that heavy metal sound

[tom evans]

i need help acheiving that certin haevy sound
i have tried DROP TUNING MY 59 LES PAUL RESSIUE AND MY GOYHIC EXPLORER micing my mesa trem-o-verb (4X12 RETRO CAB)>sm57.GR NV2 >DISTRESSOR >002
SAME SET UP WITH BABY BLUE BOTTLE
MIXED BOTH TOGETHER
ALSO I HAVE A PODXL AND THATS CLOSE BUT NOT EXACTLY
ALSO HAVE AMPLITUBE AND THATS CLOSE BUT NOT EXACT
HAVE MIXED ALL THESE TOGHETHER AND SEPRATE
AND CAN'T GET THE TONE OR PHATNESS
ALSO TRIED WITH A MARSHALL DSL 40 WT NICE TONE
BUT I NEED DEATH METAL WIDE AND PHAT IN YOUR FACE
I ALREADY HAVE A ROYER 121 ON ORDER WHICH I WILL USE
BUT I DON'T THINK THATS THE ANSWER
PLEASE ADVISE

SEVENDUST. SLAYER, STAINED , PUDDLE OF MUDD-
HEAVY GUITAR

TOM

[heinz]

The issue is somewhat complex.

Here is the current state of the art as told by Slipperman. It kind of reads like a Freak Bros. comic but is chock full of the good shit.

Part 1

Part II

Part III

[JohnnyTooLoud]

For the sound you are looking for (sounds like you want that razor-edged modern sound) try using some active EMG 81 / 85 pick ups. Passives just won't get you that sound no matter what you run it through.

Good luck.

http://www.emginc.com

--JTL

[PaRaNoId]

My little method of getting the heaviest and "widest" sounds are to track multiple guitars on diffreent mics, using a touch less distortion than normal. This allows the individual guitars to stand out instead of thinning into a wall of overdistorted crap. Another handy method is to use two of the same mic (ex. SM57s or Senn 421) with one mic on the grille and anther directly one inch behind it. This erradicates the cardboardy midrange apparent in alot of mics. How you EQ the bass frequencies in the mix is crazy important in heavy music. I hope i'm not boring you. Peace!

[Bob Olhsson]

Slipperman covers it very well.

One thing I've noticed has been that the folks with the biggest tone almost always use really heavy strings and play really hard. I never had any idea touch was such a big deal until the first time I recorded somebody who really had it down.

[jbuntz]

Touch makes a huge difference. Especially on palm muted chugga chugga stuff. Quick, brisk strokes generally sound best. Also, playing all down strokes can tighten stuff up. Using the wrong pick gage can make things sound sloppy as well. If you are making them play a different amp, sometimes fatter sounding amps are a bit less forgiving than solid state/stupid gain stuff that turns everything into white noise. Give the guitarist some time to learn to "play" the amp. And when in doubt, turn the gain down.

[Jason Poulin]

You gotta live and breath metal in order to play it, record it, listen to it, and to understand it.

It's in the blood.

Jason

[drmad69]

Do you guys think I came close with this?

http://www.paylface.com/mp3/pole.mp3

[DigiGeek]

Originally posted by Bob Olhsson
Slipperman covers it very well.

One thing I've noticed has been that the folks with the biggest tone almost always use really heavy strings and play really hard. I never had any idea touch was such a big deal until the first time I recorded somebody who really had it down.

Its all in the fingers.... then again, there are some really shitty players with great tone on albums that have shitty tone in person, so you gotta give the engineers some credit (hate doing that though, which I think stems from my constant love/hate relationship with the studio engineer's close relative, the front of house guy, who never seems to have enough of me in the mix....)

[Jules]

The guitarist & producer Ace (from UK pop metal act Skunk Anansie) was in my studio recently producing a band..

He's seen a lot of metal 'combat' in his time.

He brought with him one of these..

http://www.motherload.co.uk/

It's been lusted after in various threads on Gearslutz, including this one..

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...ght=motherload

After talking to him about it - I REALLY want one! He cited the lack of room tone as being ideal (in his opinion) for Metal + you can always blend in a mic (s) if you like.

