Recording direct - anybody doing it?

[K2000]

I moved all my equipment home after giving up my share of the practice space. I figured I would just jam at home through headphones, I have a Bass Pod and also a Behringer mixer (with headphone jack). Saving money, but more importantly, the process of recording stuff in a jam space, then bringing home raw tracks to edit on the home computer was unworkable. I need to record/edit in the same room, at the same time. But I live in an apartment, so even a practice amp is out of the question. I gotta go direct in, if possible. I know that's not ideal for good tone, but that's not one of my goals anyway.

So far, the pedals/guitar sound noisy (but not in a good way) and some of the pedals even respond a little differently. Why is that - the different impedance of the mixer/pod compared to an actual amp? I thought it was my computer & monitor creating the noise, so I tried jamming with them off, and that seemed better but still a bit buzzy and the pedals still had lost some of the magic sauce which they had in the jam space. The noise I thought my computer was adding might just have been user error - the first night I tried it, everything was screwy. Is the computer/monitor even an issue?

Does anybody do any direct-in recording, and can you suggest any ideas for me? I use a One Spot for power, if that matters. I'll try my SansAmp Para Driver DI next time, too. Halp?

/duh

[KaosCill8r]

I'm thinking its an impedance issue, so yeah a D.I after your effects chain then into the mixer would probably help a lot. Try your SansAmp Para Driver and see if that solves the problem.

[popvulture]

How are you getting your audio into your computer? You didn't mention anything about an interface...

Amp sims aren't so bad, especially if you're just using them for putting down ideas. An interface with a decent Hi-Z input and a DAW with some kind of amp model is all you really need (GarageBand is totally fine, Logic's got a lot of totally respectable sounds). Something like the Apogee Jam might work for you... not sure how the POD works with an interface, but if it's easy enough you could use that for your amp sim. Plus you can get a reamp box down the line and run those raw signals out to an amp and record it "for real" if you feel so inclined.

[goroth]

Put a pedal with a buffer last in the chain to fix impedance issues. Then use two notes wall of sound (free plug in) to get that stuff sounding like a guitar. Maybe I haven't tweaked other amp sims enough but the two notes speaker sim just seems like another level of realism.

That's what I do at least and I'm really happy with the results.

[sonidero]

The pedlols loose their magic when direct cause you're not hearing them in a room through an amp and speakers with space...

The pod should be good enough to go straight to the comp. but try some verb afterwards...

[D-Rainger]

I always record plugged directly into a mixing desk, then to audio interface. I love the presence and attitude you get doing this - the sound is totally in-your-face. If you double track, pan hard left and right, and it seems to go right into your ears. Makes the overall sound more '3D' when you have mic 'd instruments too.
A fuzzbox recorded like this can be a wonderful thing! Jesus & Mary Chain said it was their test to see if they liked an engineer or not; plug the Big Muff directly into her mixing desk and see if she complains about it...
I always think, when you record you want to reach people as directly as possible, with no distance between you and the listener (ie room sound, speaker to mic, etc). Then I recorded with Michael Beinhorn, amps and mics everywhere - but I can't compete with that....

A buffered pedal last is good. Also, lighting can really make a noise - try switching it off (helps mood too!). Also in some situations I've had to turn the screen off, and often point the guitar in different directions to find the no-noise sweetspot.

[sonidero]

All good sugestions plus a JAMC reference so good on you..

If Jesu can do it with a pod I'm sure you can too...

[Warpsmasher]

For the noise you can also try powering each pedal separarely with batteries. Sometimes you get an asshole pedal in the mix and it's the only way to make it be quiet.

[sonidero]

asshole pedal.

They always messin up the mix...

[rfurtkamp]

Do you have florescent lighting (overheads)? Did amps sound noisy in the same space?

Could be dirty power or shielding issues as well re:noise.

But basically as it stands it won't be impedance realistically, it'll be you're missing two important parts of your normal EQ chain: amp pre and power section (power amp and speaker).

You *can* sound stupid good DI. I have stuff dialed in enough with my GT-001 and other stuff that I only mic when I need to. If I want the sound of my Hot Rod Deluxe, I have a balanced out on a silent attenuator (Weber Mini-mass) - it will even do realistic feedback with a microphonic tube in V1.

[bigchiefbc]

99% of everything I do is recorded direct. We have Behringer Xenyx mixer and a a Behringer USB converter into Cubase. A DI after your pedalboard is great for eliminating impedence and grounding issues, and I find a tiny bit of subtle reverb (like a room setting) will help you eliminate that crispy direct sound and make it sound more like a mic'd up recording.

[echoraven]

By necessity. I don't have the facility to "air" out an amp and really don't have the patience to compose, practice on my pre pedalboard>MFX>Akai Eie Pro>post pedalboard and then try to dial that tone (both MFX and Amp are Vox Valvetronix) on the amp and then record. Too much hassle.

This was recorded all direct.

[Ev_O)))]

I just picked up a tronographic boxidizer to use primarily as an EQ live and for its DI for all night apartment recording. I'll report back when I see how it fares.

[K2000]

How are you getting your audio into your computer? You didn't mention anything about an interface...

Audiofire Echo 2 (low budget, portable 2-in, 2-out convertor).

Great info everybody, thanks so much. Feeling hopeful now. I'm also glad to hear that nobody thinks it's my One Spot. I haven't been able to work on music again since last week - hopefully soon.