So I'm wondering... which is actually better- micing an amp? or using an interface input? What benefits are there to micing amps? and vice-versa?
Thanks!

Miking the amp gets the sound that you hear. Lots of players are particular with their sound.
 
I use a POD2, similar to the amp, in that it's a hardware solution.
 
Both of those are hardware based and have none of the inherent issues related to using the VST amp sim route.
 
Amp sims..... I have several.....have tried them all and don't like them.

There's nothing really like a real amp being recorded. You are really hearing and recording actual moving air, you can hear it for real in the room with you so it's more inspiring, and you have infinite flexibility as to mic placement, which is a big thing.
 

Stupid question... whether you mic or not, don't you have to go through your interface to get it into your DAW?
 
Second stupid question... When using a mic, are you actually recording what you hear or what the microphone hears?
 
 

You have not mentioned what instrument you are running through the amp so there are few different answers.
 
Guitars, yes. Amps sound good usually and as long as the guitar is good and the amp good and the amp settings good all you have to do is put a mic in front of it and chances are you are going to get a decent sound pretty quick. You can also use a stereo mic setup on a single point mono source from a guitar in front of an amp or slightly further back too. This will give you a wider image which may be handy later in your mix.
 
Bass, Maybe. Bass sounds good going direct more often than not. I have miced up bass cabs (and DI at the same time of course) in the past and never got a great sound from them. Often I don't use that mic track in the mix.
 
Synths, No. They sound best going direct and you should always record them in stereo as well. I have reamped the odd synth part out through an amp and miced it and it sounded good too but you must have the direct track somewhere in your session. You will sometimes use the two at once.
 
Guitar VST's are pretty amazing these days and with low latency setups it is possible to record through them and hear them while you play. The better the guitarist the less important it could be said recording through a VST or amp. Frank Gambale still sounds amazing going direct or through an amp, get what I mean! His playing just overpowers the whole recording process.

Jeff EvansSynths, No. They sound best going direct and you should always record them in stereo as well. I have reamped the odd synth part out through an amp and miced it and it sounded good too but you must have the direct track somewhere in your session. You will sometimes use the two at once.

Again, I have to call you on an absolutist statement that's just not that absolute. Amping and micing synths can be great and provide a much less artificial sound and allow you to influence tone via mic position, overdrive it, use pedals, etc...
 
 

Ok I'm going to be controversial, you can get an excellent guitar tone without an amp.  The trick is to use a tube preamp into the interface and here is something really controversial: The Behringer ultra pro for under a 100 bucks is terrific for this purpose.  Um another trick is to use a compressor pedal into the preamp or after the preamp but before the interface.  This helps get sustain, its a Dave Gilmour trick, and do a little research and you will find quite a few famous guitar solo's are DI.
 
The trick is when you do it my way is to know how to simulate a real world sound, so a tube preamp, a good amp simulator such as guitar rig, compression and convolution reverb.  I particularly love Perfect Spaces spring verbs for guitar.
 
Ben 

If you read what I have said I have mentioned that recording synths through an amp can be very good as has been said you have got pedals, mic positions and lots of variables there. I am just saying that a direct recording is also essential at the same time if possible. Because if you don't like the amped sound you have still got the direct sound in your session somewhere to fall back on. And more often than not that direct sound will often be the sound you end up using. Or sometimes a combination of both.
 
I have recorded more synths more often than most people here (33 years to be exact) have had hot dinners so I know a bit about what I am talking about. And direct recording of them is a very good way to go more often than not. Yes the amp thing works but the results do vary and quite wildly at times too. Actually it does depend on what you are playing the synths out through. Sometimes a really nice wide range PA speaker can sound pretty cool. (but then you need a really nice mic to capture that) Don't forget we have also got VST's that can create the sound of amp heads, cabs and different mic positions and those can be quite interesting on synth sounds too. Not to mention all the amazing convolution reverbs around as well for adding that extra room sound.
 
I like Bens idea too. What about John Lennon getting that great distorted guitar sound on 'Revolution' by plugging direct to the old mixer at EMI and smashing the input Mic Pre.
 
One situation where I do think recording a synth through a guitar amp works really well is when the synth is doing guitar sounds. Then the amp can be really great in that scenario. But even so the direct sound being recorded will often help you later too especially with guitar VST's and the like.

I have done both, but have gone direct in for years before working for IK. I prefer it for the faster work flow and being that I travel a decent amount, saving my back from carrying the extra gear, I haven't looked back since
 

Jeff Evans
"Guitar VST's are pretty amazing these days and with low latency setups it is possible to record through them and hear them while you play. The better the guitarist the less important it could be said recording through a VST or amp. Frank Gambale still sounds amazing going direct or through an amp, get what I mean! His playing just overpowers the whole recording process."

I have had success with mic'ing a real amp, using a Pod2, and using amp sims. If done or used correctly, with a good tone dialed in on any of these devices, I sound like me. I have had people compliment me on my tone when I am using a sim; quite frequently actually. I have a song up on the forums right now where several have said they like my guitar tone; or that they like the solo. The same song, "Saved Me", is up on another forum site and has had the same type of responses over there. Absolutely, no one has mentioned that it sounds like a sim. Can I mic my tube amp and get a great tone, absolutely. However, to get the tone I am after, the tubes need to be glowing. Ear bleed loud is not always an option. Yes you can use an attenuator and I have other ways of nudging the tube soaked tone out of it with out severe loudness. However, if I can tweak a good tone out of the sim, in the middle of night; that becomes a pretty handy option.

I had been a purist up until a couple of years ago and refused to use anything but a real amp. The sims are getting better. To me, the biggest noticeable difference is in the length of the sustain and/ or decay. Also the touch and dynamics. S-Gear seems to handle all of those issues pretty well. The latest Amplitube Fender that I just purchased does fairly well too. Incidentally, the sims on the posted song are Pod Farm 2.5. Sometimes good old PF seems to sit best in the mix for me.

Danny, by the way has posted several times about the methods that he uses going into a sim. His tricks are quite good and help a lot to get more of the feel.