How do you like to hear amps demo'd online?

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Hey guys,

A friend of mine in the UK is starting do some pretty cool amp mods and has asked if I can help with some clips.

It seems the most common approaches are:

Option1 - close mic, guitar only
Option2 - close mic, and hear it in a band mix
Opton3 - no close mic (phone audio or some other 'roomy' capture).

My personal preference is a bit of 1 but mostly 2, as that's what really matters in the end. However I've noticed a lot of complaints about close mic'd clips, I'm guessing from guys that don't do much recording. The complaint is that they sound thin, scratchy and 'nothing like the amp actually sounds'. Guitars are frequently high-passed and brightened a lot to cut through a busy mix, again this does not please the 'amp in the room' crowd (which is completely understandable).

I also see people commenting on people's iPhone clips about how amazing the tone is... how in the heck could you tell?

Anyway - what do you like to hear/see in an amp demo? So often we can't play an amp in person before purchasing so I'm interested to hear some opinions.

Feel free to post some video/audio links if you know of someone doing good stuff in this area.

Thanks :rock:
 
Hi,

I never understood the whole mic'ing the amp thing and forming decisions to buy the amp based on that.

Sure, if you wanna know how the amp sounds recorded (processed), but that is not how the amp sounds in the room, garage or wherever you will generally play.
Mic'ing the amp can be very manipulative, and you can make any lower grade amp sound good based on choosing the mic, distance, position...
So, I always watch iphone, camera, videos of amps in the room/garage/hall and it gives me a better idea of how the amp actually sounds and will sound if I choose to buy it.

For example look Johan Segeborn, he makes 50$ amp sound good recorded, but if I would buy the amp and play at home it would sound shitty.
So I look for recordings like FourT6and2 has put out, simple webcam or iphone audio, but more truthful to how the amp really sounds.





 
Option 1 and 3.

I don't need to hear it in a mix at all. If in a mix ...with a band live preferably. Little or no edit and mix.

I don't buy a amp without trying one first. The clips are only to let me know if I need to go play it.
The feel is as important as the sound. I can only feel it if I play on one myself.
 
Definitely 1. 2 is ok, not ideal. 3 is totally useless. I have no idea why people post clips with phones, tells you nothing about the amp and always sounds horrible.
 
Interesting comments, thanks guys. I guess if we all thought and felt the same life would be pretty dull!

l'm biased as I do a lot more recording than just playing through an amp, hence that direct and room-free sound makes sense to me. That Segeborn guy does a bit of both, sounds like close mic panned left and room right. Sounds pretty odd so I just mute my right speaker ;)
 
Cell phone or room mic. You can make any amp sound good close mic'd running through a DAW. Also so many vairiables based on mic placement, IR's post processing. I don't care about your production skills. I want to hear the amp itself with my ears, so a decent cell phone or a Zoom recorder is best. Guys that do full productions on their amp vids, impressive, yea but you'll find all the amps they do don't sound that different.
 
Exactly BrokenFusion

I worked in a few high-end studios for years mostly as a player because I learn music very fast and play a wide variety of styles. But spent plenty of time on bother sides of the mixer.

Not to mention endless hours at the various band practice space recording.

I want to hear the amp....not the rest.
 
I prefer 2, then 1. I make some in-room because some people like them. I am not one of those people, but I am happy to accommodate. I would never make in-room my only option though.
 
Dunky do find that the in-room recordings don't actually reflect what you actually hear in a room?

I think there's a misconception out there that a camera mic a few metres back accurately reflects what the ear hears... not my experience in the slightest.
 
I bought an amp "once" because of a video demo. Sounded fantastic! I got it and hated it.
 
I think they key is that whatever you choose, make it represent how the amp sounds 'in person' and by that I mean how it sounds without having outside factors like cabinet/speakers/room/mic placement dominate. Some clips do this with either 1 or 3...or both. Some clips sound good but don't reveal many of the differences between amps, they kind of all sound similar. To me that's not as useful in this context.

Hearing in a band mix is a very distant third for me...but still cool to listen to. I just think that without a 'control' it lacks perspective. My old stereo always sounded pretty good...until I got a new stereo. Then my perspective changed.
 
kurtsstuff2003":5e61mkri said:
I bought an amp "once" because of a video demo. Sounded fantastic! I got it and hated it.
Click to expand...

Same. Had high hopes for a cherry bomb and it just was almost there, but I couldn’t make it work for what I needed. Not fluid enough for my playing style - very tight. Just needed more gain.

I’ve got my modified 1959 now and it nailed it. Totally happy.
 
aside":2d5s6njx said:
Dunky do find that the in-room recordings don't actually reflect what you actually hear in a room?

I think there's a misconception out there that a camera mic a few metres back accurately reflects what the ear hears... not my experience in the slightest.
Click to expand...
So here's the deal for ME... I would never buy anything based on an iPhone vid. Some shotgun mics on cameras translate pretty well. I think the in-room clip I did of the Armored Amps Sabot translated well. I use a nice Rode shotgun mic. Did it sound like the amp in the room? More yes than no. It does for sure show what the amp might sound like in your garage through a Redback loaded cab with a Les Paul. If you don't have those things AND the ability to turn it up relatively loud... then you may think I hosed you.

This guy:


I do think they in-room stuff can be valid though. Like when Laura (ValveQueen) used to post her Fortin modded amp clips in-room, you could hear they were pissed off for sure, still doesn't mean what you heard there is going to be your experience. With those, I just expect them to be even better when you get them in hand.

