February 20, 2023
Before I get into the stuff related to
How to Record Killer Metal and Rock
Guitar (part #3) I’d like to say…
Happy Presidents Day
Presidents Day is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third
Monday of February to honor all persons who served as presidents of
the United States. Unfortunately this not only includes the ones you
liked, but also the ones you didn’t. It is also an official state holiday in
most states although it has various names: Washington's Birthday,
Presidents' Day, President's Day, Presidents Day, and Washington's
and Lincoln's Birthday.
Recording Rock and Metal Guitar
This Zystrix posting is the third of a several part series designed to help
a person record guitar, specifically metal and rock guitar, no matter your
skill level. And the main crux is how to do an excellent job on a low
budget. Please know that there are many types of gear that are
glossed over or omitted here because either there’s just too much great
gear to list or the gear simply doesn’t pass muster with Zystrix
guidelines. Although all complaints are considered, any software that
has download issues or problems (ie any advertising, internet
dependence, privacy issues, and so on) is flagged and simply doesn’t
make the grade. Software requiring an email is OK.
Last time we covered recording gear for the center of a home recording
setup (to review click on the Left Arrow at the top left of this page).
Over this series I’ll cover an engineer’s and guitarist’s approach to the
instrument, gear, old tricks, modern and popular tricks, and maybe a
few you never tried. So here’s more basic gear needed for a bare
bones beginning.
How to Record Killer Metal and
Rock Guitar
The Ultimate Guide
(Part Three)
THE FINE PRINT: Zystrix is not and has never been a participant in any advertising program
including but not limited to the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Sweetwater, or any other
affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by
advertising and linking to the forementioned or any other companies. There are many slick
websites but not many honest ones. Zystrix has no links associated with the sale of any products.
This keeps our reviews honest, cuts out any unnecessary middle man, and keeps this website free
from cookies and the influences of Google and other unethical perveyors of your digital exhaust and
personal information. It’s our mantra.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
** Headphones – What you’re looking for is a good circumaural (covers
the ears for sound isolation) pair that sounds balanced, offers plenty of
musical detail, and is isolated as much as possible from outside noises.
There are in-ear types, but I could never get used to them. Are studio
headphones necessary? Yes. Mixing with air is far better than mixing
with any headphones, but they are a necessary evil. I use them for
checking for sonic gremlins (hums and buzzes), stereo placement,
guitar cabinet microphone placement, smoothness and palatability
(phasing) of the content, sound comparisons to professional mixes, and
for chasing down all kinds of problems before they turn into disasters.
They also look cool if worn in a photograph; it makes it easier for people
to figure out which person is the engineer. Headphones is one area of
your recording studio that can’t be done on the cheap. So bite the
financial bullet and get a great studio quality professional pair of cans.
You are going to need excellent headphones if you take your recording
seriously – that’s the long and short of it – so save your hard-earned
and buy the best professional ones you can afford. If you decide to
record complete bands then let them wear the junky headphones. The
engineer gets the steak, the band gets the bone. Just don’t tell them
that. Bands tend to be hard on equipment and you don’t need $400
worth of headphones to be repaired or replaced every couple of weeks.
Do I need an amp for my studio headphones? Yes, you will if you are
recording a band and each musician wants to control their own mix. But
most audio interfaces have a headphone output jack, so if you are
working alone that’s all you need. What headphones should I buy?
Back when I was looking for headphones for the nth time in my life I
went to a BIG-BOX music store and listened to all the pairs on display.
Although many of them sounded good I decided on a pair of the Sony
MDR-7506. I still have own and have used the same pair for over 25
years, so they last if you take care of them. They are very comfortable if
you need to use them over time, and I certainly have. They also have
a coiled wire that some people may not like, but that coil has saved me
many times from stepping on the cord and suddenly ripping them off my
head. However, purchasing a straight extension cord may be to your
advantage, especially if you record while needing to walk around the
room making various equipment adjustments. So purchasing a straight
extension cord may come in handy for you. Good quality headphones
are going to cost around $125 USA or more. Here’s my picks…
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
They are considered one of the industry standards.
Sony MDR-7506
This is another industry standard and I’m one of their biggest fans
because they have been so good to me.
