Reamping Guitar Tracks

Rush909 · 13th March 2006, 03:33 AM

I've had a friend lay down a bunch of guitar tracks direct with the plan of re-amping later once I get a an amp...

so I'm gonna be getting a fender blues deluxe soon... anything I should be carefull of when I am re-amping or is it pretty straight forward?

thanks!

r.

Kiwiburger · 13th March 2006, 03:56 AM

If you have a quality low-noise D/A converter and a transformer isolation reamp box, with variable volume control, I don't expect any problems.

A noisy converter into a high gain amp might be a bit hissy - but not significantly different from a lot of the digital toys that some players insist on using.

Did you record just the raw pickup DI tone? Or was it shaped with a preamp or pedal? If the basic tone is already there, you could go into the effects loop and avoid the high gain stage. Especially if you are going for clean Fenderish tones.

You can just use a passive DI box (transformer) backwards - but it's better to have some control over volume and impedance if you can. I've used a guitar volume pedal for matchin levels and impedance before. A compressor pedal could work too.

I'm thinking of buy a high quality reamp box, and i'd be interested in opinions. The ones from www.reamp.com have me wondering.

The Little Labs stuff looks interesting.

Otherwise I might a Radial passive DI and just use it backwards.

1320 P. · 13th March 2006, 07:39 AM

The Radial X-amp is a great tool. I have been using daily for about 2 months now, and it is killer. It does what it is supposed to do. I would not even think twice about buying the x-amp, if reamping is going to be a part of what you do.
It has a ground lift (cool) 2 ouputs (one with a phase flip) and it is way quieter than a guitar. Very killer. Just plug in from your convertor, then adjust the volume on the x amp so you are hittling the amp as the guitar would, mic and eq to taste. A great tool.

Doublehelix · 13th March 2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1320 P.

The Radial X-amp is a great tool. I have been using daily for about 2 months now, and it is killer. It does what it is supposed to do. I would not even think twice about buying the x-amp, if reamping is going to be a part of what you do.
It has a ground lift (cool) 2 ouputs (one with a phase flip) and it is way quieter than a guitar. Very killer. Just plug in from your convertor, then adjust the volume on the x amp so you are hittling the amp as the guitar would, mic and eq to taste. A great tool.

I have the Radial X-Amp also, and it does indeed work quite well, but FWIW I also have the Little Labs IBP, and the reamp out works great there too! It is just that sometimes I am re-amping with a couple of mics, so I needed the IBP free to do its phase magic.

**mwagener** · 13th March 2006, 03:07 PM

Would it be interesting to you guys, to have a service where you could send you DI guitar tracks, together with a ruff mix of the song and get back a re-amped track through a professional amp setup? If so, what would it be worth to you, per track?

I am thinking, since I have a ton of different guitar amps, to offer a service like that. Could be done via FTP or CD snail mail.

Waddayathink?

not_so_new · 13th March 2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwagener

Would it be interesting to you guys, to have a service where you could send you DI guitar tracks, together with a ruff mix of the song and get back a re-amped track through a professional amp setup? If so, what would it be worth to you, per track?

I am thinking, since I have a ton of different guitar amps, to offer a service like that. Could be done via FTP or CD snail mail.

Waddayathink?

I think you took my idea that is what I think!!!!

LOL (jokes Michael)

I was thinking of offering the same service once I got things moving here. Good idea, not sure what it is worth but it seems like it would work out.

Rush909 · 13th March 2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

f the digital toys that some players insist on using.

Did you record just the raw pickup DI tone? Or was it shaped with a preamp or pedal? If the basic tone is already there, you could go into the effects loop and avoid the high gain stage. Especially if you are going for clean Fenderish tones..

I have never re-amped... I just recorded the tracks DI using a UA6176 (with the 1176 OFF), through a Apogee Rosetta 800... so do I need a re-amping box or can I just plug the output of the Rosetta staight into the amp?

r.

Durv · 13th March 2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwagener

Would it be interesting to you guys, to have a service where you could send you DI guitar tracks, together with a ruff mix of the song and get back a re-amped track through a professional amp setup? If so, what would it be worth to you, per track?

I am thinking, since I have a ton of different guitar amps, to offer a service like that. Could be done via FTP or CD snail mail.

Waddayathink?

