Help recording a heavily distorted Guitar

[Crestfallen]

Ok, so i'm just doing some demos. I wanted to ask if anyone knows of some good pages or can give me advise on a good way of micing a heavily distorted guitar and not making it sound like mush!?

I've got access to a whole bunch of good dynamics and a couple of condenser mics.

I'll be micing up a 4x12 in an ok soundproofed room (it could be better but it's not bad)

Any mic positions i should try?

So to recap- please help!

[exsanguinate]

I am not expert at recording mics, so I can't give you any advice on that really.

What I will say is that you will probably find a lot of recordings are done with the gain turned down lower than it would normally be set to playing live.

If you're after a 'big' or heavy sound then the easiest way is to double track the guitar. Record it twice, and then pan one left and one right. The subtle differences between the two takes will make the guitar sound more full. Of course you can always add more tracks if that isn't enough. I think you'll find you'll get better results than simply turning the distortion up to 11.

Hope this helps.

[Aphoniser]

+1 to less gain

As for mic placement, I think the standard rule is to start with the mic as close to one speaker as possible, right in the centre, then experiment with different mic angles/positions on the cone.

[Crestfallen]

Thanks for the reply.

I already know about double tracking and have an ok idea about mixing (but any more suggestion are welcome!).

Have tried lowering the gain... maybe i need to do that some more!?

[exsanguinate]

Originally posted by Crestfallen
Thanks for the reply.

I already know about double tracking and have an ok idea about mixing (but any more suggestion are welcome!).

Have tried lowering the gain... maybe i need to do that some more!?

I suppose maybe think about your EQ settings. In a mix, mids are your friend when it comes to cutting through with guitar.

You might want to try a recording with the gain much lower than you started with, and then work your way back up a bit.

Also, when you're mixing, the same applies - the old cliche of 'less is more'.

[Crestfallen]

Thanks guys.

Talking of the mix i'm finding it hard to find a place in the track for the guitar.

My band use a lot of loops, samples and keyboards. So keeping the guitar heavy and not sounding like mud is a pain in the arse!

[Six Acre Lake]

u need less gain when recording.

[CowboyFromHell]

Well heres a story for ya me and my guitaist recorded our little demo including drums bass vocals and guitars with two mics and an interface stright into a computer. One mic was a shure sm 58 the other was some heap $200 aduio-tech vocal mic witch is what we used to record the guitars.

Place what ever mic your using facing the out side cone not the middle one way to harsh. Oh and what kind of mic and recording eqipment are u useing tell us this and it might be easeyer

[Crestfallen]

Ok i'm using an sm58 an AKG 1000 model condenser (for an ambient recording) and a DI out the back of the head- which is a TSL100 into a 1960bv cab (4x12)

I'm recording onto Sony acid 6.

You need anymore info?

[maxsample]

if you're using a sm58/similar, try aiming the mic in the general direction of your cab from about 3 feet away, but a condensor mic should be close up.

[Crestfallen]

Originally posted by maxsample
if you're using a sm58/similar, try aiming the mic in the general direction of your cab from about 3 feet away, but a condensor mic should be close up.

Ok maybe i'm wrong but isn't the condensor mic more sensitive and likley to get ****ed if put up against a loud cab?

I thought that dynamic mics are for close mic'ing?

[times-new-omen]

here's what you do..

1. go easy on the gain, so you can still hear the muscle of the amp you're playing through.
2. fiddle around with EQ and mic'ing. (you may even want to ambient mic the bad boy, other than close mic'ing it.) see also: how nirvana recorded guitar amps.
3. double tracking and panning left and right is essential, if not the most important thing here.
4. also keep in mind that the bass track is important in getting a heavy as hell sound for your whole mix. it's not only the guitars doing the work. "song 2" by blur illustrates this perfectly.

and lastly.. here's a laughable cliche phrase that all idiots who write lists include and expect pats on the back for:

5. USE YOUR EARS!!! (that's like telling someone to use his hands when he's driving a car.)