Boss GT8 users...recording....help

symbolofmylife · 2012-06-06T10:40:05+00:00

Hi guys, I'm currently attempting to record some nice 'n heavy guitars at home but I'm having some trouble. I am using my Dean Angel of Deth V (SD LiveWi...

Boss GT8 users...recording....help

symbolofmylife

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: First thing to do is make sure that the speaker models aren't turned off on the output you are using. IIRC, it can be set to off globally for each output, regardless of patch settings.

It's currently set to "combo" if I remember correctly.

AlanRatcliffe

symbolofmylife wrote: It's currently set to "combo" if I remember correctly.

That EQ's for an amp with guitar speakers (which cut off everything above 4K).The Spider uses a near full range, neutral speaker to make the most of it's own speaker modelling. Try set it to Line/Phones.

To be honest, if I had a Spider and a GT-8, I'd set them up with the 4-cable method and use the Spider's amp and speaker sims and the GT-8 for effects.

How are you getting the sound from amp to PC BTW? Mic or DI?

symbolofmylife

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
symbolofmylife wrote: It's currently set to "combo" if I remember correctly.
That EQ's for an amp with guitar speakers (which cut off everything above 4K).The Spider uses a near full range, neutral speaker to make the most of it's own speaker modelling. Try set it to Line/Phones.

To be honest, if I had a Spider and a GT-8, I'd set them up with the 4-cable method and use the Spider's amp and speaker sims and the GT-8 for effects.

How are you getting the sound from amp to PC BTW? Mic or DI?

I had it to Line/phones a week ago but then it was worse.

As far as the 4-cable method goes, the Spider II 112 does not feature fx send out, so that is out of the question....

I am micing with a SM57

symbolofmylife

Also, the reason I mentioned that I am suspecting the pups may be a bit "hot" is 'cos I cannot recall having the same issues with the LTD that has passives.

But then other questions pop to mind like the fact that the LTD was tuned way low to C, where the Dean is tuned standard, so during rhythm playing that feature lots of gallops and mutes the LTD's frequency output was lower at C tuning than the Dean's at E. So I wont know at this point, if the passives, when tuned standard, will produce the same issues, although, I am guessing it will.

AlanRatcliffe

For best results with any amp modelling, you should have different versions of your patches for each guitar you own - the edge that helps a baritone or downtuned guitar cut through can be fizziness with a normal guitar. Different pickups respond differently too.

Place the EQ module after the speaker sim and set everything flat aside from the "High Cut" filter, which you adjust by turning down (that changes the cutoff frequency above which it filters all the high frequency content - pretty much like a guitar speaker does). Turn down until the fizzies disappear. Then if needed, use high frequency parametric to put back a bit of a bump somewhere just below the cutoff to get the guitar' presence back. A subtle cut in low mids often helps clarity too.

Another thing you should do with the EQ is use the "Low Cut" to filter out everything below which your speakers can reproduce - this saves amp energy on the frequencies the speakers cannot use and can tighten up your low end a lot (even if you can't hear the frequencies, they can modulate the frequencies you do hear). Always have it set to at least 55Hz (even with a downtuned guitar), but it's often needed anywhere up to 200Hz to clear space in the mix for the bass and kick anyway.

Once you have a decent sound from the amp, spend time with mic technique. Closer to the dustcap means more high frequencies (and fizz), towards the edge of the cone softens the sound. Angling the mic can also take off some edge (position the mic towards the edge, but angle it to point a little towards the dustcap).

symbolofmylife

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: For best results with any amp modelling, you should have different versions of your patches for each guitar you own - the edge that helps a baritone or downtuned guitar cut through can be fizziness with a normal guitar. Different pickups respond differently too.

Place the EQ module after the speaker sim and set everything flat aside from the "High Cut" filter, which you adjust by turning down (that changes the cutoff frequency above which it filters all the high frequency content - pretty much like a guitar speaker does). Turn down until the fizzies disappear. Then if needed, use high frequency parametric to put back a bit of a bump somewhere just below the cutoff to get the guitar' presence back. A subtle cut in low mids often helps clarity too.