I'd be all over it!!!
The only thing...and i hate to say this, is that i would worry about "joe schmoe" also doing it. Nothing worse than having the secret get out!!
that is all!
Durv

1320 P. · 13th March 2006, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rush909

I have never re-amped... I just recorded the tracks DI using a UA6176 (with the 1176 OFF), through a Apogee Rosetta 800... so do I need a re-amping box or can I just plug the output of the Rosetta staight into the amp?

r.

\
FWIW, I have done both, and gotten good results both ways. The only problem is that you will be slamming the amp if you don't use a reamp DI. The solution is to turn down your output on the fader, so that it hits the amp properly. If you choose to take this route, it would be very benificial to have the guitar you recorded on hand so you could "level match" the DI signal to the guitar signal.

I know this is not "proper"

but as a good friend of mine once told me (he is an amazing engineer) "The amp does not care about impedance, only input volume"
Makes sense, although I always use the X-Amp (I am anal).

Good luck to ya, and I hope this helps.

vandertone · 13th March 2006, 08:41 PM

I´m using the Millenia TD1 with 2 inbuild pickup-like transformers(1single coil
and one humbucker) for reamping with best results.
Cheers,V.

Synth80s · 13th March 2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

Otherwise I might a Radial passive DI and just use it backwards.

Does this work? If so, will a good DI run backwards provide equivalent sound quality to something like an X-amp?

-Synth80s

Doublehelix · 13th March 2006, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwagener

Would it be interesting to you guys, to have a service where you could send you DI guitar tracks, together with a ruff mix of the song and get back a re-amped track through a professional amp setup? If so, what would it be worth to you, per track?

I am thinking, since I have a ton of different guitar amps, to offer a service like that. Could be done via FTP or CD snail mail.

Waddayathink?

Definitely an "interesting" concept Michael....

Kiwiburger · 13th March 2006, 09:16 PM

A reamp box is basically a passive DI box (transformer) in reverse, with the addition of a volume control.

If you use a passive DI box, you could use a guitar volume pedal to adjust the level. It's just a bit neater to have a purpose designed box.

I tend to agree with the comment that an amp doesn't care about impedance, only level. If you use a DI in reverse, or a reamp box, the amp will be presented with a hi-z source anyway. (Obviously only passive DI's can be reversed).

If your converter has a passive level control you could use that.

octatonic · 13th March 2006, 09:37 PM

Focusrite Tone Factory has a -20 output specifically for this.
They go on ebay for a couple of hundred dollars.
It works great- I reamp all the time with it.

SK1 · 13th March 2006, 09:51 PM

When re-amping it ends up about 3ms off right ??

Meaning you'll have to drag the new wave a little if you don't want the delay RIGHT ??

Let me know guys.

Thanks !

octatonic · 13th March 2006, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SK1

When re-amping it ends up about 3ms off right ??

Meaning you'll have to drag the new wave a little if you don't want the delay RIGHT ??

It depends on you setup.
Best way to do it is put a transient spike of some description at the front of your audio tracks (a side stick click should do it) so you can manually line things up.
Or you can calculate it in samples.

alkooloid · 11th August 2008, 01:32 AM

Late to the party as always. In this case very late.
I've just been too cheap to buy a reamper, and too stupid to build
one("what's that smell? oh, I'm holding the iron backwards").

Also, it's taken me 5 years to get around to figuring out how to
run my tracks looped thru hardware with any ease.
Also I have little motivation when not getting paid, but
since I've been on one CD for over 2 years, we figured,"Hell,
might as well kick it's ass." And so...

Now all my old gear has a new lease on life!

Once I realized I could do it by moving the new track a teeny bit to the left
to deal w/ phase issues I was off to the races. I started by using my old
analog delays, tape machines and stuff that had line inputs of all sorts,
including my 1st issued SansAmp rack(no MIDI).
THAT (search Tchad Blake) was an eye opener, although I could have told
you that 10 years ago, but how quickly we forget.
MAN, you get that thing on snare, kick, ANYTHING(w/ exception of
guitar ironically but that's probly not true), and stand back for exciter!
Blend it with the original or not. Just makes stuff pop.
Be careful or you end up with Becks "Odelay".

But I wanted a more controllable sound.

