Playback sounds good, but when recorded sounds muddy

[Dexter_prog]

Hey. This is my first post in here. I've been reading for some days but never posted before.

Ok, here's the thing. I recently god a Presonus Firebox and I've had little time to try it. Today I was recording some random stuff with my boss metalzone. When I listen to what I am playing I think the distortion sounds good, but when I listen to what I recorded I notice it sounds different, more muddy, "dirtier" would be the word to express it. I don't know what I am doing wrong. And I doubt the interface is crap because I've read good reviews about it before buying it.

Is there anything I might be doing wrong? Maybe the input too high clipping the signal?? How loud should a raw guitar recording (say, Boss metalzone > firebox) sound??

[Vulconizer]

How are you monitoring it when you are playing the guitar and how are you monitoring it during playback? The same for both?

[Dexter_prog]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

How are you monitoring it when you are playing the guitar and how are you monitoring it during playback? The same for both?

Yep, same for both. I don't have studio monitors, but I have two Edifier R1000TC

[Vulconizer]

Okay, how are you recording it? Using a mic on an amp or are you going straight in?

[brandondrury]

Today I was recording some random stuff with my boss metalzone. When I listen to what I am playing I think the distortion sounds good, but when I listen to what I recorded I notice it sounds different, more muddy, "dirtier" would be the word to express it.

When you say "When I listen to what I am playing" are you referring to the sound coming out of your studio monitors or the sound coming out of your amp?

Brandon

[Dexter_prog]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

Okay, how are you recording it? Using a mic on an amp or are you going straight in?

Originally Posted by brandondrury

When you say "When I listen to what I am playing" are you referring to the sound coming out of your studio monitors or the sound coming out of your amp?

Brandon

To both: no amp. I am going: guitar > distortion pedal > interface (> monitors)

[Vulconizer]

Are you recording too hot? Try to keep it well down below 0db on your input. Like -12db or even under.

Start there and see what's up.

[Dexter_prog]

Ok, I was going like -3dB. Today I will test it @ -12dB and share the results

[brandondrury]

What are you using to emulate a speaker? I'm NOT a fan of the Metalzone anyway, but without speaker emulation I'd imagine you are going to have an extremely tough time getting this to anywhere near usable.

Brandon

[Dexter_prog]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

Are you recording too hot? Try to keep it well down below 0db on your input. Like -12db or even under.

Start there and see what's up.

I tried that, I kept it like -12db or under and it sounded exactly like what I listened when I played. It seems I, a dumbass, was clipping the shit out of it

Originally Posted by brandondrury

What are you using to emulate a speaker? I'm NOT a fan of the Metalzone anyway, but without speaker emulation I'd imagine you are going to have an extremely tough time getting this to anywhere near usable.

Brandon

I am using nothing but the metalzone, but just because I was testing. I am not a fan of my pedal neither, but it's all I got and I haven't had time to mess with cabinet emulators to get a decent sound