Question about recording high gain guitars

[Barney]

I have some questions about double tracking.

Lets say I want to record 4 tracks and 2 different amps

Rectifier - 2 tracks
Mark V - 2 tracks

Should both tracks of each amp have the same tone and just played slightly different and panned or should the both have different tones and also played slightly different?


kind of like what this guy did

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFkKgK1V ... er&list=UL

 

[Shawn Lutz]

there is no should. I personally use a different guitar and tone when I double or triple track. If your using the same tone for both why use two amps anyway? Just double track using the same amp and guitar

 

[Barney]

ok so you would do something like this?

Recto track 1 - tone 1 - panned left
Recto track 2 - tone 2 - panned right

Mark V track 1 - tone 1 - panned left
Mark V track 2 - tone 2 - panned right

 

[Ventura]

You certainly could do it this way. Or, for shits and giggles, to get more OOOOMPH out of the recording, do a double track. If I were doing something like this, I'd go left-amp1, right-amp2, record. Then, second take, left-amp2, right-amp1. This allows for the variations in your playing to offer more depth to the mix, and also layers both amps ontop of each other left per left and right per right. Double tracking, IMHO, always adds this sweet thickness to a recording.

Second point to make, less is more. I find by pulling back on the gain and working with a close mic in the sweet spot of the chosen driver, you'll get way more bloom and articulation, it won't sound buzzy or fuzzy. The most critical thing, again IMHO, is mic placement. This is what'll be making the diff between hero and zero.

Good luck.
Mo

 

[Barney]

amp 1 left
amp 2 right

amp 1 right
amp 2 left

one tone per amp, not two tones per amp.


that's right?

 

[kasperjensen]

I know it is a really frustrating answer to get, but try anything out.

You will often be surprised with the results if you step outside your comfort zone.

And dial down the gain. It really helps. Try listening to AC/DC for example.. There is practically no gain involved.

 

[guillaume_pille]

Hi all,

I don't know what is best for the tone you are searching for (many amps, many cabs, many whatever you want), but the constants are :

- if you plan to record multiple tracks that will be in the same "place" in the stereo, lower the gain (already written)
- play your parts with precision otherwise you will be very disappointed by the result

 

[Code001]

This is a Dual Recto and a Mark III. Four rhythm tracks total -- one DR and one III on each side. One amp was panned 100% and the other 80%. I forget which ones were which, though. Lead is dual tracked with the III only:

https://soundcloud.com/code001/blue-water-blue-sky

Edit: Settings were the same for each left/right take. I basically tried to make it as even as possible. If there's anything else you want to know, just hit me up.

 

[mboogman]

What I've done before that works pretty well, is using two different mics and panning hard left and right for take 1. Then swap the LR orientation of the mics for take 2 with a different tone.

Ribbon mics work wonders for high gain tones too. If I could dig them out, I think the best that I ever had was an AT4040 condenser and AT4081 ribbon with my Egnater EG5 on first take and a Randall XTC module on 2nd take.

 

[Ben Hur]

2 biggest factors are already mentioned......less gain, and make sure it's tight.

i do quad guitars on all my stuff. when i had 2 amps, i did what Mo mentioned, 1 of each amp on each side. now i'm only using 1 amp, i do 2 tracks with the same exact amp settings, 1 for each side. then i switch my sound up a little and do the others. it's a constant search i'm still working on figuring out. depends too on what you're looking for in your guitar sound. i've messed with panning the 4 out to different distances. every song is different, even the key and the tuning can change everything. an "ear" game for sure!

so many freaking variables

 

[lolzgreg]

I wouldn't worry about less gain; I would just use the amount of gain you seem to like the most. If you have an articulate amp, your guitar tones can handle plenty of it!

I wouldn't recommend playing the parts a little differently. What makes quad tracked guitar sound enormous, is when they sound like one super-massive guitar with an unreal stereo image, and not like 4 regular ones panned. Get those takes AS TIGHT as possible; editing would be very intelligent if you know how to do it right.

I would recommend using one track of Recto on each side, and one track of Mark V on each side. I'd actually consider panning them all 100% L and R. Use the same tone for both sides, but have the volume of the Recto 2 dB or so louder than the Mark on one side, and the opposite on the other. Blend to taste.

 

[Ventura]

I wouldn't worry about less gain; I would just use the amount of gain you seem to like the most. If you have an articulate amp, your guitar tones can handle plenty of it!

I wouldn't recommend playing the parts a little differently. What makes quad tracked guitar sound enormous, is when they sound like one super-massive guitar with an unreal stereo image, and not like 4 regular ones panned. Get those takes AS TIGHT as possible; editing would be very intelligent if you know how to do it right.

I would recommend using one track of Recto on each side, and one track of Mark V on each side. I'd actually consider panning them all 100% L and R. Use the same tone for both sides, but have the volume of the Recto 2 dB or so louder than the Mark on one side, and the opposite on the other. Blend to taste.

REAPER