Best direct recording solution for guitar?

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

My friend and myself are looking to get into finally producing some of our music. Due to our circumstances, we're looking to go direct with recording guitars...can't get the volume, or conditions for that matter, we need to record an amp well.

I owned an Axe FX before, and it works GREAT for direct recording.

I'm curious if you guys have found any other solutions that work equally well? If the Axe FX is top, I'm willing to shell out for it, but I wanted to see if anything else is worth checking out before I do.

Thanks, as always!

Eric

 

[gybe!]

The Axe is tough to beat, but another option to consider would be using impulse files with your current gear. Redwirez or OwnHammer impulses with LeCab or Voxengo might just suit you. If you have a line out you can use that, or pickup a hotplate and use the line out from that. A pretty cheap option that you may want to consider.

 

[Jordon]

Check out Amplitube 3. I think it's an excellent plugin for tracking guitar.

All guitars and bass were done with Amplitube 3 with the "rectifier" and "Orange" models, bass was some random preset...I didn't pay much attention to that, to be honest.

 

[Dale B]

The Axe is tough to beat, but another option to consider would be using impulse files with your current gear. Redwirez or OwnHammer impulses with LeCab or Voxengo might just suit you. If you have a line out you can use that, or pickup a hotplate and use the line out from that. A pretty cheap option that you may want to consider.

I love doing this! I mostly use Recabinet with Altiverb. I would love to try all of the Redwirez stuff.

Bogners sound beastly this way. They also sound great when recorded the conventional way.

 

[Code001]

Guitar Rig 4 works nice for leads:

https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10293300

 

[Bevosss]

Axefx would be a great option, but if you have good amps already and want a cheaper alternative, here's some options:

1. Suhr Iso Line-Out box tapped off the amps speaker output, with a silent speaker, or otherwise a load box...feeding Ownhammer impulses in the box, preferably the Nebula version. (dynamic, they sound like miking real cabs to me)

2. Otherwise you can run a preamp in, and use the Torpedo PI-101 with power amp simulation...there's a free demo you can try.

3. A Pod HD500 spdif in is the third cheap option I'd consider, but I'd turn off the cab simulations and use the Ownhammer cabs...unless it's one he doesn't have, like a supro etc.

Fwiw I don't think any of the current software amps are up with the above options, close but not quite. Redwirez were the best impulses until Ownhammer and Torpedo came out, now it's a distant 3rd imo, 2d in comparison.

That's my experience, ymmv...

 

[Gooseman]

This guy gets some pretty good sounds out his Roadster at low volumes. I'm talking real low. The key to his approach is bypassing the loop and having the master channel volume between 2 and 3.

http://netmusicians.org/?section=id&value=9842

He also got this from his Roadster. Channel volume at 3, loop bypassed, and the guitar volume knob turned down to two. Extremely tight sounding and great for recording!

http://netmusicians.org/?section=id&value=9475

 

[lolzgreg]

AxeFx is pretty solid.

I use a BOSS GT-8 preamp into an impulse loader, also. I'll make clips in the near future too.

 

[Shark Diver]

2. Otherwise you can run a preamp in, and use the Torpedo PI-101 with power amp simulation...there's a free demo you can try.

This.

And the VP can take an amp as well. I think it sounds waaaaay better than an Axe Fx.

 

[jlbaxe]

Palmer PGA-04 for silent recording and you can use your amp.

 

[sysexguy]

You'll want to check out the Two Notes Torpedo, search Rig Talk "torpedo", I'm the distributor so I'm guilty of wearing a spam hat right now but the product is perfect for your application.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/569048-two-notes-torpedo.html check out the third post from Michael Wagener, the man's recorded a few guitars over the years....

 

[Bevosss]

You'll want to check out the Two Notes Torpedo, search Rig Talk "torpedo", I'm the distributor so I'm guilty of wearing a spam hat right now but the product is perfect for your application.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/569048-two-notes-torpedo.html check out the third post from Michael Wagener, the man's recorded a few guitars over the years....

So, when's the release? The website still says availability-February... it's March already! (well, it is here anyhoot)

 

[guillaume_pille]

Dear all,

this is my first intervention here. I am the owner of Two Notes Audio Engineering. Feel free to ask me any question about the products, the technology, the prices and why they are so high, there is no stupid question and I may have a not so stupid answer (I hope so).

