Tracking dry guitar tones?

I was just reading: AN UNORTHODOX APPROACH TO TRACKING GUITARS WITH TH2 – NORMAN MATTHEW 
How do you track the dry sound typically?
 
I guess you could just simply plug the guitar into your audio interface and have at it. You could add an amp sim to your plugins so you can hear an amp'd sound but recording the dry sound.
 
Is that how it is typically done or is there outboard equipment that people typically use to split the guitar signal (i.e. one goes into your amp and the other into your interface)?
 
Thanks

AT
yes, and yes.  You can use a DI - I'm sure the profire has one built in to the preamps.  That should give you a "dry" tone.  Not my favorite choice of words, tho.  Most people DI bass.  You can add an amp sim later.  Or not.  I just recorded a couple of songs, more poppy than rock, and have just used the DI signal straight.  It was a preamp/di that you can control the gain/output, so I could get it crunchy on one song.  The other clean (different styles of songs)
 
And yes, there are preamps/di that split the signal.  The DI will send one signal out as a line level, while the other is at guitar level so you can send it off to the amp.  The Focusrite ISA one does this, as I remember.  And there are amps that output the signal after the amp but before the speaker so you can capture both tones.
 
There is no right or wrong way.  It is whatever you have on hand and what sounds like it fits the song.  If you only have your interface di that should work fine.
 
@

+1 to the above. For me, I have 2 methods to run effects that are non-destructive. I can run them in Sonar in real time (my recording pc's are mutants) or I can use my consoles. My Mackie 32x8 has assign buttons that would allow the effects I have going through it (hardware) to actually print to the tracks. Of course I always have them in the off position so they never send to disc. On my Tascam DM 4800, the same thing. The effects are all present but will not be sent to disc unless I tell them to. This allows me to always have effects in real time that aren't printed. I can tell you this though Max, if you can get used to playing dry, you have less of a chance of missing something that may not be played quite right. Effects during tracking can literally screw you up as your licks can get lost in the effects.
 
Not because you use a lot of effect but because sometimes...they just hide certain things that you may not notice. So if you can get used to being totally dry, go for it. It will help you with timing as well as getting your licks more precise...that's a promise. It's extremely unforgivable being that dry...lol....but you'll thank yourself when it's all said and done because you'll hear every possible nuance. As far as dry meaning no distortion, no, I don't think anyone should try to record a dry guitar take that is supposed to be distorted. That's the only "effect" I think needs to be there. However there ARE guys that can play their driven parts using a clean DI. I am not one of them. LOL! :) Good luck man.
 
-Danny

YIKES,
Danny had me "going" for a moment.
My "tone" totally affects my playing.
But as far as "effects", no delay, chorus, (maybe just a "touch" of verb), etc.
Been using a Little Labs DI going in; Amplitude patch of choice in the effects bin.
Just went to an API 500 Chassis, probably use the DI from the Great River Pre; I'll have to see...
 
Tom

maximumpower
I assumed from the article he was recording pre-distortion since he said he wanted to use TH2 later to get the sound he was looking form. If it was after distortion then he would just be changing the cab/mic arrangement. Maybe that is what he was referring to?

Yeah, totally dry to me means no verb, delay, chorus etc. I don't count distortion as an effect, though it is, of course. :) I like to capture a distorted source the way it is...if you have a good source that is. The way guitar sims are these days though, a nice clean DI allows so much room to flex your muscles.
 
trimph: hahaha yeah....most of the guys running pc's these days and Sonar around here, can't add real time stuff once they start a big mix. I seem to always be able to run down to 64 buffers ASIO and enable echo and run a delay, chorus, verb etc. Just about everyone else has to freeze tracks if they have a big mix in the works when they find they need to record something and have to use lower buffer sizes. I can even get down to 32 buffers about 75% of the time....so these boxes are definitely mutants to me. LOL! :)
 
-Danny

again, i suggest using a Palmer PDI-09
 
http://www.palmergear.com/pdi09.shtml
 
i know i sound like a shill , but i'm just trying to lend some experience...
 
 
 
it is my preferred method of capturing natural true guitar tones, and talk about dry!!
 
LOL
 
 
like the sahara.
 
to a fault.
 
which makes it really easy to eq, add effects, double track, and mix.