Mic vs direct to PC

[C#Dave]

I've started recording with a friend over the net, and we have a problem. He prefers I record the guitar dry, so we (he) can use the plug-ins for effects. (We both have Cubase SX with all the bells and whistles)

Granted, I can get the distortion, reverb etc CLOSE to what I want the guitar to sound like, but it just isn't the same as having the amp blasting away at me while I play. I need to FEEL the guitar as I play, and if it doesn't sound right, I just can get as enthused about my playing. As you can imagine, harmonics are practically non-existent playing dry, though I can hear the effects through the headphones.

I guess what I want, is opinions as to how I can get the tracks using the mic, and still have the luxury of cutting and pasting bits and pieces. I would imagine that as long as I don't use reverb or delay, I could cut and paste seamlessly.

BTW, I have good mics and mixing board and all that stuff in case that is a concern. Echo Gina sound card etc.

Any thoughts on this? Is he being too picky, or am I just to old fashioned? My thoughts are, that I don't hear of other guitarists recording without their favorite amps and effects.

(Starting to sound like a Ann Landers post...)

Dave

[YowhatsupT]

No your fine what you need to do is get some good audio editing software (i cant remember any names at the moment but If you have a small studio I would get some that you have to buy so it would compliment your gear better)

You want to record onto your harddrive not onto a tape, with that you can edit and paste all you want. (provided the right software) I agree i would want some distortion too ...with the softare you can record at different times then put them together.

[Fender65Mustang]

Yow,
Cubase sx is a recording and editing software.
Dave,
You can get a splitter box like Santana and SRV used. It has one "in" from the guitar and 4 or 6 "outs". So you would go from guitar to box, from box to amp, and from box to computer. That would send a dry signal out of one jack to the computer, while allowing you to play through your amp and hear the settings you want. That way, no mics are needed and you both get what you want.
I don't know if any of this helps but I thought I'd try. If you need any more info on the box let mew know.

[crusty]

I don't think you're old fashioned. I generally prefer an in-between approach myself.

I like to get a fairly close approximation to the final sound when I'm recording. With the exception of reverb, delay, and heavy modulation effects, effects that enhance the sound of your guitar (even though they are recorded and 'final') will ensure that the final mixdown sounds closer to what you had in mind in the beginning.

I generally record my clean sound with a bit of chorus and eq direct into the board. If there's a raunchy, distorted guitar I like to record that sound through a miked amp. Whether the recorded track is clean or raunchy I will generally add some extra effects on mixdown - specifically reverb and/or delay and/or more heavily modulated chorus/flange/phaser.

[C#Dave]

Thanks guys... I don't feel so much like gripey old woman...

65 Mustang... That was my first electric. Cool! Wish I still had it...

You guys have given me some great ideas, and I think I can get the best of both worlds using your advise. I tried running the guitar through the PC speakers, (400w Altec Lansing surround sound) and it didn't have the sound I was after, I'll try going in my amp later, and see how it does, now that I know how...

Thanks Bro's!!!

Dave

[crusty]

Something else you could keep in mind if you have lots of tracks to work with is you can record some of your effects onto spare tracks. There are couple of advantages to doing this. One, if you re-mix the song a year from now you still have the original effects, but they're still seperate from the dry signals (even if you don't have the original effects unit anymore), and two, even if you only have one effect module you can still get all the effects you want (provided you have the tracks available).

[Keith]

I record all my material dry and mix the FX in later.Saves on tape hiss and XS noise.
I prefer it that way since if I muck up a track wih FX, I dont have to worry aout going over and doing the track again later, and trying to find out the settings that I had when I first recorded it (With FX).
All the advice that has been given so far, by that gang here has been on the mark.
I would go more with Fenders idea.
You can get the best-of both- worlds out of his advice.

[crusty]

Saves on tape hiss and XS noise

If you're recording digitally you can record the effects to their own dedicated tracks (provided you have lots of tracks to work with).

[crusty]

I recently bought a Beringer Amp with a built in amp simulator (they also make the stand alone amp simulators). I haven't tried recording anything with it yet, but I did try plugging in a set of headphones and it really sounds good. It's one possible alternative anyway.

[C#Dave]

I recently bought a Beringer Amp with a built in amp simulator (they also make the stand alone amp simulators). I haven't tried recording anything with it yet, but I did try plugging in a set of headphones and it really sounds good. It's one possible alternative anyway.

Which one did you get? Behringer is good stuff, and I've been kinda looking at a portable amp for jam sessions and such. I play through my PA now, and just the thought of having to set that up just to hit an open mic deal is scary to say the least. It would be nice to have an amp with ONE handle on it with some decent pwr and speaker(s).

I was in the store the other day and a guy was jamming on a little Marshall that he said was tube preamp, (he wasn't sure) and it sounded Great! 2-12's I think, might have been 10's. Just my big... Had about a $500 tag on it. That's about my brave...

Thanks

Dave

[crusty]

It's a V-Tone GMX212. What I find is that if you want a really clean sound you need some sort of external pre-amp, or it won't have the power to get over a loud drummer, but the clean sound is really noise free and has plety of headroom. The built in effects are cool, but you need thier MIDI foot controller to be able to take advantage of them, so I just use my old Boss ME-5 effects unit for effects. The speaker/amp simulator is cool, but I leave it set in one place all the time. Currently I'm just using it for a live-band, but if I was doing some recording I might be able to make use of all the features. For overall sound I'd give it a 9.5 (I'd reserve 10 for a real tube amp). It definately sounds better than a typical solid-state guitar amp.