General question about guitar recording.......

[CHuckmott]

And I hope some of the responses are by guys who have numerous placements but does anyone actually use these guitar software or multieffects effects units to record their songs they are trying to get placed? I am not really a fan of them and prefer to mic my amp old school style. However entertaining the possibility, with all the VST instruments out there that the use of this stuff may more easily integrate into the songs I am recording. Maybe it is me but it just seems that my guitar sticks out like a sore thumb on my recordings sometimes being , anymore, the only instrument that isn't going direct in or is a virtual instrument (feel free to take a listen but probably completely my imagination). Generally I won't even use a direct box or speaker simulator but will be the first to admit I have heard stuff by guys who do that could make me change my mind.

[playagibson]

There are great guitar plugins out there. I use amplitube and guitar rig and I love 'em.
For convenience you cannot beat plugins. Tone is a personal thing and micing great amp can't be beat, however,
unless you have the perfect recording environment at your disposal you won't be able to produce on demand.

Rich.

[CHuckmott]

I have a small basement studio, mic right up against the edge of the cone of my Peavey CLassic 30. All my guitar parts, with the exception of Caught In The Middle, were recorded that way , Caught in the Middle with the freebie Sansamp plugin Pro Tools comes with.

[CHuckmott]

Or let me be more direct about what I am asking, do people feel the technology is advanced enough to be able to get at least 95% close enough to a mic'd guitar amp. Something I may consider. Do folks feel here, because of the digital aspect of it, that it seems to blend better with their VST's, and other digital gear?

[CHuckmott]

Great tracks and sound Rich BTW....

[BruceBrown]

Like you, I always mic an amp. I have heard other peoples tracks that sound good and they have used plugins, but for me I'm never happy working inside the box. There's something about moving air.
If you think about it, list a dozen of your fav elec. guitar players, think of their records and ask the question. Miced amp or plugin?
Hope this helps.
Bruce

[cardell]

Or let me be more direct about what I am asking, do people feel the technology is advanced enough to be able to get at least 95% close enough to a mic'd guitar amp. Something I may consider. Do folks feel here, because of the digital aspect of it, that it seems to blend better with their VST's, and other digital gear?

I get good results from Amplitube (the built in room mics make it sound VERY realistic to me) & Waves CLA guitars.

The way I see it: It's a similar situation with vocals (I'm primarily a singer).

I'd rather record vocals in a live [read: real] reverberating room and place the mic (or a couple of mics) in the right position(s) to obtain the desired balance between dry and wet. That way, you kinda "play" the room reverberation (with your singing) like you "play" a real amp with your guitar. However, this is just not feasibly for me. So, I record vocals dry (like most people), then add "fake" reverb later.

Stuart

[CHuckmott]

Listened to you guys stuff. Very convincing all. No silver bullet answer but sounds like the guys who do use plug ins use them out of necessity ( space, recording setup, etc). But are still able to tweak them into something useable. Thanks!

[markjsmith]

You should use both in my opinion. There's tons of great software out there, but yes sometimes its great to get air moving.
I've got a great old Fender Deluxe, but I've sold off most of my bigger amps so software fills that hole and the effects in some of the programs are pretty great.

If we had to have the amps and effects in just Guitar Rig it would probably cost 50k.

[cardell]

Also, I saw this interview (a while back) with James Wisley (he plays on Chris Isaak's Wicked Game etc..) that pretty much convinced me that software was the way to go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Bo3VIqH0A

Stuart