So, when's the release? The website still says availability-February... it's March already! (well, it is here anyhoot)

I hope this answer doesn't break the rules of this forum (if it is the case, please someone ask a moderator to delete it). The PI-101 is now on the market, please check our new website : http://www.two-notes.com/boutique/

You may download the 15-days demo version from this place if you want to try it.

 

[Ventura]

Dear all,

this is my first intervention here. I am the owner of Two Notes Audio Engineering. Feel free to ask me any question about the products, the technology, the prices and why they are so high, there is no stupid question and I may have a not so stupid answer (I hope so).

So, when's the release? The website still says availability-February... it's March already! (well, it is here anyhoot)

I hope this answer doesn't break the rules of this forum (if it is the case, please someone ask a moderator to delate it). The PI-101 is now on the market, please check our new website : http://www.two-notes.com/boutique/

You may download the 15-days demo version from this place if you want to try it.

Hey, welcome aboard - I'm pretty sure your involvement here will be encouraged, not prohibited.

As to the OP, Axe is tough to beat, seriously man, every guitar mag article I'm reading as of late has everyone and their dog using Axe DI for recording... Pro to pauper, the Axe seems to be it.

Best,
V.

 

[Shark Diver]

Dear all,

this is my first intervention here. I am the owner of Two Notes Audio Engineering. Feel free to ask me any question about the products, the technology, the prices and why they are so high, there is no stupid question and I may have a not so stupid answer (I hope so).

So, when's the release? The website still says availability-February... it's March already! (well, it is here anyhoot)

I hope this answer doesn't break the rules of this forum (if it is the case, please someone ask a moderator to delate it). The PI-101 is now on the market, please check our new website : http://www.two-notes.com/boutique/

You may download the 15-days demo version from this place if you want to try it.

Hey, welcome aboard - I'm pretty sure your involvement here will be encouraged, not prohibited.

As to the OP, Axe is tough to beat, seriously man, every guitar mag article I'm reading as of late has everyone and their dog using Axe DI for recording... Pro to pauper, the Axe seems to be it.

Best,
V.

V you need to try the Two Notes - slayed the Axe direct. (I only used the Axe's built in IR's, so not sure about the after market IR's)

 

[Spaceboy]

I use Recabinet 3 and a choice preamp for DI recording because I'm too cheap for an Axe FX Ultra.

 

[guillaume_pille]

Hey, welcome aboard - I'm pretty sure your involvement here will be encouraged, not prohibited.

Thanks for the welcome message, I appreciate it. I'll do may best not to abuse of the hospitality of this forum ;

As to the OP, Axe is tough to beat, seriously man, every guitar mag article I'm reading as of late has everyone and their dog using Axe DI for recording... Pro to pauper, the Axe seems to be it.

This must be a good product. We try to market some audio solutions different from super-pod stuff (don't get me wrong, by writing this I'm not under-evaluating the Fractal stuff, the modelisation products are just amazing tools, even the cheapest ones).

But we mostly work with pro and project studios, big shows productions, TVs, backliners, not that much with guitar geeks as we are more involved in pro audio than guitar market. But as a guitar player I am always pleased to speak about guitar and bass gear.

It took us almost eternity to have our products tested in an american magazine but you may find a usefull review in the next Guitar Player edition.

Thanks Shark Diver for the nice comment.

 

[yoza_car]

Try any of the AMT stuff
http://amtelectronicsusa.com
(SS-20, SS-10, SS-11, F1...). This is all hardware (pedal or rack version). To me, this is the ultimate solution for recording direct, for about 1/10 of the price of Axe! I tried many other soft/hardware, nothing is as natural and hi-end sounding.
No effects though, no fancy. It's just a preamp with a cab-sim... Great stuff!

 

[Shark Diver]

Try any of the AMT stuff
http://amtelectronicsusa.com
(SS-20, SS-10, SS-11, F1...). This is all hardware (pedal or rack version). To me, this is the ultimate solution for recording direct, for about 1/10 of the price of Axe! I tried many other soft/hardware, nothing is as natural and hi-end sounding.
No effects though, no fancy. It's just a preamp with a cab-sim... Great stuff!

Demo sounded good. Do they have just an emulator pedal? That would be cool, if you already have a board with your favorite ODs it would be cool to run those direct.

 

[CaseyCor]

I've heard some great recordings come from the Eleven Rack direct to a DAW. Some good effects too.