Tips on Recording Electric Guitar

[PRS1JAZZ]

SO.....how do you like it? DI, mic'd up, mix of both? Where do you like to boost, where do you like to cut EQ wise? What pre or mic? Throw it at me! I love tips!

[maxim]

for me, miked up only, no di

when you place the mic, listen to white noise (touch the lead tip), and find where it sounds most real in your phones

in the mix, for the lead, i use a touch of grm doppler to widen

[Jason Poulin]

When recording something other than main rythm, use a different approach.

different mic, position, amp, guitar... Don't hog the same frequencies.

Last night, I recording a pass with a mic far out in the hallway with the iso room's door open.

cool distant/depth effect.

Jason

[doug_hti]

just throw a 57 on the grill in front of a cone and go.

I use a room mic usually as well to change the placement of the guitars in a mix IF NEEDED instead of artificial reverb, etc. I usually don't use that much room though, especially if you want it tight.

IMO, Electric Gtrs shouldn't need much eq. With bad players and Amp Farm or emulations, maybe you'll have to eq the daylights out of it. But if you get a good player who really knows his business and gear...it really is and should be, mic and go...with maybe some modulating delay/reverb for light efx in the mix.

The constructive thing I'm saying is, if you can't get the guitars to sound amazing, don't default to blaming yourself, your gear, and skills. Try different players, etc. I have worked with mostly good and some bad, the difference is huge.

[natpub]

Follow this thread. There is a part 2 and 3 also, it is extremely long, but if you look in part 2 or 3 (do a search) some nice folks made a summary in a word document you can access. This is a very useful and informative thread:

http://recpit.prosoundweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=4095

I understand where the folks with the "throw a 57 in front of it" philosophy are coming from, but I really think it is worth your while to read what Slipperman does just to see another viewpoint from someone who does the heavier style guitars a lot on a very high level.


nat

[robmix]

Good player, good guitar/amp combination, a Royer 121 about 1 - 3 feet out into a Neve or Great River MP2nv, straight to tape or DAW. I find since I switched to the Royer I'm EQ'ing and compressing much less. I'll still use the tried and true SM-57 once in a while, but then I usually end up carving and spanking a bit more.

Rob

[lj Potyk]

how about a r84 AEA into a phoenix DRS-1 for guitar.

or the mesa boogie recording amp.

[NathanEldred]

I've found that in general there is a benefit from cutting somewhere in the 350-500 range on electric guitars. Too much can rob tone though, just enough can yield a lot of clarity.

[shikawkee]

Typically I always record a DI in addition to whatever else I'm using (amp, modeler, etc.) in case I want to re-amp later.
Gives me a lot of flexibility. There's plenty of threads on mics and whatever....

[smoothmoniker]

step one: call Tim Pierce.

step two: clear out room on the wall for platinum.



-sm