Another thing you should do with the EQ is use the "Low Cut" to filter out everything below which your speakers can reproduce - this saves amp energy on the frequencies the speakers cannot use and can tighten up your low end a lot (even if you can't hear the frequencies, they can modulate the frequencies you do hear). Always have it set to at least 55Hz (even with a downtuned guitar), but it's often needed anywhere up to 200Hz to clear space in the mix for the bass and kick anyway.

Once you have a decent sound from the amp, spend time with mic technique. Closer to the dustcap means more high frequencies (and fizz), towards the edge of the cone softens the sound. Angling the mic can also take off some edge (position the mic towards the edge, but angle it to point a little towards the dustcap).

Thanks for all the pointers Alan. A lot of the stuff like "seperate patches for every guitar" I am familiar with (been playing 12 yrs ? and have owned around 15 guitars....lol) but this is the first time I've had to struggle like this. Thank you again.

But it just struck me: I've had the amp for ages but I bought the pedal about 5yrs ago and have only used it playing with heavily downtuned guitars in my band, so for downtuned I've managed to nail bad-ass sounds for every guitar (on different patches). But my days of "downtuned" are over. So for the first time now actually I am faced with modelling good sounding patches for guitars that are higher tuned and drive different frequencies.

Malkav

symbolofmylife wrote: I'm having trouble getting rid of that god-awful distortion fizzyness and scratchy mutes. I've managed to minimize it but it's still there. I've also tried different effects but no success.
Then obviously recording makes the fuzz spill out even more, regardless of mic (SM57) placement it appears. Additionally, I know for recording to cut the distortion but I've cut it to a nice meaty, tight and clear sound (very Metallica Load-esque), yet, there's this bloody fizz and scratch that wont go away, that gets worse when I mute.

I think the main problem is this:

symbolofmylife wrote: set to MS-higain only...gain at 90...no added distortion)

Having owned a GT-8 all I can say is that I never found a reason to set the gain that high...

Also more mids, noisegate and use a tubescreamer - should sort out the issue ? Then fiddle with EQs ?

symbolofmylife

Chad Adam Browne wrote:
Having owned a GT-8 all I can say is that I never found a reason to set the gain that high...

Also more mids, noisegate and use a tubescreamer - should sort out the issue ? Then fiddle with EQs ?

Well, if I drop the gain below that the sound cleans up almost completely. I think I've to just check also if something's running in the background....

DonovanB

Chad Adam Browne wrote: Having owned a GT-8 all I can say is that I never found a reason to set the gain that high...

Also more mids, noisegate and use a tubescreamer - should sort out the issue ? Then fiddle with EQs ?

+1. recording with High Gains on a GT8 is horrid.
have you tried lower gain + a Distortion?

The major benefit I find with the GT is that in a big, expensive studio you try various different amps to get your sound. That may, and usually does, differ from your live rig and settings.

When recording high gain I find the SLDN to be better suited to that application. The Marshall COSM tends to be better suited to crunch tones IMO.

IIRC the speaker sims and mic placement sim only works from the phones out. Which is a great way to record, phones out into stereo (or two channels on the DAW)

LooneyAtTheGate

I know that on the GT-10 the MS Hi Gain is one of the fizziest. As Alan said, dial out the treble, boost the mid-range in the right places.

One cure for fizz is to make the parametric eq resemble the shape of a whale, facing to to the right: Cut the bass, boost a bit of the lower mid-range, boost a large part of the upper-mids and cut the high treble. Then use your ear to work on this. Also make sure the eqs are at the right part of the effects chain!

I have saved and named recording eq settings for each of my guitars, and they're all VERY different.

symbolofmylife

Thanks for all the tips guys.

I messed around using your pointers last night and managed to come up with a nice "speed" sound, relatively fizz free, using the metal stack. Sounding pretty good!

Regarding the EQ in the fx chain: it appears by default that it is placed directly after the pre's.

LooneyAtTheGate

Cool dig to hear the results! ?

Averatu

Dont

Malkav

Averatu wrote: Dont

Too many informatives happening right here ?