I generally prefer a good mic'd clip and full mix because I record a lot and want to hear how the amps perform in the Studio. I have never had an amp that records great sound like shit live.This is why I stick to the Pete Thorn's, Sawn Tubbs of the world. I'd never buy an amp based off Glen Fricker or Fluff's vids.

Nice guys and I enjoy their channels but never liked their tones. As I a m sure there are people that feel that way about my demos. horse for courses.

kurtsstuff2003":2d5s6njx said:
I bought an amp "once" because of a video demo. Sounded fantastic! I got it and hated it.
Click to expand...
This has happened to me on pedals for sure

SpiderWars":2d5s6njx said:
I think they key is that whatever you choose, make it represent how the amp sounds 'in person' and by that I mean how it sounds without having outside factors like cabinet/speakers/room/mic placement dominate. Some clips do this with either 1 or 3...or both. Some clips sound good but don't reveal many of the differences between amps, they kind of all sound similar. To me that's not as useful in this context.

Hearing in a band mix is a very distant third for me...but still cool to listen to. I just think that without a 'control' it lacks perspective. My old stereo always sounded pretty good...until I got a new stereo. Then my perspective changed.
Click to expand...
Fair point. One thing I find with mic'd clips is also you see guys using many high gain amps though the same Mesa V30 loaded 412 with the same mic that always use. At the end of the day, if you watch those clips back to back, they don't sound very dissimilar. Then there is the fact that all of us dial in tones the way we like. This can add to more similarity.

I certainly am not at all bagging on anyones approach. This just seems to be the my experience. I know I definitely sound like "me" in most everything I play through.
 
It's a interesting conversation. I usually look at a clips by as many different people as I can so I hear how different people used it. All of them record differently.
 
Watch my channel and tell me if there is a bad sounding clip, 90% is all iPhone. I find that iPhone records best what an amp sounds like in a room in person.

Link is in my signature below.
 
If I could only chose one, it would be option #1. My preference is #1 and #2 with the same unprocessed guitar tone and same take(s). I like to mess around with recording, so that gives me a better idea of what is going on in that type of setting. Sure, mic'ing skills (or lack there of) come into play, so I always try and listen to a few different clips of the same amp. Obviously, that's not always possible.

I like #3 as well and get why some people prefer it, but they hold less value for me for the reasons mentioned above. YMMV. Sure it captures more of an in-the-room sound than a close mic'd SM57, but #3 isn't fool proof either. Everyone's room sounds different for one. Plus, move around your room and what you hear changes drastically as does what the iPhone captures.

Ultimately both are subject to flattering or pissing on an amp, so pick your poison if you can't try one out in person lol. That said, if a modder was going to put in the effort to have someone make clips that appease the most of amount people with the least amount of time, just do #1 & #3. Do a single take to get #1 & #3 at the same time and done. Then everyone is happy...mostly lol. Option # 2 is of course cool as well, but that is more involved with the drums (drum loops), bass, double tracking, & or layers.
 
1 and 2 for me.

The amp-in-the-room sound (option 3) is a legitimate concern for those who spend time listening and playing that way.

Those who's intended use for an amp is primarily recording would mostly be interested in mix examples and isolated, mic'd clips.
 
fearhk213":3utre2du said:
If I could only chose one, it would be option #1. My preference is #1 and #2 with the same unprocessed guitar tone and same take(s). I like to mess around with recording, so that gives me a better idea of what is going on in that type of setting. Sure, mic'ing skills (or lack there of) come into play, so I always try and listen to a few different clips of the same amp. Obviously, that's not always possible.

I like #3 as well and get why some people prefer it, but they hold less value for me for the reasons mentioned above. YMMV. Sure it captures more of an in-the-room sound than a close mic'd SM57, but #3 isn't fool proof either. Everyone's room sounds different for one. Plus, move around your room and what you hear changes drastically as does what the iPhone captures.

Ultimately both are subject to flattering or pissing on an amp, so pick your poison if you can't try one out in person lol. That said, if a modder was going to put in the effort to have someone make clips that appease the most of amount people with the least amount of time, just do #1 & #3. Do a single take to get #1 & #3 at the same time and done. Then everyone is happy...mostly lol. Option # 2 is of course cool as well, but that is more involved with the drums (drum loops), bass, double tracking, & or layers.
Click to expand...


Monkey Man":3utre2du said:
1 and 2 for me.

The amp-in-the-room sound (option 3) is a legitimate concern for those who spend time listening and playing that way.

Those who's intended use for an amp is primarily recording would mostly be interested in mix examples and isolated, mic'd clips.
Click to expand...

yeah see, I really believe there's no right or wrong. Just what the individual prefers. I will start adding an in-room version of each amp demo going forward for those who prefer it.
 
You're all individuals! (for the python fans...)

Ok cool, I may as well capture the camera audio - seems some dig that sound so why not.
 
1 & 2. Wait no. I'm confused. 3 but with a proper mic.

I used to prefer to hear how an amp sounds in the mix, but I've kinda changed my mind and think the in-room sound is probably most important, but with in-the-mix being close behind. However, in the end you can only truly find out what an amp sounds like and feels like for you when you play through it with the rest of your gear. An amp with sound VERY different with different pickups, different speakers, etc. Different enough that amp videos are really almost pointless. I just enjoy them for what they are. It's great to hear someone making great tones from anything, but especially when it's a wannabe $1000 amp. The sad part is when someone makes a demo of a real $4000 amp and makes it sound like shit. That's just sad.

Cell phone clips are garbage. Just stop it.
 
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