How do you record your guitars?

[Metaltyme]

Greetings guitar players (& who also record guitar),

For some time, I've been curious about what the majority of all the guitar players do around here to capture their guitar's signal for tracking/recording. As a rule, do you only mic your solid-state or tube amp(s)? Or, do you use an external guitar processor or pedal to generate your amp sound like a POD X3, Boss Gt-10, Axe-FX, or the like? Or, are you recording direct using amp-sim software like Amplitube, Guitar Rig, or ReValver to give you that amp tone? Lastly, are you someone who uses each of these methods interchangeably for the sake of diversity, curiousity, and/or purpose?

For all intents and purposes, I'm trying to use this polled thread to get somewhat of a simple, random sample of the guitar-recording-population. I'd like to see what the average guitar player employs to get his/her guitar tone tracked, as well as his/her mindset (or situation) requiring such methods. Please feel free to comment on the 'hows' and 'whys' for posterity.

Thanks for participating!

[Metaltyme]

I'll start...

I have a few amps for live purposes, and I have a Boss Gt-10 effects processor for shits and giggles. But for recordings, lately, I've been really pleased using Guitar Rig 3. It's easier to deal with, and I've learned to make it work for me, both tonewise and for overall practicality. I've been getting the tones that I like to hear, especially with the use of quality impulse responses available from almost anywhere on the nets.

Recently though, I've just added ReValver MKIII to the amp-sim software collection. Even though I haven't yet recorded with ReValver, I intend to use it for the album I'm working on as we speak, as some of the tones I've been able to conjure up sound truly 'killer'...moreso than anything I've ever been able to cook up in Guitar Rig 3. Any marginal differences between using ReValver/Guitar Rig and micing up an actual real-live amp, to me, are trivial, compared to the great benefits of pretty much plug&play.

Sometimes, I do use the Gt-10 for recording for experimental purposes, but I can't say that I'd ever choose to use that over the software amp-sims for serious recordings. If I worked at/in a studio or had a space where noise wasn't a problem, I'd definitely make use of mic'ing real amps regularly. I could see myself being designated a number 4 (above) in time. But for now, I'm a 3.

Welp, that's my 2 cents anyway.

Cheers,

[TonyB]

I typically use all options available, although the majority of the time it's micing the amp.

It also depends on the quality of the equipment and musicianship (ahem!).

Excerpts from my upcoming Strange, But True Recording Experiences series (well, not really, but these are actual situations):

If the guitarist is not that good, I'll have him/her go into the DAW direct and re-record their parts later using my own guitar.

If the equipment is not that good, I'll have him/her go into the DAW direct and apply Guitar Rig as necessary.

If the guitarist is good and the guitarists equipment is good.... I'M IN STUDIO HEAVEN!!!...LIFE IF GOOD...., I'll slap a 47 and/or a 421 (sometimes a 7b) on the amp (close miking). If the song calls for it I'll have a room mic on it (some type of condenser).

That's my nickel.

[whomper]

Greetings guitar players (& who also record guitar),

For some time, I've been curious about what the majority of all the guitar players do around here to capture their guitar's signal for tracking/recording. As a rule, do you only mic your solid-state or tube amp(s)? Or, do you use an external guitar processor or pedal to generate your amp sound like a POD X3, Boss Gt-10, Axe-FX, or the like? Or, are you recording direct using amp-sim software like Amplitube, Guitar Rig, or ReValver to give you that amp tone? Lastly, are you someone who uses each of these methods interchangeably for the sake of diversity, curiousity, and/or purpose?

For all intents and purposes, I'm trying to use this polled thread to get somewhat of a simple, random sample of the guitar-recording-population. I'd like to see what the average guitar player employs to get his/her guitar tone tracked, as well as his/her mindset (or situation) requiring such methods. Please feel free to comment on the 'hows' and 'whys' for posterity.

Thanks for particpating!

all well and good if you call some electric device a guitar

how do you record REAL guitars without amps ?

if its electric why bother with the guitar amp etc at all
just use a synth and make that ersatz guitar as wild as you want with a lot less work. and no mikes needed!

[brandondrury]

how do you record REAL guitars without amps ?

You don't. However, not everyone believes that music should be a documentary. I want GOOD and EXCITING and therefor I'm not limited by reality. With that said, I've heard emulators that sounded more real than poorly recorded real amps.

Some people are more interested in the means than the end. I only care about the end.

if its electric why bother with the guitar amp etc at all
just use a synth and make that ersatz guitar as wild as you want with a lot less work. and no mikes needed!

Not a bad idea!

I use real amps 99% of the time, but I had one record where the band was completely happy with the emulator and I didn't bother reamping. I'd do it again if the music fit.

