Tube amp recording volume. How low can you go? [Updated. Part 2: Straight in]

  • Thread starter Thread starter Simon Dorn
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midnightlaundry said:
The breakup will be meatier with loud volume, but I can't record that loud.

This is with an attenuator so the amp is cranked, but the volume is low. You can hear me click on the Univibe with headphones..

Now that you know, does it really matter?

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The clips kept playing. I'm listening to your Swamp Freak Song right now. :D Did you use an attenuator with that? Sounds perfectly fine in the mix.
 
Simon Dorn said:
Surprise, surprise, it's me. Yet again. 🥳 If i overdo it: beat me.
I tried a few silent recording solutions over the years. Two Notes, Suhr, St.Rock, Grossman Iso Cab, but for me nothing beat the good old mike in front of a real guitar cab, no matter what volume. I just turn it up to the point, where the highs start to shine through, which is pretty early. You can record round the clock, at least in your own house. You just need a separate room.
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I compared my Rockcrusher recording with a mic and cab and the sound is basically the same. The only difference in my case would be the way it feels and sounds "in the room" but the overall recorded tone was essentially the same. Most attenuated or silent recording solutions do affect the overall tone though. There is something special about recording a live speaker as well.
 
phillybhatesme said:
I just started recording in my apartment with two mic'ed cabs. This thread interests me. Will come back tomorrow to view the vid.
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Best option in an appartment is an Iso-Cab imo, since you still use a real speaker (though facing to the ceiling and front loaded) and a real Mic. Had the Grossman Iso-Cab and it was pretty nice. But you can also use the Suhr, or the Ox Box. You can get good results with everything.
 
GuitarGuy08 said:
I compared my Rockcrusher recording with a mic and cab and the sound is basically the same. The only difference in my case would be the way it feels and sounds "in the room" but the overall recorded tone was essentially the same. Most attenuated or silent recording solutions do affect the overall tone though. There is something special about recording a live speaker as well.
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Interesting. Thanks for your reply. Never tried the Rockcrusher. Do you have clips?
 
Simon Dorn said:
Best option in an appartment is an Iso-Cab imo, since you still use a real speaker (though facing to the ceiling and front loaded) and a real Mic. Had the Grossman Iso-Cab and it was pretty nice. But you can also use the Suhr, or the Ox Box. You can get good results with everything.
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I had the Box of Doom for awhile, and listened to a number of the Grossman cab demos. ISO boxes just all sound honky to me. I ended up just having better results recording a regular cab at lower volumes.
 
Simon Dorn said:
Interesting. Thanks for your reply. Never tried the Rockcrusher. Do you have clips?
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I do not have clips to compare, unfortunately but I'm sure they exist. Rivera Rock Crusher Recording. My amp has a "Mini-Rock Rec" built into it. Very handy.
 
Soundstorm said:
I had the Box of Doom for awhile, and listened to a number of the Grossman cab demos. ISO boxes just all sound honky to me. I ended up just having better results recording a regular cab at lower volumes.
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Rivera also makes a special isolation cabinet for recording that may be of interest to you.
 
Simon Dorn said:
Jap. Not as much as one might think. At least for Metal. You gotta crank the AC/DC sounds though.
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I use an attenuator for the Marshall type.

Both the Fryette PS100 and the Boss Tube Amp Expander work great for Marshall amps.
 
Cool clip @Simon Dorn and interesting thread. The only low volume clip I ever created was on a cell phone so I don't think that counts. Was trying to show 'TV' volume and playing a Dual Rectifier late at night as to NOT wake anyone. Never tried it with a SM57 (close mic).


Simon Dorn said:
Jap. Not as much as one might think. At least for Metal. You gotta crank the AC/DC sounds though.
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Also curious as to how you define "Jap" as I've seen you use that before. When I look it up I get Jewish American Princess :lol:
 
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Soundstorm said:
I had the Box of Doom for awhile, and listened to a number of the Grossman cab demos. ISO boxes just all sound honky to me. I ended up just having better results recording a regular cab at lower volumes.
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Jap. Same here. (y)
 
311splawndude said:
Cool clip @Simon Dorn and interesting thread. The only low volume clip I ever created was on a cell phone so I don't think that counts. Was trying to show 'TV' volume and playing a Dual Rectifier late at night as to wake anyone. Never tried it with a SM57 (close mic).



Also curious as to how you define "Jap" as I've seen you use that before. When I look it up I get Jewish American Princess :lol:
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Thanks ;) Glad you like it. It also works with a Dual Rectifier. Same volume like in the Lenz clip above:


Jap, like "yes", or "ja". :D
 
GuitarGuy08 said:
I do not have clips to compare, unfortunately but I'm sure they exist. Rivera Rock Crusher Recording. My amp has a "Mini-Rock Rec" built into it. Very handy.
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I watched clips of it years ago, but for whatever reason they did not convince me.
 
Simon Dorn said:
I watched clips of it years ago, but for whatever reason they did not convince me.
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Yeah I get that. IME, the tone is dead on near the same as what is produced through my cab (minus whatever flavor the speakers add). Their 'Silent Sister' may be of more interest if you want to keep that speaker mojo at low volumes.
 
GuitarGuy08 said:
Yeah I get that. IME, the tone is dead on near the same as what is produced through my cab (minus whatever flavor the speakers add). Their 'Silent Sister' may be of more interest if you want to keep that speaker mojo at low volumes.
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I was looking at that too. ;) There also was the Randall Iso-Cab but i bought the Grossman which i sold later.
 
DanTravis62 said:
Yeah I disagree.


I need enough volume to get the speakers actually moving, at least for the tones I do - which generally have a lot less gain that the example.
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This 100%
And it is a hard lesson to learn. Because the gain in the room sounds good cranked, but really at volume, it records a million times better with the gain only up enough that it sounds like an amp and gets just the first hint of bass. This is mostly 11 oclock
 
Smash said:
This 100%
And it is a hard lesson to learn. Because the gain in the room sounds good cranked, but really at volume, it records a million times better with the gain only up enough that it sounds like an amp and gets just the first hint of bass. This is mostly 11 oclock
Click to expand...

It's also the natural sustain you get from the volume means it's easier to play with less gain.
 
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