I have various options including an SM57. I sometimes go direct using a POD X3 with a preamp program. I've gone direct using the XLR out on a Nashville 112. I've used an ART PRO MPA II tube microphone preamp, and even used a Yamaha THR10 direct.
I tried direct from the steel then a reamping but didn't like that and haven't tried it again.
My recording interface is a Roland Studio-Capture and I use Sonar (Platinum version).
I use the direct to desk XLR outs a lot these days, quite often in smaller studios where space is a premium ...out of my Telonics Rack rig it sounds fantastic.
When I do mic up I leave it to the engineer with regards to suitable microphones
I use both methods depending on what I am doing.
For mics I use a pair of Cascade M39's on the amp or a Audio Technica AT2020 when recording my Weissenborn acoustically.
Either are plugged in to an Alesis mixer and then to the computer.
Sometimes I plug directly in to the mixer/pedal chain.
I have nothing exotic or expensive. I just enjoy working with my stuff trying to get an acceptable recording.
It keeps me out of my wife's hair. She said she appreciates that.
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying.
I don't record E-guitars with amps/mics or plug-ins.
I use one of these this 100% of the time now :
Built in parametric EQ and compression.
This one is especially clean and captures the natural sound of the guitar, I feed it to a DBX 2x2 compressor ahead of the DAW.
YEP, I print to the track. Rarely do I use any EQ on Steel or E Guitar tracks anymore, perhaps to pull some harshness out to balance the overall track tonality, but not to add EQ.
But I'm not recording for hi volume retail sales either. My primary goal is MP3 uploads to distribution sites which is far different than retail sales.
Last edited by Tony Prior on 26 Dec 2015 2:14 am, edited 2 times in total.
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
I’m pretty new, OK REALLY new, to recording, but what I’ve been doing is this...
My Telonics Multi Taper into a Profex ll, out of my Profex ll and into a Session 500... I’m then miking the 500 with an SM-57, XLR into a Presonus Firestudio Project and from there Firewire into a Mac Air book using Garageband... this is what I’ve gotten from this method,
I’ve tried recording direct, because I really like the idea of doing it that way, and not bothering my wife or the neighbors in the process... However, I must not have learned enough about recording that way because I’m not quite as happy with the liveliness of the sound going direct... I haven’t given up on it yet, but know there’s more needed in my education to get what I hear in my head to the recording... So threads like this and the comments of all are very interesting and beneficial to me... Right now I’m experimenting a little with miking 2 amps like I’m doing with the Session 500 and then going direct, Dry out of the 2nd output of my Telonics pedal... so 3 tracks at the same time, the Direct track panned center, and the two amps offset left and right but not equally... not sure my ear is good enough to hear the nuances that MUST be there.
I like to use Bias Desktop for direct recording and I use a Peavy Session 400 when I use an amp.
I've been using an SM57 for a mic, but I bought a Cascade Fathead ribbon mic that I've been meaning to try out. I haven't gotten around to it yet.
I run my guitar through a Telonics pedal into a NV1000 ->XLR Out into Mackie 1640 I -> FireWire into an 8 core Macpro with Yosemite and Protools 11, I have many preamps , one I really like is the Lemay into a Lexicon PCM 96
You still have to dial in your tone with the AMP or a preamp. BUT, if your preamp is not a channel strip with 3 or 4 band EQ on board then I would agree, use an amp and a mic if you want to capture your distinct sound.
You may never be able to duplicate the tone of your amp/speaker going direct.
Remember, an interface is NOT necessarily a preamp, but it can be if it has the proper feature set. An interface is what allows getting your analog signal into the DAW, a preamp COLORS or boosts the signal. Two separate and unique
entities.
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
I have tried both methods. I have an XLR output socket on my Telonics TCA500, which gives a reasonably close speaker simulator. However, I prefer to use a mike and for years I used a Shure SM57. I use Pro Tools 11 with 2 Presonus Firestudio 10 x 10 interfaces, and a Pro Tools PC.
Last year I had the privilege of being in a Nashville studio observing Mike Johnson in action. Mike very kindly showed me all of his rig, and his preferred mike which is a Sennheiser MD 421 II Dynamic Microphone. I bought one of these mics, and it can take very high sound levels. Nice warm sounding mic with more detail than my Shure.
Last edited by Ken Byng on 2 Dec 2015 2:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,
I have my "ideal" combo. I use an MBox2 with the included ProTools Lite, a Peavey NV112, a Cascade 731R ribbon mic, and an Aphex tube pre-amp I got from a buddy. (The pre-amp may change in the future, but otherwise, I'm extremely happy.)
Mikey D... H.S.P.
Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a 10mm first.
I mic it up in my commercial studio (Sennheiser 421 into a Neve), but with the home rig I use Brad Sarno's V8 Octal pre into a good preamp, usually a Daking or API, and into ProTools (my family wouldn't appreciate the amp, though I have been thinking about building a speaker iso in the basement under my home studio room..)
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar
Lately I use a Royer 121 mic into a Neve 5012 pre amp most of the time. For direct I use a Sarno V8. I'll try it into the Neve next time it comes up. Usually I just plug the V8 into my RME UHX for a direct sound.
I almost always mic my amp for recording. I've got a Milkman 40 that sounds amazing. The V8 sounds great also. But the mic'd amp has the edge to my ear.
