Ok Guys. Micing 2 amps for computer recording

[Laney1566]

I finally have MY sound and it uses 2 amps.
I want to record to a computer using 2 Mics Left amp and right amp. My sound is heavily dependent upon my chorus running in stereo between the amps.
Is there a interface out there that will;
1. Let me input 2 mics
2. send them to right and left channels on a single track.
3. Not color the tone.
I don't want to alter my tone at the computer. I just want to record my sound as is.
I plan on using SM57's
Thanks.

Does anyone know if the Toneport UX-2 will do this?

 

[oldrockfan]

probably alot of ways to do what you are asking but what I would do is just use 2 channels. Record one amp to one channel and the other to a second channel. Then you can either merge the two channels into one or an easier way would be to just leave them as two separate channels as long as you have plenty of channels to work with. That would allow you to mix them all left and all right or anything in between and also allow you to add effects to each amp channel separately. I use a 16 track digital for my boys recordings and we have done that before and worked fine and was very easy. If you need to conserve tracks, after recording you could always bounce the two guitar tracks into one mix guitar track if needed.

As for what mic to use, I always start with a shure 57.

 

[Laney1566]

I guess my point is...What are you plugging the mics into that interfaces with the computer?

 

[oldrockfan]

oic, well there are a jillion interfaces you could use. I have only used a couple but line 6 makes a cheap one (i forget the name now) it has two inputs and has an easy learning curve. I used to own one but sold it after we bought our 16 track stand alone digital. I have also used a lexicon (omega something or other) which had more features but was alot more hassle to use so I returned it within the first 30 days.

 

[dbb]

[quote author=Laney1566 link=topic=19774.msg239678#msg239678 date=1253642332]

2. send them to right and left channels on a single track.

[/quote]

That is what puzzles me - how can you split a single track into real stereo? I would use 2 tracks, or a pair of linked channels Left and right.

 

[Laney1566]

So in order to get my stereo chorus to sound right, I need to mic out to 2 different channels?

 

[dbb]

You will need to make some way to get the signal from the left amp's mike to pan left, and the right amp's mike to pan left. In my experience to do so would require 2 discreet channels, at least left and right. If you mix the two signals into mono on one channel, then you can't pan the amps left and right when mixing.

There may be others ways to do this with better equipment than I am used to, but this is what I would do at home - record each amp on one channel and mix then to a pair of linked stereo channels.

 

[Laney1566]

Thanks

 

[Six String]

I agree with dbb on the stereo within a single channel and the closest I have been able to get is to run each amps (miced or direct) into a separate mixer and cable out the pre amp side to the computer....... but it will still not be "stereo". It will only give you your "double sound" on the single channel. The only better sound I got was with my Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 amp. It is a true stereo amp and seemed to give a deeper sound upon recording. It didn't loose the tone, as far as I could tell, whether it was miced or direct..........

Another thought, assuming your sound is the deep stereo amp sound that you like, when you separate them when recording, you won't be able to pan them too far or you will loose the "one sound" you like. They will just be two amps recorded. But then that opens the door to getting your sound and recording it or record the sound and engineer it..........

 

[dbb]

[quote author=Six String link=topic=19774.msg239904#msg239904 date=1253875415]

Another thought, assuming your sound is the deep stereo amp sound that you like, when you separate them when recording, you won't be able to pan them too far or you will loose the "one sound" you like. They will just be two amps recorded. But then that opens the door to getting your sound and recording it or record the sound and engineer it..........
[/quote]

Six String is right about the panning, too - you'll have to find a sweet spot where the stereo balance is discreet but still sounds like one mega-guitar rather than 2 separate tracks.

 

[D-DAY]

Don't limit yourself to close micing everything, rolling in some room mic positioned 6 or 8 feet out may bring back some of the tone you're enjoying!
Phonic makes some pretty cool firewire boards for low money that will give you all the channels you need for around the price of an I/O interface. They come with Cubase as well.
http://www.sjmediasystem.com/phon-helix12mkii.html

 

[dbb]

[quote author=D-DAY link=topic=19774.msg240017#msg240017 date=1254121628]
Don't limit yourself to close micing everything, rolling in some room mic positioned 6 or 8 feet out may bring back some of the tone you're enjoying!
[/quote]

So true! Jimmy Page was well known for the various sounds he got from moving the amp and mike. Close miked, medium, distant, etc. - and he used a very small amp, which oddly gives a BIG sound when miked.

 

[Six String]

;D When the mic goes to a 1200 watt PA, it isn't the size of the amp........ it's totally tone!