DI

[Krenzathal]

Ok, we all know a good tone should start at the start so does anyone have any tips on getting a really good DI track?

What sort of preamps and pickups do people use. Compressor (if any at that stage) setting and any other tips and tricks to get that good raw, clean signal. It's somewhere where I think I have been neglecting, especially as I'm getting into amp sims now, so I'd like to know how to get that special edge on a tone.

I really love the tones that Erik Monsonis gets and I believe he uses Recabinet and TSE X30 for some things and I'm sure that's part down to a great DI signal, because I've tried similar settings and sometimes identical ones that "aren't quite there"

So how do you go about getting that great DI?

 

[Cryo114]

Ok, we all know a good tone should start at the start so does anyone have any tips on getting a really good DI track?

What sort of preamps and pickups do people use. Compressor (if any at that stage) setting and any other tips and tricks to get that good raw, clean signal.

Don't compress DIs. Do you compress your guitar before everything when not recording DI's?

 

[Melb_shredder]

Countryman di + good pre --> good converter and you're done. Really, thats all try looking in the reamping thread dude.'it's a sticky

 

[laszlozsolt82]

Signalchain will be : DI-preamp-soundcard. A big part of the sound also comes from your playing, string gauge, pickups, guitar body, pick etcetc

 

[grubbavitch]

Also pick hard man, Erik does.

 

[DanLights]

Erik is not only a great producer but also an excellent guitar player and his playing plays (no pun intended) a huge part in his recordings sounding great no matter what ampsim he puts on them

oh and this thread is exactly what you're looking for about getting good DIs http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/production-tips/290714-preparing-your-tracks-reamping-guide.html

 

[xmortumx]

I do mine this way

Countryman type 85 -> Profire 2626 Preamp -> Cubase

Set the appropriate preamp level so it wont clip and your good to go

 

[Jevil]

At home:

Guitar -> M-Audio Profire 610 -> Cubase

Then in studio

Cubase -> Creamware Pulsar II Soundcard -> Radial RMP -> Amp
And way back... Amp -> SM57 -> Art Tube Preamp -> Pulsar -> Cubase


It worked perfectly... as you can see I have no DI Box or preamp at home, M-Audio integrated preamps are not superb, but enough.

 

[Trevoire520]

This:

Compressor (if any at that stage) setting and any other tips and tricks...

And this:

raw, clean signal.

Are quite contradictory do you not think?

A good DI signal is made up of this:

Good Guitar (FRESH STRINGS!) > Good DI Box > Clean Preamp

Simple as that really. Don't go overboard with preamp gain as you're going for the cleanest sound possible, not necessarily the hottest signal. Aim for an average signal level of 0VU (thats around -18dBFS in digital land) so that your preamp and converters are operating at where they're most comfortable and you should get a decent clean DI.

I really love the tones that Erik Monsonis gets and I believe he uses Recabinet and TSE X30 for some things and I'm sure that's part down to a great DI signal, because I've tried similar settings and sometimes identical ones that "aren't quite there"

Erik's settings wont work for you as you're playing a different guitar compared to him, plus you'll play slightly differently to him aswell, so you'll have to work on your own settings. Also remember that bass guitar contributes alot to that big guitar tone your hear on records.

 

[deLuther]

This:
Aim for an average signal level of 0VU (thats around -18dBFS in digital land) so that your preamp and converters are operating at where they're most comfortable and you should get a decent clean DI.

And what with reamping in this case? Do you run signal thru some sort of preamp/mixing console to reamp box?
In case of Radial ProRMP -18 dbfs will mean to weak signal (even interface output is +20 dbu balanced), not reproduction of original level, far from it...
In case of interface->preamp->reamper, I think that preamp will operate far from 0 Vu to restore original level.
Where I`m wrong?