Recording Head Direct and Using Impulses

kenfobert

kenfobert

Member
Jul 1, 2009
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Ontario, Canada
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Hey guys.

Although this is my first post here, I have been viewing this site for quite some time. Now the last two days I have been looking for an answer to this question, while I found a lot of stuff closely related, I didn't find the answer I need.

I have a 6505+ head and I want to use this to record. Is it possible to plug the head into a Mackie Mixing Board which is hooked up to the computer, and then use impulses from there?

this is the closest answer I found to this question that I found on the forum:

"Remember that you can use impulses with real preamps/pedals too.
Just connect the preamp/pedal output into your soundcard, load one of the programs above, load an impulse and play.
WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT THE POWER AMP OUTPUT OF YOUR HEAD TO YOUR SOUNDCARD! USE THE PREAMP OUTPUT ONLY, OR THE FX-SEND. IF YOU HAVE A TUBE POWER AMP, YOU HAVE TO CONNECT IT TO THE CABINET ANYWAY, OR YOU'LL DAMAGE THE TUBES AND THE TRANSFORMER ($$$)."

It's just that he used "soundcard". So I'm not positive if plugging into the board will be the same thing.

Also, if this would work, and I want to use a tubescreamer, should I use the TSS vst or should I plug the guitar into the actual pedal, then to the amp, then to the board?

Is there a way to record dry tracks, for reamping, while doing this as well?

Any help is greatly appreciated guys.

Ken
 
Yoou should not connect power amp output to mixing board cause of impedance. Use send fx .
You can use tubescreamer after guitar cable then to preamp, but for dry tracks it's should be better to record it without TS.
 
kenfobert said:
"Remember that you can use impulses with real preamps/pedals too.
Just connect the preamp/pedal output into your soundcard, load one of the programs above, load an impulse and play.
WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT THE POWER AMP OUTPUT OF YOUR HEAD TO YOUR SOUNDCARD! USE THE PREAMP OUTPUT ONLY, OR THE FX-SEND. IF YOU HAVE A TUBE POWER AMP, YOU HAVE TO CONNECT IT TO THE CABINET ANYWAY, OR YOU'LL DAMAGE THE TUBES AND THE TRANSFORMER ($$$)."
Click to expand...

From what i understand that post is correct. And if you want to capture the DI signal for re-amp purposes you can use a line selector pedal to split the signal. I wouldn't use the board unless you wanted to eq the actual FX Send signal.
 
thanks for the replies guys. The only reason I want to plug through the board is because its already running through the computer soundcard and all that. I just want to make sure I'm not gonna damage the board by connecting from "FX Send" or "Preamp Out" of the amp, to "Line In" on channel 1 of the mixing board or something.

Should I just go from the amp into the soundcard line in then?

I thought going into the board would yield a better result considering its a nice board and has nice mic pres(not sure if that matters in this case though). And I don't think the soundcard has 1/4" line in jacks. They're probably 1/8" jacks. It's a custom computer that my band just got, so I'll have to take a look at the soundcard. It's an internal soundcard, so I don't think it will be much use. We just planned on having the board control everything.
 
Just thought I'd mention it - don't run the amp without a cab connected... (Not that I thought you would - just had to make sure :D )
 
Is the mackie a digital mixing board? I mean, does it have any digital connection method? usb or firewire? or would you just go analog output of the mixer into the line in of the built-in soundcard?

And about your original concern, yeah you can connect the head to the mixer or soundcard but using the preamp out or fx send of the head, never use the poweramp out.
Law is: don't connect the speaker out of an amp into anything that isn't a speaker. You'll burn the crap out of everything
 
kenfobert said:
I thought going into the board would yield a better result considering its a nice board and has nice mic pres(not sure if that matters in this case though). And I don't think the soundcard has 1/4" line in jacks. They're probably 1/8" jacks. It's a custom computer that my band just got, so I'll have to take a look at the soundcard. It's an internal soundcard, so I don't think it will be much use. We just planned on having the board control everything.
Click to expand...

Yeah if all you have in way of a soundcard is like a SoundBlaster with 1/8" input, then I would use the board. I didn’t know what kind of interface/soundcard you have. As cheap, and convenient interfaces are getting I would consider picking one up.
 
ok so it is digital, then definitely use the board outputting from the board to your computer through firewire, the firewire interface will work as your "soundcard" so you don´t have to use the built-in soundcard.

about your question about the inputs, If im correct hi'Z would be for direct instrument connection? can someone else confirm this? cause instrument pickup have high impedance (high-Z). To connecto from the head you should use a line level input I believe, no need for the mic preamps if you are using the head´s preamp. Just my two cents, I´m not that experienced in that matter and can´t be sure though
 
We do have the firwire. The mixer connects to the soundcard via firewire.

So i just got back from the recording space and tried it out. It didn't sound to great. I plugged guitar into input of amp>preamp out to hi-z line in on mixer>to computer.

I loaded voxengo boogex into cubase and tried out a couple different cabs. It still sounded pretty fuzzy at this point. Any suggestions.

Everything was put to 0% or 0dB in Boogex so that wasn't the problem. I also tried the 6505+ on the lead and rhythm channel. The line 6 vetta I was using to record directly to computer sound better at this point. But I want the tube amp tone.:erk:
 
i'll suggest to use for impulses sir first of all.
what impulses do you use, many of them have fizz.
may be you have clipping in rcording?
if ypu'll upload short clip of your record it will be easier to help you.
 
I've read on here that Voxengo Boogie is a lot better than SIR? I know it's all opinions but most people agree on this.

We didn't have any clipping while recording so I'm sure that's not the problem.

As far as recording something and Posting it, I'll try and get something I can upload. All the gear is at my drummers house so I'll have to wait until I can go over.

we have also discussed reamping. we got a quote for reamping which I think we are going to do, so I think I might as well just record directly into the mixer with my vetta head along with the clean DI tracks and not worry about impulses. It would be nice to get a good sound with them though for future demo recordings or something.
 
We had a band in at the weekend at the studio I work at. We were using a beautiful vintage bass tube Ampeg amp. The studio owner and producer insisted that going directly out of the head without a cab plugged in was fine... We all thought otherwise but he over ruled us :(
 
Tube amps have to have a load. Period. If he has money to replace it then it's his call.
 
Don't use the Hi-Z input when connecting a preamp, use the line input. Hi-Z are for instruments with passive pickups, line input for everything active like preamps, pedals and active pickups
 
supermother said:
Don't use the Hi-Z input when connecting a preamp, use the line input. Hi-Z are for instruments with passive pickups, line input for everything active like preamps, pedals and active pickups
Click to expand...

i dunno man, i have an onyx 1640 myself, and have to engage the hi-z switch on the line-in in order to DI with my jackson, and it has a blackout in the bridge and EMG 85 in the neck
 
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