Brandon

[Metaltyme]

You don't. However, not everyone believes that music should be a documentary. I want GOOD and EXCITING and therefor I'm not limited by reality. With that said, I've heard emulators that sounded more real than poorly recorded real amps.

Some people are more interested in the means than the end. I only care about the end.

I agree. After all that's said and done, what matters is the end result. I'd take just as much pride in utilizing any quality amp-sim as I would recording with a real-live mic'd amp. Either way, I'm the one playing the guitar, and it's my performance that's captured. In my opinion, good potential tones-to-be-had depend on the quality of the actual performance.

[efe]

I record this way:
guitar -> pod->compressor-> sound card input->DAW

Im pleased with the sound quality for what I do, however I loose the ability to have any guitar feedback.

Unless I put my guitar up close to my monitors, which I have not tried.

[jclampitt]

I started out recording using a pod xt, then i got a couple tube amps for recording. Now i use both but i think its much, much easier to get a good sound with the pod, mostly because its such a pain in the ass setting up a mic, turning up the amp really loud, recording, listening, moving the mic, adusting the eq on the amp, and then doing all that over and over again when i just want to be playing. I think i end up settling for sounds that could be a lot better. I also think i might force myself to try to use an amp in situations where i'd be better off just using the pod, but then there have also been songs where i used an amp that turned out really good and i know i never would have gotten that sound with the pod so i don't know, i haven't settled on either method.

[String7th]

I start out with scratch guitar on a PodX3 direct.
Depending on my mood, I suggest the guitarist to try my Blue Voodoo. It's an all-tube 120 watt head that gets decent tone. I love the fact it's got simple power tube volume and gain. The gain is usually left at 1 or 2 and volume at 9.

If that isn't fitting, I plug the PodX3 into a ADA Microtube power amp, to a Marshall cab. I'm starting to like the Marshall mods more, and the Deizel and Mesa's less.

For metalheads, we end up using my Randall solid state amp. It's the cheapest of the bunch but metal guys instantly love it.

Nearly all my clean tones are through the PodX3. Solo lead tones as well.

[whomper]

You don't. However, not everyone believes that music should be a documentary. I want GOOD and EXCITING and therefor I'm not limited by reality. With that said, I've heard emulators that sounded more real than poorly recorded real amps.

Brandon

agreed

lots of different types of music
lots of different genres of books
wish we had more political parties to choose from
gops and dems are two sides of teh same coin
tax and spend or just spend
some choice

so while it is still a free country
enjoy what you like
before they tell us what we should (have to) like

if you like artificial electric music played loud then
by all means compose and create and record and play that stuff
while you can

i prefer the softer realistic all acoustic source
recorded in stereo (or 4 channel)
and played back at a volume that wont wake the babies
eitehr ours or the one next door

[Metaltyme]

i prefer the softer realistic all acoustic source
recorded in stereo (or 4 channel)
and played back at a volume that wont wake the babies
eitehr ours or the one next door

And that, of course, is your right.

[Tony Ramone]

So far (I've still only recorded 7 songs at this stage), I've used my amp on all my recordings. At first I used a SM57, but after a brief shootout I found I prefer the sound I'm getting from a dynamic mic that came with a drum mic set that I picked up on the cheap (made by Eagle, don't know the part numbers). So far I've gotten pretty good reviews, so I'm happy...
Of course, all my guitar parts are for punk songs with lots of distortion. I may be trying something a bit different soon for a radio contest here in Ireland (must get a move on if I've any chance of beating the deadline), so maybe I'll have to change tactics then... I'll keep ye posted

[efe]

agreed

lots of different types of music
lots of different genres of books
wish we had more political parties to choose from
gops and dems are two sides of teh same coin
tax and spend or just spend
some choice

so while it is still a free country
enjoy what you like
before they tell us what we should (have to) like

if you like artificial electric music played loud then
by all means compose and create and record and play that stuff
while you can

i prefer the softer realistic all acoustic source
recorded in stereo (or 4 channel)
and played back at a volume that wont wake the babies
eitehr ours or the one next door

So I should create as much music as I can, while its tax free and unregulated? Be it by means of a real amp or a simulated one, regardless, I should just play, while I can. Maybe if I wasnt a middle class musician and perhaps a rich class one, possibly might I still be free to create without taxation or regulation? Its the peoples music.

[Metaltyme]

I may be trying something a bit different soon for a radio contest here in Ireland (must get a move on if I've any chance of beating the deadline), so maybe I'll have to change tactics then... I'll keep ye posted

Please do. And good luck in the contest!

[Tony Ramone]

Cheers
Unfortunately it involves recording a U2 cover, so my hands might fall off in disgust...
Maybe I'll just do the Johnny Cash version, I'll feel much better then