I really like my Axe but when playing through my cab (Atomic Reactor) but when recording, I'm getting very poor sustain. Obviously, not good if you are recording a melody with long notes 
I even notice this issue with rhythm patches. My 8 string isn't the best guitar in the world but it sounds decent through the cab but when recording, I have to literally pick the living shit out of the higher strings to get them to even ring!
Is this just a symptom of how the Axe is when going direct or is there something I'm doing wrong?

I even notice this issue with rhythm patches. My 8 string isn't the best guitar in the world but it sounds decent through the cab but when recording, I have to literally pick the living shit out of the higher strings to get them to even ring!
Is this just a symptom of how the Axe is when going direct or is there something I'm doing wrong?