Amp recording @ low volume

[Dave1978]

Since I am quite GASing for an Engl Smolski the last weeks I've asked myself if it's possible to record an amp like that at low volume.

I know about the issue regarding the missing poweramp-distortion, but I can imagine that the sound varies in other ways as well. For example there has to be less room-information in the signal. Couldn't that be an advantage as well?

What kind of experiences do you have with recording amps at low volume? Has anybody sound examples for comparison?

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

Playing your cab at high volume crushes the speakers and gives some nice compression that you can't get at low volume. It's a nice polish. And you can't compress it in the mix because you'll lose the artificial harmonics.

That's my current experience. But if you had asked me a year ago I would have said something completely different so I can go fuck myself.

I have not recorded in a good enough room to create a proper low end.

 

[Red Phoenix]

The poweramp should not distort for metal otherwise the sound becomes muddy..all distortions should come from the preamp section. But the poweramp reacts different frequencywise at lower volumes, also the speaker does. So increasing the volume will change the frequency-response you will hear from the speaker. Also the sound pressure level is too low for this "moving air" feeling on the record. You need some volume to push the air. Beside that recording on lower volumes sounds ok if you can set the amp to sound good for the low volume. Some amps can sound quite good at bedroomlevel but not all. Recto is known to sound good only when cranked. i don't know exactly but doesn't Ola record some clips at home with his 2*12 cabs? So i guess he didn't cranked the amps there as usual.

 

[Simon Dorn]

Hi Dave, here's my example for a low volume recording at home with an engl

 

[DullElysium]

I might be completely wrong here but i remember someone talking about a dummy load and using a cab ir to get the benefits of the amp at low volumes. Ofcourse it's not exactly like a real cab but it might be better that recording at low volumes.

Again correct me if i'm wrong

 

[Firaxis]

Can be done but doesn't sound as good as a roaring cab! Here is mine recorded at TV level!

 

[53Crëw]

I'd say it depends on the amp (haven't played the Engl), but personally, I'd still choose recording an amp at low to moderate volume over using something like a Pod or plugins. At least with most of the modern high gain amps I've used. If you were after a classic rock/classic metal tone using an older Marshall (especially something like an old 70's Super Lead) my answer would be different. You really need to crank those amps to get a pleasing sound out of them. They do not sound good at low volume.

I'd also agree that most modern metal tones are more about preamp distortion where you want the power amp stage not to be breaking up.

 

[DocSauerkraut]

Great! Just when i started to believe that my recordings sound shit because of the low recording volumes, i find this thread and the video of Simon (nicely done!). So much for my theory...

I also bought a THD hotplate that reduces the amp's volume up to 16dB. However, when i attenuate the amp that much i can notice how the sound changes completely and ugly fizzling frequencies (around 4.8kHz) become very prominent. In general, it always lacks air and, in a way, sounds more artificial than my recordings with VST plugins...

 

[Scottxx]

I love the Randall T2.

 

[Simon Dorn]

Great! Just when i started to believe that my recordings sound shit because of the low recording volumes, i find this thread and the video of Simon (nicely done!). So much for my theory...

I also bought a THD hotplate that reduces the amp's volume up to 16dB. However, when i attenuate the amp that much i can notice how the sound changes completely and ugly fizzling frequencies (around 4.8kHz) become very prominent. In general, it always lacks air and, in a way, sounds more artificial than my recordings with VST plugins...

Cheers! With the right amps, or preamps it's definitely possible to get good results at low volume. Maybe not with a Marshall 1959SLP..... You know what i mean....

 

[Heabow]

I had quite good results with a Savage/Peavey 5150 4x12 cab at low volume but now I'd choose to record with a loadbox and crank the amp.

 

[CronosBeyond]

Smolski sounds fantastic on low volume levels. Made bad experiences with Rectifier and 6505 however, needed an attenuator for them to crank them up a bit.

I sent you snippet of the recorded Smolski via mail.