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Golly
- FB Fan -
Sweden
51 Posts |
 Posted - 03/07/2003 : 14:46:42
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bare with me...
I know there are some nice,helpfull guys in here, and I know some of you play guitar...sooo i figured ya'll could help me (and others i bet) a little by sharing your almighty guitar wisdom to all of us less fortunate.
Basically i got the playing part down from playing drums all my life but I can't be bangin' them drums in this little apartment at the moment...so this is a good time for picking up the guitarr again.
right...when recording(with a cheap-ass zoom 505 II fx and a mixer)...Is there any good tricks for getting a cleaner more crisp
dist sound with that stuff or i need to by compressors and shit? play around with EQ and similarr? hmm help!
Also recomendations for good software/hardware for home recording is very welcome!!! ( i would use cubase but i'm to much of a moron to get passed the latency problem) well just any comments on home recording would be great
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The Holiday Son
= Quote Accumulator =
France
2010 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 15:09:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Golly
bare with me...
right...when recording(with a cheap-ass zoom 505 II fx and a mixer)...Is there any good tricks for getting a cleaner more crisp
dist sound with that stuff or i need to by compressors and shit? play around with EQ and similarr? hmm help!
Also recomendations for good software/hardware for home recording is very welcome!!! ( i would use cubase but i'm to much of a moron to get passed the latency problem) well just any comments on home recording would be great
I love goldwave and multiquence but I guess there are more "pro softwares" around... |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 18:21:51
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I have a zoom505II myself. there is some cool stuff on there, but then there are some crap effects too.
I am obsessed with distortion/tremolo/delay all at once on that pedal.
What kind of guitar do you have?
Derek |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 19:19:18
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well if you use a program like cooledit or sonar, you can often do some good with some of the built in effects, if you play cleanly, it will sound cleaner too so thats another consideration.
-miked |
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Mellzah
- FB Fan -
63 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 22:58:39
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I know it's not very cheap to invest in, but get some (jazz) monster cables. As short as you can get away with. Seriously. I used to work at guitar center, I've tried em all, and they make a huge difference in your sound. Plus they've got lifetime gaurantees, so once you've bought em once, you're set.
Why monster? Why jazz? Jazz cables (while being the most expensive monster) have the heaviest gauge, which is good in terms of sound. All monster cables have gold plated tips, and better shielding than all other cables. Shielding is what keeps outside interference from crummying up your recording. And short is good for two reasons--they're cheaper, AND the longer your cable is, the more gain you lose.
If you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT go monster (any variety), try planet waves. Cables make all the difference in the world. I'm serious.
Hope that helps!
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Golly
- FB Fan -
Sweden
51 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2003 : 05:27:50
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@ ProverbialCereal :i have the gibson/ephiphone les paul guitar, /way cheaper that the original gibson one, but still nice sounding)
@ Mellzah: cable makes that much difference huh? well it sounds expensive, wouldn't it be better to invest in a better fx or something?
and also... :) I have no clue about this so i'm asking...can I get a better sound with recording trough a mic at home or shall i continue using 2-track or whatever it's called directly into computer? |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2003 : 07:06:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Mellzah
I know it's not very cheap to invest in, but get some (jazz) monster cables. As short as you can get away with. Seriously. I used to work at guitar center, I've tried em all, and they make a huge difference in your sound. Plus they've got lifetime gaurantees, so once you've bought em once, you're set.
Why bother getting Monster cables when you're plugging them into a Zoom? I must say I'm not a fan of Zoom products. The flanging and delays are fine, but if you want a good distortion you'll need an analog pedal or even better, an amp! I have yet to hear a really good simulated distortion. I have a Line 6 Flextone II amp which has pretty good sounds on it, even good overdrive, but the distortion sucks.
My favorite pedals for distortion are the ProCo Rat, The Tube King, the ORIGINAL silver Big Muff, and a lesser known pedal by Ibanez called the Fat Cat. Most of these are classics and unless you want your guitar to sound like "an electric ham sandwich" - Zappa, I'd investigate them.
For my money, you can't beat amp distortion. Borrow a JCM 800, turn the gain up and turn the volume to 2. Then go down to CVS and buy some Rogaine because you'll need it.
As for effects, compressing distorted guitar usually doesn't do anything because most distortion IS compression; it's extreme compression. Unless you're actually talking about an overdrive, which has some dynamics to it, then compression is next to useless.
As for EQ, the easiest thing you can do to clean up the sound is to low cut all the frequencies below 100Hz or so. I tend to go all the way up to 120Hz when mixing a full band, but do it to taste. This is especially important with FX box based distortion because there tends to be a lot of "digital rocks" in the low end that muddy up the sound.
There was an earlier thread about this that had a lot of good tips. You should search for it.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
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Mellzah
- FB Fan -
63 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2003 : 11:43:41
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If he was looking for cleaner sound using the equipment he ALREADY HAS, the only thing he can really do or change are his cables.
Of course he's going to get better sound if he has a pedalboard with a bunch of MXR, BOSS, and electro harmonix pedals, hooked into a marshall or a mesa-boogie. But that's not really an affordable option. When I worked at GC, I could buy gear at what it cost the store, and I STILL wouldn't have been able to afford all that stuff. Obviously I can't say what Golly's situation is, but most people can't just walk into a guitar store and drop 2 or 3 grand on new guitar equipment, and then more on studio gear (condenser mics, software, etc etc).
Having said that, it's true, Golly. While multieffects like the zoom give you the most bang for your buck, their overall quality is less, UNLESS you invest in something like the Boss GT-6 (great for effects), or the Line 6 Pod XT(great for amp modeling). When it comes to your zoom, is it the overall sound you're disappointed with, or just the distortion? |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2003 : 13:28:24
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| I'll back up Monster Cables. They're the only kind of cables I use, and their lifetime warranty is more than enough reason to buy them. I've busted my guitar cable a few times (not because they're crap quality, but because it happens!), and all I had to do was drive down to Guitar Center with my busted one and pick up a new one. Make sure you save your receipts. |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2003 : 21:36:33
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Mellzah - I agree that cables make a difference; I use Monster cables myself, but for the price of two Monster cables he could pretty much buy himself a RAT pedal on Ebay which I think would be a better investment.
I know people who use $10,000 speaker cables in their homes . . .
www.mp3.com/clootie |
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Golly
- FB Fan -
Sweden
51 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2003 : 06:22:28
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hey thanks alot for the usefull info
now I'm off to buy myself a lottery ticket, I can feel it, it's my lucky day... |
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Perk
- FB Fan -
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2003 : 21:19:01
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Well Golly
Study 101 audio gain chain, and mic placement.
garbage in = garbage out
You need to check the levels, and is the source
of the sound the sound you want ?
Don't sweat the petty things
and don't pet the sweaty things |
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2003 : 03:19:54
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| One very basic tip to improve a muddy guitar sound: turn the volume knob on the guitar down slightly. Also, get the best pre-effects sound possible via tone knobs, pickup switches, and pedal EQ, then look for a good dist setting. All basic stuff, but it helps. |
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