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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Simon Dorn
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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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Using it as a load with IRs? Or using the EQ sliders to mimic a speaker in analogue?

I have one and did not get a matching sound. Although I do love the analogue directness. I’ll have to try mine again this week. But I used it a lot and it was lacking a little bit of air. Even for a close mic’d sound.
 
Eazy-ESP said:
Using it as a load with IRs? Or using the EQ sliders to mimic a speaker in analogue?

I have one and did not get a matching sound. Although I do love the analogue directness. I’ll have to try mine again this week. But I used it a lot and it was lacking a little bit of air. Even for a close mic’d sound.
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I have a 'Mini' version huilt into my amp. I have the 6 way dial. The setting on 'A' sounds like the amp through greenback 75 ish range I think., and then the other settings have their own sound, some similar to V30s, etc. I agree that there isn't quite as much 'Air' to the sound but I mean, there isn't any being transmitted, so.... lol
 
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
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DanTravis62 said:
It's also the natural sustain you get from the volume means it's easier to play with less gain.
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I just said that i prefer a miced cab over any of the silent solutions, no matter what volume the amp has.
Do i prefer a loud Tube Amp? Yes, i do.
 
Simon Dorn said:
I just said that i prefer a miced cab over any of the silent solutions, no matter what volume the amp has.
Do i prefer a loud Tube Amp? Yes, i do.
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I wasn't saying you didn't - and most of the time I use a kemper, completely silently, for most quick demos and stuff like that

But when I'm doing something for real-for real? I'm busting out the big guns and moving air.
 
DanTravis62 said:
I wasn't saying you didn't - and most of the time I use a kemper, completely silently, for most quick demos and stuff like that

But when I'm doing something for real-for real? I'm busting out the big guns and moving air.
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I always use my Tube Amp.
 
Tone Monster said:
10 years ago I had a dedicated cab room and control room all treated. High end mics and mic pres. High end monitors. I’ve gotten much better tones with IRs. Maybe k sucked at recording but I did EVERYTHING one is supposed to do and IRs are better.
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do you have any examples? also which irs do you like?

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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sounds good, agree 100%
 
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GuitarGuy08 said:
I have a 'Mini' version huilt into my amp. I have the 6 way dial. The setting on 'A' sounds like the amp through greenback 75 ish range I think., and then the other settings have their own sound, some similar to V30s, etc. I agree that there isn't quite as much 'Air' to the sound but I mean, there isn't any being transmitted, so.... lol
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I’m going to do some tests this week. If I was a recording expert, it probably just needs a little room reverb.
 
I've done a ton of testing with real gear at different volumes. With my setup I've found that around 100 dB at the cab is the sweet spot, up to 105. More than that and the mic starts to not handle it very well. Going lower is fine until the amp "turns off". Here's one I did with a Dual Rec at 75 dB.



...and yeah, IRs are much easier to get good.
 
GJgo said:
I've done a ton of testing with real gear at different volumes. With my setup I've found that around 100 dB at the cab is the sweet spot, up to 105. More than that and the mic starts to not handle it very well. Going lower is fine until the amp "turns off". Here's one I did with a Dual Rec at 75 dB.



...and yeah, IRs are much easier to get good.
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Yes, with to much Volume there's other limiting factors. Here's a Clip of my Rev D with the same Volume. Where was your mic-pre set when the amp was on 75db? https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/thre...how-low-can-you-go.328507/page-2#post-4373447
 
GJgo said:
Regardless of cab volume I always set the mic pre to max around -6. Let the palm mutes just kiss the orange.
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That's the input Level. Side-Note: With digital stuff you don't have to go so high.
My question was about the mic-pre amplification. See second 0:42 of my clip. That's the input Fader set to -50db for a (to be specific) SM57.
 
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The real knock against IR's is that everyone uses the same ones or same combos so they end up sounding generic. That said, listen to 20 mic'd cabs and they might also sound similar and similarly terrible if they are boxy etc. The biggest difference is loading the amp chances response and tone a lot of the time but yeah, unless it is your thing, IR's are the solution. I have done my own impulse responses and they are so damn close. You wouldn't know unless you A/B. But after all the EQ etc.. nobody cares. Now that said, I also prefer a mic and my cabs. Makes me feel like i am doing my thing rather than using a Steve Stevens or Lynch suite of IRs
 
Kapo_Polenton said:
The real knock against IR's is that everyone uses the same ones or same combos so they end up sounding generic. That said, listen to 20 mic'd cabs and they might also sound similar and similarly terrible if they are boxy etc. The biggest difference is loading the amp chances response and tone a lot of the time but yeah, unless it is your thing, IR's are the solution. I have done my own impulse responses and they are so damn close. You wouldn't know unless you A/B. But after all the EQ etc.. nobody cares. Now that said, I also prefer a mic and my cabs. Makes me feel like i am doing my thing rather than using a Steve Stevens or Lynch suite of IRs
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Also i think it's important to learn how to Mic a Cab.
 
Simon Dorn said:
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
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Ja man. Heard that a lot on vacation in Jamaica. Thanks,

That sounds ratty as fuck. I can't remember if we already talked about this but did you take a Rev D and Pre 500 mod to Rev C?

Man, I did that with my Dual Rev G and fricken love it. No boost needed. I have not used boost pedals in weeks :lol:

I'd love to hear yours without a boost.

Speaking of low volume recordings this is the one I did at TV volume roughly. @DanTravis62 don't click as I have a clip on tuner and using a cell phone :lol:


 
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