Re-amping....how to set up?

[SkyhighRocks]

Can anyone explain the steps that I would need to follow to do some re-amping in my recordings? I understand about getting the dry/clean signal track. I can do it using plugins but I want to try an actual amp and also my Digitech board's modeling. What's the chain? I'm using Reaper as a DAW.

 

[Gumbilicious]

i don't use a specific 're-amping' rig and my advice would be from the perspective of the equipment i use, but this is what i would do.

-record guitar part line-in with no effects (of course you already know that)
-assign that track to an output on the back of my hardware*
-run a 1/4" cable from that designated output to the digitech
-run the output of the digitech back to one of my inputs on my interface
-set up a new track for the digitech input
-set up the tone you want on the digitech
-hit record, playing back the dry original track while the 'digitech' track is armed and muted**

* - i could do this by choosing a whole separate output in the DAW and mixing software, but i would probably just mute all the other tracks and send it out the main output cuz it'd be easier for me.

** - my setup would have a little latency with all this, so in post i'd adjust the new 'modeled' track to line up.

i don't have one of those reamp boxes that provides loads to the pickups and adjusts impedance and all that stuff, i really don't even know how those work.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

I think I'm misunderstanding as I'm getting massive feedback.

In order to run a 1/4" cable from an out on the back of my interface (Scarlett 18i6), I have to unplug one of the monitors to free up the jack? This output the sound to only one speaker to listen to.

When setting up the new track for the digitech, after arming and muting, I can still hear the dry track much louder and the digitech is just feeding back with any kind of gain patch. As soon as I arm it, without even hitting play, there's high pitched squealing.

 

[Gumbilicious]

I think I'm misunderstanding as I'm getting massive feedback.

In order to run a 1/4" cable from an out on the back of my interface (Scarlett 18i6), I have to unplug one of the monitors to free up the jack? This output the sound to only one speaker to listen to.

yeah, it seems the 18i6 only has two outputs (a L and R for the monitor). so that is the way you'll have to go with it.

When setting up the new track for the digitech, after arming and muting, I can still hear the dry track much louder and the digitech is just feeding back with any kind of gain patch. As soon as I arm it, without even hitting play, there's high pitched squealing.

what it sounds like is you are creating a feedback loop in the monitoring mix: the digitech's signal is going back into your interface and then is getting outputted back into the digitech over and over. this is prob what is causing your feedback.

my interface has mixer software to control the monitoring and different outputs of the hardware, that way i can mute the input the digitech is being feed into.

i just looked up the software mixer interface for your scarlett,

you should use this software to control your monitoring, mute the digitech's input signal on that software mixer whatever the digitech's input is (most likely one of the anlg inputs). this will kill the feedback loop while still allowing the signal to be recorded (if the software works like mine anyway).

this is a bit trickier when you only have one set of analog outputs.

 

[cyndicate]

Generally having a reamp unit helps get rid of any unwanted noise and provide the correct impedence back to the guitar amp. I've had good results messing with one of these, theres also other units you can use.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... PAodDlYAQw

Pretty much record a direct signal from your guitar into the DAW. > output through your interface into the re-amp unit, reamp to front of amplifier, mic'd amplifier or direct signal back into the DAW.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

So there's no way to do it without one of those boxes? Even running it through a pedalboard and not a real amp?

 

[Gumbilicious]

So there's no way to do it without one of those boxes? Even running it through a pedalboard and not a real amp?

no, the box is just there to 'load' the signal (upon recording) like a guitar pickup is seeing an amp and then it fixes the impedance so it hits the amp like a normal guitar signal. basically it makes it act more like the recorded signal is a guitar signal.

my buddy had one, but i never did side by side comparisons to see how different it was.

for plugging through an effects processor i think you'll be fine without one, but if you wanna do a bunch of studio stuff and mic amps and all that you might be well served by one.

edit: did muting that input in the mixing software work for ya?

 

[SkyhighRocks]

So there's no way to do it without one of those boxes? Even running it through a pedalboard and not a real amp?

no, the box is just there to 'load' the signal (upon recording) like a guitar pickup is seeing an amp and then it fixes the impedance so it hits the amp like a normal guitar signal. basically it makes it act more like the recorded signal is a guitar signal.

my buddy had one, but i never did side by side comparisons to see how different it was.

for plugging through an effects processor i think you'll be fine without one, but if you wanna do a bunch of studio stuff and mic amps and all that you might be well served by one.

edit: did muting that input in the mixing software work for ya?

I got the feedback whether it was muted or not...I could hear the processed guitar but it was so much lower than the clean tone on the other track. Could barely hear it.

 

[cyndicate]

I don't get how you are still hearing the clean tone? Is the output on that track set to that specific Output and not for computer monitoring? Double check how your output on that specific track in the DAW is setup.

If it's outputing directly to the output on your interface going into the digitech you should not hear the clean tone at all.

 

[Gumbilicious]

^yeah, that is what i was thinking, but my experience is specific to my interface and my interface works quite a bit different.

 

[fluff191]

In order to re-amp in Reaper, you have to go into the routing matrix and turn all of the routing to whatever output you are re-amping with OFF. You will then check the box of the track that has the DI on it as the out of that output only.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

I'm totally lost here guys. I'm a plug into a track and record guy. Any chance of explaining this in depth? My routing matrix doesn't show any outputs (or at least I'm not seeing any)

Right now, I can't get anything to even play. When I click Play, the light turns green then shuts off and the bar doesn't move. Gonna try a reboot.

 

[Greg Riley]

I've been doing alot of research over the past year. Alot of Protool guys don't understand anything outside of the software and lean on amp modeling software (Eleven and such), for which they understand more. There is a need for external devices for reamping. Radial makes pretty much everything to cover any variation for reamping and adding effects pedals into the process. Palmer's DI interfaces and the Two-Notes Torpedo are also good solutions for additional tweaking in the process. Using a Radial DI or Palmer DI passive before sending the signal back into DAW, will allow a direct and miking options. That will give you two tracks of the reamp. That will give you addtional control and fatter guitar tracks. Radial also makes a device for any phase issues that might occur on the feed back into DAW. Or if your reamping two amps at once.

Generally having a reamp unit helps get rid of any unwanted noise and provide the correct impedence back to the guitar amp. I've had good results messing with one of these, theres also other units you can use.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... PAodDlYAQw

Pretty much record a direct signal from your guitar into the DAW. > output through your interface into the re-amp unit, reamp to front of amplifier, mic'd amplifier or direct signal back into the DAW.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

I'd love to be able to buy those products but I'm recording an album solely for charity and there just isn't any money to put into purchasing anything at this point. I have to make due with what I currently have. There has to be a way to make this work using a digitech pedalboard/modeling with outside boxes.

 

[Greg Riley]

Understand.. I was just throwing some long term solutions and ideas at you. James Lugo would might know more then anybody here on RT, what to do in your current situtation with what tools you have on hand. You might drop him a message.

 

[sled]

Another option is let someone reamp the DI for you. I've reamped quite a few pro-bono. It's a lot of back and forth.

PM if interested.