Preparing your tracks for reamping: A Guide

amm
the track is mono.. ammm it should be panned hard to the output that i need?

haha
really thats the solution - i thought mono is sending with the same level to the left and right channel...

thanks oz!

can you tell me about di box and -10 input - is it correct?
 
No problems, man. Always happy to help.

For your recording level, go with whatever sounds best. It really depends on your preamp/electronics. I record at +4, but then again, that's thru an MP2NV, YMMV.
 
Oz, thanks for another great thread. :kickass: As I'm planning on reamping all my high gain sounds for the album I'm working on (can't crank the Boogies at home...) this has been a big help.

Along with the James Murphy comment about not using the Pod as a DI. I was totally set to do that, too... something tells me I should take his advice on that one. ;) Switching from X/Y to spaced pairs as per his recommendation in the drum thread made a huge improvement in the drum sounds I was getting.

Best. Forum. Ever.
 
My reamp direct box (Radial JD-7) and my mic preamp (API3124+) both has unbalanced instrument level and balanced connections.

Is it recomended to go "reamp-box balanced output" to "mic preamp balanced input" or "reamp box unbalanced instrument level output" to "mic preamp unbalanced instrument level input" when recording dry guitars?

..or is it kinda the same thing?


(Sorry for doubleposting this, admin can delete that other thread if he wants to http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/andy-sneap/292567-when-reamping.html)
 
Ok, thanks for making that clear as mud.

You can plug your guitar into the Radial & hook it's balanced output up to the API's mic input. Or you can plug right into the API's instrument input. Your choice, go with whatever sounds better. But, the JD-7 has all those great routing options, not to mention the drag control, so I'd probably go with the JD-7.


HINT: "reamp box unbalanced instrument level output" to "mic preamp unbalanced instrument level input" is a bad idea. You'd just be adding a hurdle to the signal chain.


Just remember, the whole point of a direct box is to change the guitar signal to mic level.
 
Ordered an X-amp and should have it next week, thanks for answering my questions guys.:kickass:

This thing is going to save me all those monotonous takes of re-tracking because I didn't like the level of bass, or that recording had too much treble, etc...

I can't believe I waited this long to get a reamp device.

@fistula, I hope it is working well for you now that you have it sorted.
 
I'm gonna be reamping an album's worth of tracks soon and the X-amp looks great in the fact that it has two outputs, as we want to drive a Triple Recto as well as a 6505.

I'm wondering, is there any other benefit to the X-amp over the LittleLabs RedEye which functions as a DI as well? I really like that fact.
 
Redeye is $464 AUD. X-amp is $320. I am using the Firepod for dry tracks so didn't want to splash out any more on the Redeye for no gain for me. Your requirements may be different. :)
 
Another dumb question alert.:erk: I have a motu 24io interface.http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MOTU-24IO-Core-Computer-Recording-System?sku=706425 Will this work like the firepod as a di?

Well I can't tell you anything about the motu I can tell you the diff between line in and instroment in on the firepod:

"If you connect with a 1/4 inch plug into channels 1 and 2, the gain level will be approximately -10db to +30db. Connecting 1/4 inch plugs to input channels 1 and 2 are instrument level to connect guitars or bass guitars directly to the inputs. If you connect with 1/4 inch plugs to input channels 3 through 8, the gain level will be approximately -10db to +10db."
 
My reamp direct box (Radial JD-7) and my mic preamp (API3124+) both has unbalanced instrument level and balanced connections.

Is it recomended to go "reamp-box balanced output" to "mic preamp balanced input" or "reamp box unbalanced instrument level output" to "mic preamp unbalanced instrument level input" when recording dry guitars?

..or is it kinda the same thing?


(Sorry for doubleposting this, admin can delete that other thread if he wants to http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/andy-sneap/292567-when-reamping.html)


I would think the most common way is: Guitar---->instroment cable---->DI----->XLR cable----->mic pre.

Right?
 
I got a stupid question:

From firepod to DI when reamping (sending to amp) what cord do I need to use? Speaker or instrument?


Ok, I thought I made this clear, but I'll try again. When you're sending to an amp for reamping (assuming the amp is in another room or at least, some distance away) first, hard pan your send so you're only sending the signal out of one channel for a totally mono signal. This is at line level. Repeat: It's a line level signal.
Use a balanced microphone cable. Depending on how your Firepod is terminated, you might have to do some soldering. I believe it's got 1/4" balanced outputs. So you'll need to make a custom stereo 1/4" to XLR cable, as the X-AMP, anyway, has an XLR input. The Cuniberti reamp has a combo jack, so you'll just need stereo 1/4" to stereo 1/4".

The whole point of this is that you'll be sending the guitar signal over a long distance on a balanced connection, & won't have to worry about signal loss ( compared to a long guitar cable, anyway) or interference.

Now, at the other end of your cable, hook up your reamp box. This converts the line level signal back to instrument level. Plug the output of the reamp box into your amp with a very short guitar cable & away you go. It's that simple.

-0z-
 
Ok, thanks for making that clear as mud.

You can plug your guitar into the Radial & hook it's balanced output up to the API's mic input. Or you can plug right into the API's instrument input. Your choice, go with whatever sounds better. But, the JD-7 has all those great routing options, not to mention the drag control, so I'd probably go with the JD-7.


HINT: "reamp box unbalanced instrument level output" to "mic preamp unbalanced instrument level input" is a bad idea. You'd just be adding a hurdle to the signal chain.


Just remember, the whole point of a direct box is to change the guitar signal to mic level.

Hmmm...seems like I've also got an Focusrite ISA wich is cleaner then the API, has intrument inputs and built-in converters.

..and the radial has a "drag-controll", what exactly is that, does regular instrument inputs have no "drag" at all?
 
Did a little shotout.

Micpre: Focusrite ISA428.

-ISA428 instrument input
-Radial JD-7 (tried to fiddle with the drag controll here too...)
-Countryman Type-85

Of all the three the Countryman Type-85 clearly sounded the best when reamping guitars. Fuller and moore natural attack!!

Also, the dry guitar waveforms looked "better" and had more even levels between in and out of phase. The instrument input signals had waveforms with lower level on the out-of-phase side of the waveforms...

The winner was the Countryman Type-85 :eek:) - Very transparent box!