Line-record an overdrive or distortion-pedal?

[Optimus Prime]

Has anyone tried to line a guitar pedal of better quality, say an AC Booster or an OCD or BJF pedal, through a speaker simulator like a Palmer or a H/K Red Box PRo straight into your interface or soundcard, adding some room reverb in post? What did you think of the results? Recommend, yay or nay?

 

[TAVD]

I did it once for a VH-esque track using some ibanez fx, Hafler preamp and an ADA microcabII. Does it work? Yes. Do I still use it? No.
Actually, the microcabII gets a bad rap IMO, I just don't do much direct recording these days. It can be used with line levels from a preamp (not so good) or a speaker level signal (better). I'd guess that most speaker simulators will sound better with a speaker level signal.

 

[Bassomatic]

I've done it a number of times. Sometimes, it's just the ticket for a given track.

I've always believed Ernie Isley's "Who's That Lady?" solo was cut this way. If not, it sure sounds like a good example of a DI'd distortion tone.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Originally posted by Bassomatic
I've done it a number of times. Sometimes, it's just the ticket for a given track.

I've always believed Ernie Isley's "Who's That Lady?" solo was cut this way. If not, it sure sounds like a good example of a DI'd distortion tone.

Basso I founf a killer plug you gonna dig. It's freeware and called Analog X...google it!!!
I just put up a clip in the mp3 section with it. Has your name all over it!!!
Sorry for the derail.
Oh yeah, 1/3 of the signal is Palmer...

 

[G'OlPeachPhan]

Beatles "Revolution" was recorded in an even lower tech fashion... just plugging direct into the console and overdriving the preamp.

You never know what's gonna work perfect for a given track.

 

[Bassomatic]

Originally posted by Ed DeGenaro
Basso I founf a killer plug you gonna dig. It's freeware and called Analog X...google it!!!
I just put up a clip in the mp3 section with it. Has your name all over it!!!
Sorry for the derail.
Oh yeah, 1/3 of the signal is Palmer...

Thanks, Ed. I dig the track, as posted. Will check Analog X, and still indepted for those hip delay plugs you hepped me to.

 

[PintoMusic]

Originally posted by Optimus Prime
Recommend, yay or nay?

As Bassomatic and G'OlPeachPhan alluded, it certainly has it's place if the mood is right - even without the speaker simulator.

It reminds me... back when I was 17, I used to take the pre-amp out of my Peavey Rage and run it in series through both channels of an old component stereo-EQ to double-cut the direct-sounding fuzz (I was a poor kid). Although it sounded like crap as a main guitar tone, I'm sure it might be an interesting kitschy novelty tone. After almost 12 years, I still have the Rage and the EQ in a closet somewhere so I'll have to revisit that sound.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Here ya go...guitar into amp into Plamer into DL4 into board...
http://www.eddegenaro.com/audio/mocked.mp3
http://www.eddegenaro.com/audio/distuff.mp3

And with another amp...
http://www.eddegenaro.com/audio/ahworth.com

in comparison to my regular set up...
http://www.eddegenaro.com/audio/domphryg.mp3

In comparison to a Pod
http://www.eddegenaro.com/audio/notherjam.mp3

 

[onemind]

This may sound weird but I've had great luck using OD pedals into a clean patch on my desktop pod 2.0, direct to pro-tools. I guess in this scenario the POD is acting as a speaker emulator. It sounded especially good with a TIM pedal, but nearly as good with a maxon SD-9, and a Fulldrive. Worth checking out...I'll try to post some clips.

Steve

 

[Gerry]

Originally posted by Ed DeGenaro
In comparison to a Pod
http://www.eddegenaro.com/audio/notherjam.mp3

Yikes Ed!! You make that Pod sing like it has the 'Skyliner' mod !!