OK guys, my band is going to be cutting our demo sometime soon. We're going to just do our demo in a local home studio that's pretty well stocked, and I've been talking with the owner who will be recording us. He's basically going to record us for free, so we don't have much room to complain. However, I was talking to him today regarding getting a "huge" guitar sound.
What we're going to be using is a Mesa Dual Rectifier ('94 2 Channel Model) into a Mesa Recto 4X12 Cab (Traditional Sized, Straight Model). We may also use a Mesa Studio Preamp (kind of like the preamp section of a Mesa Mark amp) into the Recto for some additional heavy sounds. We'll be using EMG 81 equipped guitars.
The sound that we're looking for from the guitar is something similar to the sound on Metallica "Black Album" (think "Sad but True") or Creed's "Human Clay" album (we enjoy the thick sounding guitars on there). Basically a really thick sound, with a tight low end, chunky and defined.
In talking with this guy, he said he had some ideas on how to achieve it. He wants to use 2 SM-57's to record in stereo, and he wants to double the tracks. But, he also wants to use reverb and compression on the heavy guitar sounds. Is this something that is common? It seems to me that using reverb on heavy rhythm's would make them sound "off" or muddy, and compression on that signal seems like it would make it lose dynamics?
So, is using compression/reverb something that you guys do, or is this guy just crazy? Also would you recommend recording in stereo or using a single SM-57 for those kind of sounds, and about how many rhythm tracks do you think we should use on average?
Neil or others? Thanks for all your help!
What we're going to be using is a Mesa Dual Rectifier ('94 2 Channel Model) into a Mesa Recto 4X12 Cab (Traditional Sized, Straight Model). We may also use a Mesa Studio Preamp (kind of like the preamp section of a Mesa Mark amp) into the Recto for some additional heavy sounds. We'll be using EMG 81 equipped guitars.
The sound that we're looking for from the guitar is something similar to the sound on Metallica "Black Album" (think "Sad but True") or Creed's "Human Clay" album (we enjoy the thick sounding guitars on there). Basically a really thick sound, with a tight low end, chunky and defined.
In talking with this guy, he said he had some ideas on how to achieve it. He wants to use 2 SM-57's to record in stereo, and he wants to double the tracks. But, he also wants to use reverb and compression on the heavy guitar sounds. Is this something that is common? It seems to me that using reverb on heavy rhythm's would make them sound "off" or muddy, and compression on that signal seems like it would make it lose dynamics?
So, is using compression/reverb something that you guys do, or is this guy just crazy? Also would you recommend recording in stereo or using a single SM-57 for those kind of sounds, and about how many rhythm tracks do you think we should use on average?
Neil or others? Thanks for all your help!