Direct in recording and sound

[gunslinger_burrito]

Who out there uses direct-in? For any reason.

I just moved into a new place and haven't felt comfortable playing my amp(s) yet. I use either amplitube or a program called free amp (I think) that actually sounds pretty close -for a virtual amp- to my real one.

Any thoughts, advice, experience, recommendations or sound clips y'all want to share?

[sonidero]

What are you plugging into???

[gunslinger_burrito]

Guitar > pedal board > interface > computer.

I generally like the sounds that I'm getting, but they never sound quite right. I'm mainly curious about other peoples' experiences, good and bad.

[Doctor X]

it does sound different to a mic'd amp.
i like it for cleans and it has a very in your face sound, but fuzz/od is a bit less satisfactory
it can sound good in its own way, but i've not been able to get it to sound as i would like.
tried a fair bit of dicking around with eq, comp, verb, but its something with the attack etc that isnt right

[backwardsvoyager]

I have a Line 6 interface (bought it before I knew anything about audio) with POD Farm and Amplitude modeling software for recording and playing late at night.

Honestly, while it can sound really cool, it's always felt way too compressed for me, the tone is definitely passable but it is completely different to the range you get from a dynamic mic.

I think using a preamp pedal last with a high quality interface straight into your DAW would be a better bet than any modeling software if using an amp/mic isn't an option.

[skullservant]

This is actually how I did ALL of my recording for years until I moved in with my wife. It takes a while to get used to, playing through your amp and then trying to translate that to your computer, but I've found a few things that usually help:

Depending on whatever program you are using to record (I am using Garageband) I usually don't add any sort of amp simulation, but I do really EQ my pedalboard in the software to sound like it's coming from my amp. That usually means a little bit of fizz control in the software to give it a more amp like sound, along with a little bit of room reverb to make it sound like you're mic'ing it in an actual room. I spent a lot of time making the presets and then saved them for whenever I record that way.

And I agree that a preamp pedal or some sort of DI with a pre would be a great option if you don't have many in-software parameters to be able to control

[aen]

I really don't like recording direct for most things. But that's because usually when i record Im trying to capture something that has already existed through amps, or an idea in my head.

The best results I've had from direct recording are from a more experimental starting point.

I did a quick loop based thing in Live that turned out well enough to share...
http://aenmusic.bandcamp.com/track/direct-input

[gunslinger_burrito]

Maybe I should try running my pedal board through my mixer first....It has some preamps on it, though I'm sure they're nowhere near as good as a dedicated pedal. I've tried running through an amp, and then DI, but it sounds even worse than just DI with an amp model.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I like it for cleans sometimes, it's SUPER compressed and punchy which can work for some things. No modelling, guitar -> preamp ->interface->DAW and maybe some reverb/EQ after. Haven't really tried any modelling stuff much, but what I have tried I found really unsatisfactory for dirt, fizzy and weak sounding.

[zRobertez]

I've had quite the opposite with direct in. Although, I dont have much experience with either, I much prefer crappy mic to good mic or direct in. With direct in, I always feel like fuzz and dirt just explodes. In a bad way. Like it super compresses, gets darky but is still shrilly. I like crappy mic because it adds... unclarity to juicy amp and fuzz sound. Not muddiness, just less clear... idk
but I'm fine with all of the above and have used all of the above before.

[Dogbrainz]

I'm a bit pleb with this stuff but anyways:
I'm tossing up between buying a cheap usb condenser mic or interface for recording stuff from Guitar>Pedalboard>Amp(with emulated out)>Macbook.
What might be the better option, usb condenser mic, or interface?
Thanx

[backwardsvoyager]

I'd go with an interface, depends on what models you're looking at though.
How cheap is 'cheap'?

[Dogbrainz]

I'd go with an interface, depends on what models you're looking at though.
How cheap is 'cheap'?

Thanx. I think you're right, interface is probably the go.
As for price, about as cheap as it gets. Either a $70 Behringer usb condenser mic or an $80 Behringer interface.
It's just for doing recordings for Youtube vids and Soundcloud with a Macbook, nothing serious.
The better ones probably are a lot better though.

[gunslinger_burrito]

I'd go with an interface. There are some decent virtual amp programs and things like compressors and such that you can get for free that can help your sound out a bit until you can afford something better.

[rfurtkamp]

I do a mix of direct and mic'd stuff.

Unless I'm looking for a specific sound from the amps (which I'm usually not), I'm perfectly happy with DI.

I have a Behringer V Amp Pro rackmount with a SPDIF out that's perfectly fine for basic amp settings (but I 've always been a clean Fender dude for amps and that's relatively easy to get), and then I pair it with the USB out on the Fender Mustang V head, usually with one of a couple settings (one of which captures the essence of my Jazz Chorus perfectly, the other is very very close to my Deluxe mic'd).

I could use software modeling but it's the same reason I'm not a VST guy- I want to have my hardware be usable in a software upgrade scenario, and have the sounds I'm used to having.

In the stone age, I did DI with speaker-emulated outs on a Boss GL-100 rackmount into the 4 track and other consoles. It worked fine as well.