This only add fire to the flame of my recent methods, I often get 60-70% of the sound from a cab simulator these days.. The cab sound is 'just gravy' to add...

Anyhow.... there are many ways to skin a cat!

My instict tells me you need to explore cab emulation DI signals from real (valve) overdriven amps AS WELL AS their mic'ed up cabs....

Good luck in your search,

[PaRaNoId]

I just started using an AKG D-112 on my cab along with other mics blended in (normally an MD-421, SM-57 or LD condenser) and it has been sounding thick and chunky as 3 day old vomit....in a good way! Anyone else using the d112?

[oklaSTAR]

Too much room sound. Too much reverb, too much slap back.

Guitarist needs to chop it up some, mute more, and use less distortion.

You could go in and edit/mute him yourself, but it would be easier to get him to play tighter.

good luck.

Derek

[Robotnik]

Riviera Los Lobottom seems to be what everybody is using these days to get that low-end ballz-to-the-wall sound. A lot of the records I get to mix have this on almost all the guitar tracks. Unfortunately, it's been discontinued...like all good gear. Go figure...

You can read about the Lobottom here.
It's basically a cross-over network for separating anything below the lowest F# which in turn feeds a subwoofer (and DI out). Mix 50:50, and you'll have your sound.

I'm surprised Slipperman doesn't mention the practice of recording a DI'ed sub tone. He sure makes it sound like he knows his stuff...with all of that colorfull hyperbole he uses.

[Jules]

Lobottom sounds like an insane system, which bands have been using it?

[blackcatdigi]

Never tried the (particular) piece in question, but I do have a guy who brings in a Knucklehead full-stack with the sub-system. (6 12"s, and an active x-overed, powered sub)...
Scroll down to see it here

And -

I can't use it for anything. That thing goes lower than the bass rig OR the kik drum. Not exactly what I look for in double or triple stacked guitars. Mud Pie.

The rig KILLS live.

[Portsound570]

E-M-G

shows how much I know I thought all humbuckers were ACTIVE pickups.

I Know I am about to get an 81.

Although an 85 is phatter and recommended for rhythm guitarists like myself. I need a bridge pickup. I like it just a little muddy and chunky but clear, not overdoing the bass.

[IofHorus]

EMG 81's.
Mesa Boogie Dual or Triple Rec.

End of all problems.

[Goliath|Audio]

Don't be afraid to mic the body of the guitar for the pick attacks blended in low. Too much gain and you will loose them all together.

[aeonsound]

Originally Posted by Jules

The guitarist & producer Ace (from UK pop metal act Skunk Anansie) was in my studio recently producing a band..

OT: major kudos, i was just listening to their album 'Stoosh' the other day. reminded me of what an awesome band they really were, quite unparalleled... and some really excellent songs, too.

[cornutt]

Aren't you supposed to shag a groupie on top of the mixer? Or is that too '70s?

[SFTPH]

Originally Posted by Goliath|Audio

Don't be afraid to mic the body of the guitar for the pick attacks blended in low. Too much gain and you will loose them all together.

You have to play hard and aggressively to play metal correctly. If you can keep your guitar steady enough to mic it you are doing it wrong. I would suggest you stand and bang the strings with down strokes like you are crushing the skulls of your mortal enemies. Your picking hand is the greatest compressor ever. Also, use the appropriate gauge string for the heavy handedness.

[matthewvandenham]

Originally Posted by IofHorus

EMG 81's.
Mesa Boogie Dual or Triple Rec.

End of all problems.

solution and the problem at the same time... yes both will give you heavy ass tone, but EVERYBODY uses that combination...

seymour duncan are my pref of pickups (sh-5 tb-5 or dimebag model) and engl or vader amps.

[soundsundergroun]

haha. Sweet. A 5 year old thread resurrected.

[DontLetMeDrown]

Originally Posted by Robotnik

I'm surprised Slipperman doesn't mention the practice of recording a DI'ed sub tone.

What do you mean by "sub tone"?

[Lute]

Originally Posted by soundsundergroun

haha. Sweet. A 5 year old thread resurrected.

Yeah, the Slipperman links are dead as a dodo...

[solo-bration]

updated link for this half of the decade: Slipperman's Recording Distorted Guitars From Hell