Recording synths by pushing air

[Touchmaster]

Ive decided to get my synths out in the real world rather than being dead cold virtual streams of electricity and get them pushing air before I record them... Im aware that amping up synths and recording a real sound with a mic or three is a tried and tested method of making synths sound more like real, vital music - but despite searching on the net can find hardly anything substantial on such matters... so I thought Id try and canvas opinion on good ways to go about this...
Would just playing them through the Dynaudios and recording with a pair of condensors be a good idea (I could do this right away)? Or would getting hold of a valve cab and micing that up be a better idea (this would involve more purchases)? Any thoughts very very welcome..
Thanks
Joe

[AnthonyRochester]

I'd say playing it through a guitar amp would give you what you want better than playing through studio monitors and micing them. You certainly don't need an expensive amp, a little practice amp works fine.

[Touchmaster]

interesting, Ive heard other people say monitors are a good idea, I guess I could try out a cheap guitar cab first..

[ltemma74]

I am also very interested in hearing reports from the field about recording synths direct vs. running through an amp and micing it.

[johndykstra]

I'd say go the free route first (monitors) and see if that gets you where you want to be. It is free after all.

If not, I'd suggest a Fender Blues Jr., maybe ever two (stereo).

I route my Nord through a Fender Twin, although it's mostly for Rhodes and Organ...I don't use a lot of synth patches.

[kafka]

It's a good idea, depending on the patch. The synths on Abbey Road were recorded that way. I wouldn't do it with full spectrum pads, though.

[santibanks]

it depends on the sound I think. Stuff like vintage pianos really benefit from playing trough an amp (like wurlitzer and rhodes patches from various "synths") and gives them more realism. I think some leads will benefit too, maybe putting the amp to overdrive or distortion. Can give pretty impressive, almost guitar like results.

I know tony banks always put his pianos trough a fuzzbox for long sustainable tones that sound almost like a guitar... Very interesting sound I think.

[cyork]

Not sure what you have come across in your research, but you might want to take a look at the X-amp from Radial too. Really nice for getting your signal strength back down to the appropriate levels amps like to see.

Like some of the other posts have eluded to, I haven't had very much success with just using monitors as they typically don't add very much "new" to the sound. Although I've used the auratones a couple of times as an effect for a breakdown.

I've found much more success with PA speakers (15" with a 2" horn) or keyboard/guitar/bass/ amps as others have mentioned. The usual suspects work on the amps MD421s, SM7s, 57s, RE20. Especially if you're adding a bit of grit. Combine or get off of the amp (4ft+) with a LDC for more influence of the room.

I also love an R121 for this application. You can move it in/or away from the amp and adjust the amount of ambient signal you're picking up relative to the direct. The rolloff of both the ribbon and the air moving in between is usually a nice contrast to the ITB or DI signal you already have.

I guess, as usual, experimentation is key to find what you like. One setup that worked amazingly well one time doesn't work the same the next sound you're working with. So have fun playing with it and try new things.

Cheers,
Chad

[Farshad]

I have actually tried recording with my monitors (Events True Reference 8) but the final results were very close to the ITB rendered track with just a bit more room tone. I am going to give guitar amps a try.

[dbbubba]

I believe that when synths were included on big orchestral dates in Hollywood for movie score they would always record through an amp.
It kept the synth from sounding too separated.

Listen to Jan Hammer's solo records from the late '70s.... those were amps.

An amp can "help" a synth lead solo quite a bit!
E. Piano patches?
I can't imagine recording one and NOT using an amp!

[biggator6]

CLASSIC TRACKS: Depeche Mode's 'People Are People'

[rackdude]

Originally Posted by biggator6

CLASSIC TRACKS: Depeche Mode's 'People Are People'

Awesome!

[Touchmaster]

yeah i read that article, seems like there was a lot of synth amping going on back in the day, and i love the classic 70s and 80s synth stuff, so its all good. I tried micing up the monitors by putting a mic in the sweet spot and mixing with the ITB signal last night and it worked a treat with no effort, so I imagine if you put the work in you could make some great stuff. made the original seem quite sterile. When money allows may well look into the valve amp option too though, I imagine on a searing lead it could do some great tricks. After years of electronic music production, its a breath of fresh air to do something in the real world for a change (except vocals, which was always the only live recorded element before), adds a whole new creative element into the mix.

[kafka]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

Listen to Jan Hammer's solo records from the late '70s.... those were amps.

That's a good point. Do you know anything about how they were recorded on Blow by Blow or Wired? I haven't listened to those closely in a long while.

[Mike Sheppard]

Earlier this week I re-recorded an electric piano part off my Triton and sent it through to both a Fender Twin and Vox AC15 (with a hint of tremelo and reverb) with a few 57's and a U87 on it. Compared to the direct signal, this definitely added a bit more character and vibe to it. May not always be necessary but this particular track benefited from it.

[Digitar]

I saw Jan Hammer and his band back up Al DiMeola, with whom he also played with.

And he pumped his synths through (2) Marshall 100w heads w/ (2) 4x12 cabs. It sounded great. He was always a master of the guitar-like pitch bend and through the marshalls even more so.

[Sigma]

the 224 room algorythms and newer rooms simulations with a low x oxer [@220hz]and roll off at around 2k ..makes for a nice 'air" around synths and direct gtrs

[kafka]

Originally Posted by Digitar

I saw Jan Hammer and his band back up Al DiMeola, with whom he also played with.

And he pumped his synths through (2) Marshall 100w heads w/ (2) 4x12 cabs. It sounded great. He was always a master of the guitar-like pitch bend and through the marshalls even more so.

That's cool. When was that? I saw the concert the day after Al DiMeola's Tour de Force, Live album. He was playing with Jan Hammer, Anthony Jackson, and Steve Gadd. Lots of Boogie Coliseum's across that stage. I don't know what Jan was playing through. I remember his keyboard was that wearable one called the Probe. He definitely had the fattest sound I've ever heard out of a synthesizer. It wouldn't surprise me if that was due to the use of guitar amps, although I never really thought about it. That was one powerful show.

[Digitar]

Originally Posted by kafka

That's cool. When was that? I saw the concert the day after Al DiMeola's Tour de Force, Live album. He was playing with Jan Hammer, Anthony Jackson, and Steve Gadd. Lots of Boogie Coliseum's across that stage. I don't know what Jan was playing through. I remember his keyboard was that wearable one called the Probe. He definitely had the fattest sound I've ever heard out of a synthesizer. It wouldn't surprise me if that was due to the use of guitar amps, although I never really thought about it. That was one powerful show.

I think it was around '82 or '83 at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. It was the same line-up that you saw. If I'm not mistaking they were white Marshall's. It's funny back then alot of the keyboard guys were pumping their keys through guitar amps. I remember Keith Emerson playing his organ through Leslies and Marshalls. Things that were cool, will become cool again. It's part of the cycle I guess.