Enter reamping. Using an inline Shure pad, and a Shure "line
matching transformer" I was able to run stuff out of my converters
into the amp with great results. Now the fun part - pedals!
I've got a million, being a guitar player. The killer is the Boss
P-Q4. Now in general, it's THE most useful pedal ever because
you end up getting the right sound at the amp when in normal
use. Take the "almost" sound and with a little sculpting it's "there".
That get thing gets the smelly, funky thing that you want from
the Sans, but with less hair. Want hair? Add a rat, Tube Screamer,
what have you. A lttle hair REALLY makes the overtones start speaking,
or screaming, if you want. Different amps, speakers, mics, preamps,
all make a huge difference.

I use a buss in Logic to blend stuff to send. Want amazing reverb?
Send a fully wet verb that's inserted on your buss and it's
INSTANTLY more vibey and juicy. Mono, but...

THEN just yesterday I decided that all my old funky tube mic pre's
(Ampex, Altec, etc.) needed some, so I used my Roll Folcrom to run
into these pre's. Sounded cool, but needed some funk. So then -
I added pedals! By running out of the Folcrom into another line
xfrmr and and then into the pedals and thru the original line xfrmr
into the pre and back to the converter. The transformers are to bring
the impedance up and down for the sake of the pedals and pres.
It also adds some iron tone if you use decent ones.

All this adds noise, but with DAWS you can kill it when the signal dosn't
hide it. Plus it's all good old fashioned tubey grunge.

It's easy to get off track with all this, but nothing ventured...

If you don't have a big pile of vintage or vintage vibe new stuff
and a badass console to run it all through, it's a great way to add color to your sound.

Also check this!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/q-tchad-blake/

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bass Guitar Reamping	Doublehelix	So much gear, so little time!	5	28th April 2006 07:24 PM
Tips for guitar reamping	DigiDutch	So much gear, so little time!	31	31st March 2006 11:33 PM
Andy Sneap- Reamping Guitar Tracks	Gnash	High end	4	16th March 2006 01:16 AM
reamping multiple guitar fx in analog mix	electric	So much gear, so little time!	5	14th March 2006 02:24 AM

13th March 2006, 03:33 AM	#1
Rush909 Gear maniac Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 154	Reamping Guitar Tracks I've had a friend lay down a bunch of guitar tracks direct with the plan of re-amping later once I get a an amp... so I'm gonna be getting a fender blues deluxe soon... anything I should be carefull of when I am re-amping or is it pretty straight forward? thanks! r.

13th March 2006, 03:07 PM	#5
mwagener High End Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Music City USA Posts: 2,745	Would it be interesting to you guys, to have a service where you could send you DI guitar tracks, together with a ruff mix of the song and get back a re-amped track through a professional amp setup? If so, what would it be worth to you, per track? I am thinking, since I have a ton of different guitar amps, to offer a service like that. Could be done via FTP or CD snail mail. Waddayathink? __________________ Michael Wagener http://www.michaelwagener.com Production workshops at WireWorld Studio Next workshop confirmed for September 20th through 28th. We will have the Brauner VMA, VM1, VMX, Phantom and Phanthera to check out during this workshop.

13th March 2006, 09:37 PM	#14
octatonic Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 4,728	Focusrite Tone Factory has a -20 output specifically for this. They go on ebay for a couple of hundred dollars. It works great- I reamp all the time with it. __________________ Regards, Jim Richmond "I don't go to mythical places with strange men." Douglas Adams

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

13th March 2006, 03:56 AM	#2
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,647	If you have a quality low-noise D/A converter and a transformer isolation reamp box, with variable volume control, I don't expect any problems. A noisy converter into a high gain amp might be a bit hissy - but not significantly different from a lot of the digital toys that some players insist on using. Did you record just the raw pickup DI tone? Or was it shaped with a preamp or pedal? If the basic tone is already there, you could go into the effects loop and avoid the high gain stage. Especially if you are going for clean Fenderish tones. You can just use a passive DI box (transformer) backwards - but it's better to have some control over volume and impedance if you can. I've used a guitar volume pedal for matchin levels and impedance before. A compressor pedal could work too. I'm thinking of buy a high quality reamp box, and i'd be interested in opinions. The ones from www.reamp.com have me wondering. The Little Labs stuff looks interesting. Otherwise I might a Radial passive DI and just use it backwards.

