Improve Recording

[Patrickssj6]

So my current setup:
Guitar -> Metal Muff (Distortion Pedal) -> DI Box -> Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 -> Reaper -> LeCab with Redwirez Cab Impulses

The sound is OK but not great. It's a little bit fuzzy and the clean sound is damped. Am I making the mistake of thinking that a distortion pedal like the Metal Muff can act as a pre-amp?

I can upload some sound samples.

Thanks

 

[heshian46]

Yea, get rid of the metal muff, it isnt doing you any favors. You can get a perfectly good metal guitar tone w/ just: guitar > DI box > pre > amp sim > impulse.

 

[Patrickssj6]

What is a good free amp sim you could recommend?

 

[schwinginbatman]

Pretty much anything by Poulin and TSE.

 

[Patrickssj6]

I downloaded the Le456 and it does sound better but I am still not quite there probably because I have not mastered the audio. Is there any tutorial/guide on how to master the audio to get a decent metal sound?

 

[bryan_kilco]

You might want to do a bit more research and reading.....

You aren't looking to master. You're probably in need of some good impulses first and foremost along with some EQ.

 

[heshian46]

Pretty much anything by Poulin and TSE.

This, and search for the Gods Cab impulses from Signals to get you started. You should be able to get a decent tone with these tools.

Mastering is not what you're looking for.

 

[Patrickssj6]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will try the other impulses.

I used these settings


and got this out of it:
http://www.vivid-abstractions.net/downloads/Recording/RecordingTest.mp3
Does this sound somewhat right? I attached the clean guitar to the end of the track.

 

[savage_messiah]

Yea, not bad, most people stick a tubescreamer vst before the Le456/any other amp sim to add a bit more gain and 'tighten' the sound. Try BTE's TSS or TSE's 808 or Ignite Amps TS-999.