Need some advice

[demonsthatfall]

Mixers. How necessary is a mixer. I'm running a M-audio Fast track pro and using a Boss GT-8 for my sound. Should I be running a mixer in between them. the reason I ask is that I don't feel I have the kind of clarity I want when recording high gain distorted guitar riffs but my clean sounds full. could this be an answer to my dilemma?

[paul999]

No it wouldn't. A good pre might help but likely it is technique. I am not much for the sim stuff because of this exact problem.

[Gold Sputtered]

Mixers are for mixing.

You are asking if you need something to kick the level up from the GT-8 going into the Fast Track Pro. The GT-8 should be hot enough and your software should show you the input level of the Fast Track Pro. Turn the levels to just before clipping.

How do high gain distorted guitar riffs sound through the headphone output of the GT-8? Start there.

[demonsthatfall]

Its not that the GT-8 doesn't push enough Its just that I have a problem with how my distortion sounds yet my clean sounds like it has a more full sound. The reason I asked about the mixer was that before when I tried to attempt to begin recording back in the day on a 4-track, I would record line-in. whatever I used for distortion would sound crappy without using a mixer to enhance and shape the tone making it more clearer.

[String7th]

I've never liked line-outs from any of those floor pedals, besides Line6. I've jammed on so many Boss, Zooms, Rocktrons, and Digitechs. All of them sound ok in front of amps, even smaller practice combos. But even though they may have a direct output to PA or mixer, doesn't mean it's going to sound good.

I know exactly what you're talking about with the clean. Nearly all clean tones I create in my studio are direct from my Line6. I've not liked many amp's clean tones that i've heard.

[Gold Sputtered]

Originally Posted by demonsthatfall

whatever I used for distortion would sound crappy without using a mixer to enhance and shape the tone making it more clearer.

It sounds like you were using the mixer's EQ to shape your sound. The GT-8 has EQ built in as well as other ways to shape sound beyond the presets.

One thing to check is that your OUTPUT SELECT is set to LINE/PHONES and that you have the speaker simulator enabled.