblance of dynamics.

I had a christian rock band client with a "pastor-producer" that insisted I record their awful sounding DI boxes, one was POD-something, the other the GT-8. Their soundman insisted they use this live via the board, and their "pastor-producer" insisted I go with their soundman's advice. I objected several times, even tried to tweak the respective emulators, but nothing good really came out as far as I was concerned. The result was devastating - I can't describe how nasty this sh*t was. Anyway - I managed to salvage the mix session with some clean settings such as Fender Bassman and Marshall Plexi via 4x12 speaker sims. They weren't the best sounds but at least the mixdown was fine.

[brandondrury]

I had a christian rock band client with a "pastor-producer"

Ironically, this is what I would call PURE HELL! Then again, it can be funny watching someone totally unqualified shoot himself in the foot. Now that I think about it, I think I want to do one of these!

Brandon

[brianinogang]

yeah i agree brandon. that kind of situation sucks BIG TIME. adorian, i havent tried ampfarm. id give it a shot. thanks for the info.

[adorian]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Ironically, this is what I would call PURE HELL! Then again, it can be funny watching someone totally unqualified shoot himself in the foot. Now that I think about it, I think I want to do one of these!

Brandon

Imagine Creed but Christian...okay correction...more Christian, with a guitar duo that could barely play above power chord level, somewhere along Kurt Cobain skill level, but both with the idea in their head that they can play leads like the Iron Maiden guys, drummer that couldn't drum much, a bassist that kinda barely kept it together and a singer that was almost talented. Luckily I came in during overdubs on this session so I didn't have to track everything, did some of the mixing but walked out and let someone in the lower echelons handle it. The "pasducer" said their last CD sold really well, they sold 1200 copies at $20 a pop. I thought about playing church rock at that stage

PURE HELL is an understatement The sounds - I can't really describe it them. Kinda close to a buzzsaw, square wave distortion, just thinking about it hurts my ears. I kinda survived that session by putting sound isolating headphones and play it at the lowest level possible while the band had it cranked up in the control room. Recording "talent" like this makes me question my career choices.

Anyway - long story but Ampfarm saved my a** that day as probably would've reamping. At least Ampfarm was right there as a plugin. Now I use Amplitube LE in Cubase with the same idea, shaping some not so cool sounds.

[doug941]

I have used Marshall and fender amps for years. I also have a 5150.
Nothing sounds like a loud tube head pushing a 4x12 cab hard.
It's the way the wood vibrates, the way the air is bellowing out in explosive blast like a great set of lungs with something to say!
There something about playing lead when you can feel the cabinet vibrate the guitar in your hands! It's one of life's greatest pleasures.

That being said, I also have Guitar Rig and Amplitube and I love them.
Sometimes in the recording process you envision a certain guitar part in your head. Not just the part but the tone and voice of the part, the personality to bring the notes to life. The software has helped me to become familiar enough with each combination of effect, amps and speakers, that I can get the sound from my head to the track in minutes.

The world is now a better place.

[macpo]

Try Revalver MK II with the ultimate kitty presets and guitarhack impulses. I now use guitar rig only for more fuzzy types of distortion. The low end you can get from the dual recto preset is really really good and im not even going to add "for being direct" because it works great for me

[MetalDave]

Guitar has always been very easy for me in live situations. I am having a hell of a time getting a ballzy yet not muddy guitar sound so far. I still think the best way is to mic up the amp. I will try anything once...

[brandondrury]

I still think the best way is to mic up the amp.

If the amp sounds bad ass, I agree. For guys who don't own amps capable of delivering the tones they want, I think the Revalver MK3 stuff gets you 90% of the way there. Maybe even 95%.

Brandon

[macpo]

i agree brandon, though im still using MKII because it has the mesa dual recto that I use a lot. I will have to give MK3 a try

[Vain Melody]

Brandon,

what "effects", if any, did you use on these tracks? were they recorded in stereo?

for the DI tracks, were they recorded in stereo? (i'm not sure if that's even possible, I'm assuming that the software emulates this somehow)

I'm just trying to figure out why your guitar recording sounds a hundred times better than mine or if its just an equipment quality issue - your guitar is wide, spacious [of course, i'm recording direct using the sims in Cubase4 which i doubt are the best]