Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Best Way To Record My New Amp
Posted by: liveOASISforever Jun 23 2013, 07:46 AM
I just bought a H&K Tubemeister 18 and looking to start recording lessons in the next couple of months.I am able to record the amp two ways and am not sure which way will be the best.
option 1) Mic the amp then into a audio interface
option 2) Buy a Red Box (speaker simulator) and go into a mixer then into my iMac.
I have no experience in recording either way.The advantage of option 2 is I can turn my amp down to 0w so that I can record silently but I am not sure what the quality will be like.
What do you guys think
Posted by: Darius Wave Jun 24 2013, 12:33 AM
I think You just answered yourself 
You can use both...it's a matter of circumstances. Also...very often a blend of both could sound descent. Recording the mic will needmany experiments and usually also good eq-ing.If Your room is not prepared for recording than You can expect some low end problems. It's possible that You'll choose the redbox option then
Posted by: liveOASISforever Jun 24 2013, 06:33 AM
You can use both...it's a matter of circumstances. Also...very often a blend of both could sound descent. Recording the mic will needmany experiments and usually also good eq-ing.If Your room is not prepared for recording than You can expect some low end problems. It's possible that You'll choose the redbox option thenThanks for your reply Darius.I understand using a mic and then into a audioface. The problem is I really dont understand the Red Box set up. I have searched for videos on YouTube and can not seem to find anything on it that I find useful.Does the Red Box have to go into a mixer then my iMac or can there be other ways of doing this and will it work with most DAW.
Cheers Sean
Posted by: kklee100 Jun 24 2013, 09:17 AM
I asked Todd the same question days ago.
You can have option 3:
connect your amp（ from headphone jack) to the audio interface, and using free software（like Amplitube...etc.）for cabinet simulation. It really works well!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am sorry.
I just check the specification of your amp and there is no headphone jack.
So the option 3 can not be used in your case. Sorry.
You can ask Todd. Maybe he has better solution.
Posted by: pdf64 Jun 24 2013, 09:19 AM
This particular amp has got a built in load (also known as power soak) and recording output (called Red Box)
http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php5?id=142&prod=TubeMeister%2018%20Head
but in general, amps, especially with tube output sections, should not be operated without a speaker (or a load equivalent to a speaker) connected.
Otherwise they can be damaged (think of it like revving a car engine past the 'red line' at traffic lights).
If in doubt, consult the amp's manual, ask the manufacturer; competent people on the forum will help if they can, but may not know the specifics of a particular amp.
Pete
Posted by: Darius Wave Jun 24 2013, 10:41 AM
You can plug the signal from the red box directly to Your audio interface. Red box is an cab sim at least if it's same red box built-in as the stomp box version. You should check what pdf64 wrote...All tube amps need the cab connected ...if not...You could destroy the transformer + some more. There is a possibility that in those such advanced electronics days...H&K has design the amp to work with no-cab option while recording direct signal.
Posted by: Mattfig Jun 24 2013, 12:00 PM
http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php5?id=142&prod=TubeMeister%2018%20Head
but in general, amps, especially with tube output sections, should not be operated without a speaker (or a load equivalent to a speaker) connected.
Otherwise they can be damaged (think of it like revving a car engine past the 'red line' at traffic lights).
If in doubt, consult the amp's manual, ask the manufacturer; competent people on the forum will help if they can, but may not know the specifics of a particular amp.
Pete
That is a nice feature on that amp....You are limited to whichever Redbox IR it uses but I'll bet it sounds great! Like the poster above said, that output is designed to go straight into your audio interface...And you can play it silently as it has a built in loadbox to boot...
Great amp, especially for a beginner - great choice!
Posted by: liveOASISforever Jun 24 2013, 04:29 PM
Thanks for all the replies everyone.I understand that the power soak on the amp when turned down to 0w automatically cuts of the speaker.Then the Red Box simulates a cab being used.I checked online and on H&k website and always seen the Red Box going into a mixer.
So going what Darius said I can go from
Amp-Red Box-audio interface-imac
This is what I was hoping to do but never knew if I could go into a audio interface from the Red Box as all I have seen is it going into a mixer.
Posted by: David.C.Bond Jun 25 2013, 10:25 PM
Using a speaker simulator is always a quicker way to record valve amps for home recordings.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 25 2013, 10:26 PM
if your up for experimenting, I'd suggest you actually record two tracks for each guitar bit in your daw. If you are using REAPER just arm two tracks and feed one track the output of the amp/soak, and feed the other input with just the dry guitar signal. You can do this with a signal splitter (provided it doesnt make noise) or small mixer.
That way you can use the clean signal under the amp signal to create detail and you can duplicate the clean track and apply amplitude etc.
This way you can really create a massive tone that retains it's detail. This does create 3 tracks for each recording which can become a burden with overdubs. But it can sound really huge
P.S. Sounds like your amp has a soak built in to you can just run out to your interface which is spiff!
Todd
So going what Darius said I can go from
Amp-Red Box-audio interface-imac
This is what I was hoping to do but never knew if I could go into a audio interface from the Red Box as all I have seen is it going into a mixer.
Posted by: liveOASISforever Jun 26 2013, 05:34 PM
That way you can use the clean signal under the amp signal to create detail and you can duplicate the clean track and apply amplitude etc.
This way you can really create a massive tone that retains it's detail. This does create 3 tracks for each recording which can become a burden with overdubs. But it can sound really huge
P.S. Sounds like your amp has a soak built in to you can just run out to your interface which is spiff!
Todd
Yeah mate its got a power soak on it already which is great. I just need to buy a Red Box and a interface and then I can jump into the world of recording.
Posted by: SixStringSamurai Jul 1 2013, 10:30 AM
Is it the combo version?
To take another side of the argument...
If you're happy with the sound you're getting from your speaker, it is a very simple matter to grab an industry standard dynamic mic (SM57 or Audix i5 are the most affordable) and put it straight onto the speaker cone.
Sure, you can adjust and experiment with placement, but right on the cone is the most "present" sound, and it's immediately going to give you quite a decent recorded sound.
Posted by: liveOASISforever Jul 1 2013, 05:37 PM
To take another side of the argument...
If you're happy with the sound you're getting from your speaker, it is a very simple matter to grab an industry standard dynamic mic (SM57 or Audix i5 are the most affordable) and put it straight onto the speaker cone.
Sure, you can adjust and experiment with placement, but right on the cone is the most "present" sound, and it's immediately going to give you quite a decent recorded sound.
I got the head and cabinet mate
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)