Direct recording in the studio... any fans?

[Dave_O]

This is NOT intended to be disrespectful, or the start of a flame war for something as minor someone's choice of studio methods.

The "Which 2 amps to record with" thread got me thinking.
Now we all like to "move some air" when we play (I assume...), I know I like feeling my pants leg flappin' in the breeze as much as the next guy.
But when my band did our last album, at the sessions I tracked almost every guitar part in the control room using our bassplayer/engineer/producer's Pod (except 1 slide track-- used my Peavey Rage!!). We had it hooked up to a computer with the editing software, and I really dug the variety of sounds I could get without needing a 2nd mortgage to buy what I'd like, and without needing to bring 2 big lummoxes to move everything in and out. Any amp model, with any cabinet model, and multiple mic types and mic'ing distances. I personally didn't find it sterile or uninspiring.
Anybody else recorded direct even when they could bring an amp into the studio and goose it?

[andrenighthound]

I record with the ZT lunchbox direct for most applications except some fuzz pedals sound better miced than going thru the direct out of the zt into the interface. You can always add some "room" reverb to give it some air.

[WrapAround]

I always go direct when I'm recording using either an old POD or Vox ToneLab. That's because:

1) my office where I record is small and there's nowhere to iso amps of any kind.
2) I need to get stuff done efficiently and I don't have the luxury of geeking over mic positions.
3) going direct keeps sounds consistent from session to session.
4) because of the above I can concentrate more on writing music rather than figuring out how to get good guitar sounds consistently.

[Green Lantern]

Although it has its conveniences, I never found that method intriguing. I record by micing up my amps. Even though one may not get as much consistency that way, I'm alright with little quirks and differences popping up from recording to recording. It makes everything seem more natural to me, and serves as a reminder that my music is being produced by humans. Besides, consistency isn't even something I always strive for.

[noah330]

I find it much easier to mic an amp. Although I do use my Firebird X with Guitar Rig sometimes when I'm going for more modern sounds.

[uriah1]

Recording..imho...anything goes...whatever gets you there....as Frank Zappa said..

[WireLine]

I do it some, for certain types of smoky jazz, or as a special 'effect'. When I do, its usually thru an ADesigns REDDI tube DI into an API, Adesigns, Avedis pre, or sometimes straight to converters/tape, sometimes thru an Ashly SC50 compressor. Cue out thru whatever needed - if the performance is good enough, then re-amp the whole thing.

Rarely are the untreated/un-reamped DI tracks used in the finals.

Do this a lot when tracking drums - cutting a scratch rhythm gtr track as well. Don't want to not capture a killer performance.

[jmiles]

I used to use Amp Farm when I did sessions at Neon Cactus. Not for pedal steel though.

[Piotr]

I went direct for my band's first demo since we were recording live and wanted to avoid spillover - drums were miked, bass and guitar went direct. Sounds pretty good, actually.

[RockerDuck]

Always direct in, except drums. Then again, sometimes a drum machine replaces the drummer.

[A.B.Negative]

I'd like to record with a cranked amp but I record in my spare room and I think my neighbours would object to the noise.

I use a Tech 21 British pedal or use my Lunchbox's line out. I record on an old Korg D8.

[nic'o'caster]

Recording direct offers the big advantage to experiment with different software amp emulations and effects when mixing, which would take so much time, effort and money if performed with original gear. And if it does not work eventually, you can still reamp the track and record it through your favorite amp !

Even if I that idea seems promising, I still find that the sound makes the song and I prefer to have my tone captured the most exactly possible by the sound engineer (and so does he generally).

I guess it's more of an habit and the improvements made in digital technology will definitely change the old way of thinking.

[jimbriggs]

A-Designs Reddi and BAE 1073 into Eleven (not the rack). Sounds pretty rad.

[Anchoret]

Only way to go for bass.

Guitar, maybe, much of the time.

From a producer's standpoint, direct is usually preferable. From the neighbors', always.

[Tim Armstrong]

If I'm recording a band, I'll mic up amps (and the drums, and the singer for a reference track). If I'm working by myself, I almost always record direct through a Yamaha Magic Stomp.

Tim

[mr.danny]

In our studio we either mic the amp, or record thru a clean DI and reamp later.

We also have the Radial SGI system which allows a guitarist to sit in the control room while his signal is converted to low impedance and sent far away to his amplifier elsewhere in the facility, where a second box converts it back to instrument level to feed the amp

[sidneystreet]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

...If I'm working by myself, I almost always record direct through a Yamaha Magic Stomp.

Tim

I recently pulled out my Yamaha DG STOMP for a band demo. It worked amazingly well. I'd forgotten how good it is.

[Piotr]

I went through Guitar Rig when recording my band's demo, was quite happy with the tone. It wasn't a high-grade pro recording, though.

[scrapyardblue]

Most of the demo discs I make at home are thru a Pod Live and I'm pretty satisfied. The problem comes in when I try to duplicate the sound in a live setting and haven't been able to come close yet. If I can't figure it out live, no point in recording it. Not saying it can't be done, just haven't done it myself.

[blue metalflake]

Given the choice, I'd use an amp.