New Recording Setup after 15 years...

[ic-racer]

My midi/guitar recording setup was at its peak around 1993 and subsequently was dismantled as it became outdated.

I just got an audio/midi interface and Logic Pro and am getting back into making new music.

I have found that my old analog midi gear and analog mixer and outboard rack mounted effects (all 1990s vintage) are easily replaced by software.

In fact, the guitar plug-ins are pretty good. I finally ran some long cables from where my office desk over to some tube amps to do some a/b comparisons.

At this point I really need to 'believe' in tube amps, because to rig up my current music composing workstation/iMac to record any tube amps will require major restructuring of my basement, with long cables, major furniture moving etc.

I'm curious as to what others are doing.

BTW my current setup (remote from the computer) is a wall of 9 tube amps that are mic'd as needed and run through a rack of analog and digital effects with a 16 track mixer to a power amp and PA speakers. To make all the files I posted in the tube amps sections I just recorded live (on minidisk) through the mixer with background CDs, then just played the minidisk portable player into the internet computer's little mic jack.

[DonMoose]

You want to 'believe' again?

When you stand in front of your monitors and software plugins etcetera, does your guitar feel 'alive' like it does in front of one of your old favorite tube amps?

If it does, divest. If not, remodel.

Hope this helps?

[stelligan]

I've heard good things about Peavey's Revalver. I had a DidiDesign Eleven rack for a while and that was a cool piece of gear. I did not like that it was ProTools dependent, though. I have heard that they have since reworked that.

Good luck kicking the tubes..... That's tough IMHO

[ic-racer]

I'm uploading the first group of short tunes I created right at my desk on Garageband. It kind of blew me away how good the guitar sounded. All I did was to use a mini-to-1/4" jack converter to just plug the guitar right into the back of the iMac. I used the computer keyboard to play the keyboard and drum parts. (I have a Prosonus interface now and Logic, but all these first tunes used GarageBand plugins and were NOT recorded through the Prosonus A/D box).

Here is the link to the mp3 files on SoundClick. (most recent 10 added)

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music

[Structo]

Those do sound good!

[ic-racer]

Ok, so I spent a few hours working up a killer ODS sound. This is with my ODS converted Fender Super Twin and a 70s LP custom.
Distortion channel, 'Rock', 'Mid Boost on', Vol 5, master 5, distortion 5, level 3, tone all 5. Using the Super Twin's stock speakers.

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10309305

[Alexo]

Really it comes down to what 'works for you.'

Having a workspace that lets you fulfill your potential is far more important than any of the nuances of the gear.

I mean heck, even Albert King used a solid state amp, right? I'd rather hear him play the way he plays through an old Sunn or whatever, than hear him at half-mast through a 1st generation plexi with NOS this and Mustard that.

Me, I like plugging weird old things into other weird old things and playing mad scientist when I record. Clicking around on a computer for hours on end just kinda kills the mood for me, but to each their own!

[overtone]

ic-racer -
that ODS sound is very impressive. Did you get that out of Garage Band or is it the real deal, I am not sure I understand you correctly?

After a 25 year hiatus I started playing again, dug out my old tube amps and repaired them. (Thanks TAG)
The digital came about because I live in the city center and need to watch the sound levels. On top of that my bass player is in another country so it is a pain taking the amps on the plane!

At first I was really skeptical about whether the simulated amps would respond how I like. But there are hidden levels that let you dive deeper into the “amps” to “tweak” response, sag etc. Some day maybe we can be swapping capacitors in them. The digital set up really gives me ideas how to use the tube and rack hardware differently. But I stay with the laptop because it is quick and convenient.

At the moment I run:
guitar > Native Instruments Guitar Rig > Logic Pro
Guitar effects are in Guitar Rig.

My next step to try will be:
guitar > cranked real tube amp > Palmer pdl-03 > Guitar Rig > Logic Pro

I am hoping that the key to using the tube amps with Logic Pro will be the Palmer pdl-03. I just need to get around to hooking it up… OK this weekend. Have a good one!

[Structo]

Are those backing tracks you are recording with or did you make the them?