Hi all,
I've been lurking around these forums for a while and thought I’d ask for some general advice on my set up because I think the Axe Fx may become a central part of my recording rig.
Basically I’m looking at writing and recording at home. My current recording set up is an Edirol UA-25 soundcard into Reaper with Edirol MA-15D monitors. I primarily play metal and have a 6505 going into an oversized Mesa Rectifier cabinet, and I mic the cab using a Shure SM57. I program drums using Steven Slate SSD4 Platinum and I’m also looking at buying a Fender Precision bass.
One difficult thing about recording at home is being able to record a tube amp at a high enough volume to get it sounding good. I can only really get the 6505 to just over 1 on the post gain before the walls start shaking and the neighbours can hear. (Let alone driving everyone else in the house insane, not being able to record late at night etc.) I’m also sick of the ongoing cost of replacing tubes, and having them gradually sound worse and worse as time goes on.
From my understanding the Axe Fx would allow me to get a cranked tone while recording at quiet volumes. Is this correct? Or would I need to crank it up anyway to make sure that the tones sound just as good when loud? I would be recording via USB, using the Axe Fx as an interface. I’ve heard that tones from the Axe Fx are more ‘finished’ than recording a tube amp through a mic. Is it much easier to capture a great sound due to not having to worry about mic placement etc? Is it literally a case of finding a great sound in the Axe Fx, and then that sound translates straight into your DAW?
In terms of listening to the Axe Fx while playing – I know there are a few options - headphones, FRFR, using the computer monitors etc. My MA-15Ds sound good, but they’re obviously nowhere near flat in their frequency response. Eventually I’ll need to upgrade my studio monitors if I’m serious about mixing properly, but I’m wondering whether this is something that I should do immediately if I buy the Axe Fx. The alternative is to keep the current monitors and buy a FRFR. Is one of these options preferable over the other? If I join a band I'd like to be able to use the Axe Fx at rehearsals (where there wouldn't be a PA).
The other issue is that as anyone that has used a 6505 knows, it has an awful clean channel. Being able to record nice clean tones would also be great (obviously the Axe Fx can do this). I’m also not sure how recording bass direct into the UA-25 would sound, so an Axe Fx would probably be very helpful in this regard too.
I guess in an ideal world I’d splurge and buy the Fender P bass, Axe Fx II XL, a FRFR, a MFC-101, a new set of Mackie HR824s, great acoustic treatment for my recording room, and an excellent vocal mic, but obviously I have to prioritize a bit. Based on what I've written, should the Axe Fx be a priority? Or should I just get some basic acoustic treatment for my room and then try to record and mix with what I've got? Will the Axe Fx simplify the recording process and solve a lot of these issues, or just add weeks and weeks of OCD-style tweaking with settings before anything sounds good?
Sorry for the very general nature of the post, and thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
I've been lurking around these forums for a while and thought I’d ask for some general advice on my set up because I think the Axe Fx may become a central part of my recording rig.
Basically I’m looking at writing and recording at home. My current recording set up is an Edirol UA-25 soundcard into Reaper with Edirol MA-15D monitors. I primarily play metal and have a 6505 going into an oversized Mesa Rectifier cabinet, and I mic the cab using a Shure SM57. I program drums using Steven Slate SSD4 Platinum and I’m also looking at buying a Fender Precision bass.
One difficult thing about recording at home is being able to record a tube amp at a high enough volume to get it sounding good. I can only really get the 6505 to just over 1 on the post gain before the walls start shaking and the neighbours can hear. (Let alone driving everyone else in the house insane, not being able to record late at night etc.) I’m also sick of the ongoing cost of replacing tubes, and having them gradually sound worse and worse as time goes on.
From my understanding the Axe Fx would allow me to get a cranked tone while recording at quiet volumes. Is this correct? Or would I need to crank it up anyway to make sure that the tones sound just as good when loud? I would be recording via USB, using the Axe Fx as an interface. I’ve heard that tones from the Axe Fx are more ‘finished’ than recording a tube amp through a mic. Is it much easier to capture a great sound due to not having to worry about mic placement etc? Is it literally a case of finding a great sound in the Axe Fx, and then that sound translates straight into your DAW?
In terms of listening to the Axe Fx while playing – I know there are a few options - headphones, FRFR, using the computer monitors etc. My MA-15Ds sound good, but they’re obviously nowhere near flat in their frequency response. Eventually I’ll need to upgrade my studio monitors if I’m serious about mixing properly, but I’m wondering whether this is something that I should do immediately if I buy the Axe Fx. The alternative is to keep the current monitors and buy a FRFR. Is one of these options preferable over the other? If I join a band I'd like to be able to use the Axe Fx at rehearsals (where there wouldn't be a PA).
The other issue is that as anyone that has used a 6505 knows, it has an awful clean channel. Being able to record nice clean tones would also be great (obviously the Axe Fx can do this). I’m also not sure how recording bass direct into the UA-25 would sound, so an Axe Fx would probably be very helpful in this regard too.
I guess in an ideal world I’d splurge and buy the Fender P bass, Axe Fx II XL, a FRFR, a MFC-101, a new set of Mackie HR824s, great acoustic treatment for my recording room, and an excellent vocal mic, but obviously I have to prioritize a bit. Based on what I've written, should the Axe Fx be a priority? Or should I just get some basic acoustic treatment for my room and then try to record and mix with what I've got? Will the Axe Fx simplify the recording process and solve a lot of these issues, or just add weeks and weeks of OCD-style tweaking with settings before anything sounds good?
Sorry for the very general nature of the post, and thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.