Getting Proffessional Sound From Guitar

Anyone can give any tip on how to get a more proffessional sound from my guitar on my mixes?

I'm recording direct using a multieffect pedal and I have Guitar Rig 2

ORIGINAL: mottull

Anyone can give any tip on how to get a more proffessional sound from my guitar on my mixes?

I'm recording direct using a multieffect pedal and I have Guitar Rig 2

Wow,.. you should have everything you need there. There is no such thing as a "professional" sound for guitar it just needs to be right for the song. If you mean bigger you might try doing more then one track to layer the sound. Add some basic effects to get the sound you want then bounce that to any audio track, then add some more and bounce that to an audio track and blend them, add delay (or nudge one) etc. I like to bounce to audio so if I don't have those plugins in the future I can still mix the song, makes for a more complete backup also.

Does your MFX pedal have amp models and are you using them? Amp models can make an incredible difference in sound.

The AC & Tweed setting on GR2 is sweet! You can really get ANY sound you need. Just record dry as suggested and you should find a great tone by ear - but a lot of the presets are just fine.

OR Digitech:
a GNX
an RP

some amp modelling device should be used

ORIGINAL: mottull

Anyone can give any tip on how to get a more proffessional sound from my guitar on my mixes?

I'm recording direct using a multieffect pedal and I have Guitar Rig 2

Seems obvious, but the first steps to getting a great sound is the guitar... and the player.

Otherwise, Your "front end" signal chain will have a large impact on the resultant sound.
For DI recording, you need a good quality (high impedence) instrument DI input. Typically, this means using a good Direct Box (Radial/Reddi/etc) or a nice Pre-amp that doubles as a quality DI box (Universal Audio Solo 610).
For DI recording, this is the single most important item to get right. It's often overlooked... and has a dramatic affect on final results. If you're on a super tight budget, the Behringer Ultra DI isn't bad. (Much better than going straight into a typical line input)

The quality of your A/D converters will have some impact on the quality of your guitar recordings. But (TBH) recording electric guitar isn't like dealing with the high-transient signals of acoustic drums or DI electric bass. IOW, If you're using a recent make audio interface from M-Audio, Frontier, RME, MOTU, Echo, Focusrite, TC, Presonus, etc... you should be OK on the A/D converters.

If you're using Guitar Rig 2, I'd go straight thru a good DI box (the best you can afford).
IOW, I would eliminate the Multi-EFX pedal.

What Jim Roseberry said plus this:

Amp sims can't cut it once you have the real thing.

Nothing will sound better than the real thing. But I don't think you need a bunch of guitars, amp or pedals (just whats necesary). I myself preffer the sound of an SM-57 over an SM-58 for recording an amp. For FX I do it in the box just in case I change my mind later.

No matter how you record your guitar parts, you'll probably have good results if you...
1. Record dry...no chorus, no delay, no reverb...nothing extra to muddy up the sound.
2. If using a modeler or processor, record using the mono out...
3. Using eq, dump the frequencies from the guitar track that you don't need in the mix.
4. Pan the parts to create interest for the listener.
5. Play in tune

RLD

Firstly, NEVER record without new strings that were put on that day (make sure they are worn in though, dont want it going out of tune...) I dont know anything about guitar rig 2 or any of those things, so cant comment there.. But what i always do now, is double mic my amps. Infact, mic it with as many different mics as you can (if micing an amp is even an option). Set as many mics up in seperate inputs and record each to a seperate track. Now when u come to mixing you song, you can turn up different mics and listen to the different sounds each mic has and find the one which works best for you song. Then bring in the other mics and just play around with levels untill you get the sound you want. Someone once said in a post "this is the best eq money can buy" and i think they are pretty well on there. Just make sure all the tracks are in phase or you will get cancelling (you can do this by correct mic placement in the first place, or by zooming in on the waveform and nudging the tracks so they are in phase). Oh and ALWAYS when comparing the sounds, make sure you listen at the same volume level. Just one mic could be at -6db, then you add the second mic and its now 0db, so make sure you turn the whole guitar sound back down to -6db. Dont know if that makes any sence at all.. But hopefully iy does.

A few other things ive read - apparently you use more midrange than usual when recording guitar, id say that would be to make sure you dont get masking. Also if you are recording distorted guitars, you need to use less distortion than you would use for a live gig. Too much distortion just gets all muddled and you cant hear what the hell the guitar is doing. So make sure you only JUST ENOUGH distortion, never go overboard.

ORIGINAL: jweldinger

Modelers and/or VSTs should not be considered.

That's your opinion. I have fooled many with Izotope Trash and Amplitube. And you can't beat the versatility.

Oh valve amp How i wish i had one Can't beat the sound of a nice valve, its so sexy, its just, ohh, i love it... And yes, two mics, i use an sm58 with the pop filter srewed off (which i have read MANY times is exactltly the same as an sm58 except the 58 has a frequency responce of 50-15000 and the 57 is 40-15000. i think thats the right values, but i know its about 40-50 or 50-60. But not like that matters with a guitar as ur cuttin all that anyway. I also use a condensor on it to get the brightness.

But seriously i have never heard something that can emulate a real valve, cant beat it, yet.. (hopefully one day valves will be as cheap as a little pluggin, hopefully...)

the vocals wear recorded in my bedroom on a sm57.......lol....you nailed it
CJ
just so you know. I dont claim to be a vocalist, just a guitar, bass, and drum fanatic.
vocals are something your most likely born with. i was not bleshed. 3 out of 4 isnt bad.
thanx, for your kind comments also. I dont hear that much and it feels good to hear that.

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue

Amp sims can't cut it once you have the real thing.

best regards,
mike

I have the "real thing" - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and Blues Junior. I get as good and many, many times better sounds going direct through a Boss GT-3. The secret is deep programming. My sounds do not resemble the factory patches at all and it took me a long time to get it right but I get EXACTLY the sounds I want. Good tube amps are nice things but are by no means the only way to get a great guitar sound.

Dean

stratton, is that a picture of heaven I'm looking at? I'm envious.


mottull, I think your answer is use what works for you. By the many different answers here you can tell that there is no one way to get good results.

Compare stratton's setup (which I would die for) to mine. I play through a digitech processor directly into the soundcard. No amp or software amp sims. You can click my sig to listen. Some of my stuff sounds over modeled, but part of that is me still learning to record.

Really Stratton, these pictures are obscene... Joe

P.S. Hey guys, don't encourage him...