13th March 2006, 07:39 AM	#3
1320 P. Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In My Head Posts: 116	The Radial X-amp is a great tool. I have been using daily for about 2 months now, and it is killer. It does what it is supposed to do. I would not even think twice about buying the x-amp, if reamping is going to be a part of what you do. It has a ground lift (cool) 2 ouputs (one with a phase flip) and it is way quieter than a guitar. Very killer. Just plug in from your convertor, then adjust the volume on the x amp so you are hittling the amp as the guitar would, mic and eq to taste. A great tool.

13th March 2006, 08:41 PM	#10
vandertone Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Berlin Posts: 85	I´m using the Millenia TD1 with 2 inbuild pickup-like transformers(1single coil and one humbucker) for reamping with best results. Cheers,V.

13th March 2006, 09:16 PM	#13
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,647	A reamp box is basically a passive DI box (transformer) in reverse, with the addition of a volume control. If you use a passive DI box, you could use a guitar volume pedal to adjust the level. It's just a bit neater to have a purpose designed box. I tend to agree with the comment that an amp doesn't care about impedance, only level. If you use a DI in reverse, or a reamp box, the amp will be presented with a hi-z source anyway. (Obviously only passive DI's can be reversed). If your converter has a passive level control you could use that.

13th March 2006, 09:51 PM	#15
SK1 Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 820	When re-amping it ends up about 3ms off right ?? Meaning you'll have to drag the new wave a little if you don't want the delay RIGHT ?? Let me know guys. Thanks !

11th August 2008, 01:32 AM	#17
alkooloid Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 11	Late to the party as always. In this case very late. I've just been too cheap to buy a reamper, and too stupid to build one("what's that smell? oh, I'm holding the iron backwards"). Also, it's taken me 5 years to get around to figuring out how to run my tracks looped thru hardware with any ease. Also I have little motivation when not getting paid, but since I've been on one CD for over 2 years, we figured,"Hell, might as well kick it's ass." And so... Now all my old gear has a new lease on life! Once I realized I could do it by moving the new track a teeny bit to the left to deal w/ phase issues I was off to the races. I started by using my old analog delays, tape machines and stuff that had line inputs of all sorts, including my 1st issued SansAmp rack(no MIDI). THAT (search Tchad Blake) was an eye opener, although I could have told you that 10 years ago, but how quickly we forget. MAN, you get that thing on snare, kick, ANYTHING(w/ exception of guitar ironically but that's probly not true), and stand back for exciter! Blend it with the original or not. Just makes stuff pop. Be careful or you end up with Becks "Odelay". But I wanted a more controllable sound. Enter reamping. Using an inline Shure pad, and a Shure "line matching transformer" I was able to run stuff out of my converters into the amp with great results. Now the fun part - pedals! I've got a million, being a guitar player. The killer is the Boss P-Q4. Now in general, it's THE most useful pedal ever because you end up getting the right sound at the amp when in normal use. Take the "almost" sound and with a little sculpting it's "there". That get thing gets the smelly, funky thing that you want from the Sans, but with less hair. Want hair? Add a rat, Tube Screamer, what have you. A lttle hair REALLY makes the overtones start speaking, or screaming, if you want. Different amps, speakers, mics, preamps, all make a huge difference. I use a buss in Logic to blend stuff to send. Want amazing reverb? Send a fully wet verb that's inserted on your buss and it's INSTANTLY more vibey and juicy. Mono, but... THEN just yesterday I decided that all my old funky tube mic pre's (Ampex, Altec, etc.) needed some, so I used my Roll Folcrom to run into these pre's. Sounded cool, but needed some funk. So then - I added pedals! By running out of the Folcrom into another line xfrmr and and then into the pedals and thru the original line xfrmr into the pre and back to the converter. The transformers are to bring the impedance up and down for the sake of the pedals and pres. It also adds some iron tone if you use decent ones. All this adds noise, but with DAWS you can kill it when the signal dosn't hide it. Plus it's all good old fashioned tubey grunge. It's easy to get off track with all this, but nothing ventured... If you don't have a big pile of vintage or vintage vibe new stuff and a badass console to run it all through, it's a great way to add color to your sound. Also check this! http://www.gearslutz.com/board/q-tchad-blake/