AKG K701
They sound great and are a superior studio option. This is another one
I’m fond of when I hear music I know through them.
** Studio Speakers – Good studio speakers range in price from
minimal to more than a house payment. Some of them require some
kind of stereo power amp and some have their power built in. These
things seem to be “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to price. And have
you ever noticed that when you record at an expensive studio they
always run your mix through the big speakers? There’s a reason for
that. “Your band sounds great, guys. It sounds really full”. Of course
your band sounds full; everything sounds great through big speakers.
Don’t let the engineer get away with that old trick; always have them
play your mix through something small. And speaking of small, Yamaha
makes the NS-10 and this is a recording studio industry standard and a
good place to start listening for something to purchase. This speaker,
though, can be imitated by other speakers with EQ adjustment rolling off
highs and lows to copy the intrinsic curve. Some people may consider
this the poor man’s way of cheating and should never be done. But the
audio mid-range is where it’s at if you want a superior mix because
that’s where all the action is located anyway. If you can’t make it sound
good in the mid-range then you can’t make it sound good. However,
and I realize this is sooooo controversial and has been bad-mouthed by
many people over the years, but a good boombox is worth its weight if
you know how to listen. I used a boombox for decades for many band
albums and demos – I also had studio speakers big and small – but I
always went back to my boombox for my main mix and mastering. I
started using one back in the early 1980s. Take it with you -- it’s fun.
Listen to it in your car, listen to it while sitting around the campfire, listen
to it while gardening, listen to it while walking your dog. You get the
idea. Learn the sound of your boom-box, and you will after listening to it
in so many different areas. If you can make your mix coming through
your boom-box rock then your mix rocks. It’s that simple. If the sound
is reaching out to grab you then it’s perfect. Just because it’s cheap
doesn’t mean it’s junk. Pay attention to the sound. Listen to all your
favorite music on whatever speakers you choose and this will train your
ear to that particular speaker. When bands asked me to help them mix
their home-spun recording project -- since I never knew their particular
monitors -- I always brought my boom-box. My very first good one was
a Technics, a sub-brand of Panasonic. I took it to an outdoor cookout, it
began to rain pretty hard, and by the time I got all the food inside the
house it had drown never to work ever again. My second decent
boombox was a large and somewhat heavy Sony with the bass
expansion feature and I used it for many years until somebody else saw
the value in it and stole it. I now use a JBL portable speaker and it has
served me quite well. I’ve dropped it several times with no apparent ill
effect. I still have my 10-inch studio speakers for another reference
speaker, but I take my JBL with me everywhere (while keeping an eye
on it). Don’t bother with the Bluetooth feature unless you’re taking it to
a party for someone else to play their music from their phone. For
recording you will want to plug straight into the boom-box. There’s no
latency, there’s no EQ issues, no interference or dropouts, and there’s
never any privacy issues. I can honestly say that I have broken into
various signals from other people to give it a listen, but they have never
broken into mine. Also, look for a boombox that has a radio feature so
it’s possible to do sound comparisons with all the big-name recordings
on your favorite stations. And when you record at that expensive
recording studio always bring your boombox for a realistic mix. And
another thing, do you need a boombox with a cassette player or CD
player feature? Hmm, I suppose it depends if you still listen to those
types of things. I gave up a long time ago, but we’re all different. I
suggest burning the cassettes to something digital so when the tape
gives out you still have the recording. Anyway, there you have it. If you
can afford it I would suggest getting both the studio monitors and the
boombox. But if you are like me you’ll probably choose listening to the
boombox most of the time. So with all that in mind, here are my picks
for good studio speakers…
Yamaha NS-10
The standard in studio monitors. Excellent.
Yamaha NS-8
Another standard in studio monitors although smaller.
KRK Rokit 7 G4
Popular with home recording folks.
Sony ZSRS60BT
I used a version of this boombox for several years. It was a little bulky
and heavy but it had a deep rich sound with plenty of bass if needed.
It’s great for bringing to a small dance party. Give one a listen.
Panasonic RX-D55GC-K
I also used a version of this boombox for a relatively short stint. It’s not
particularly loud but the sound is balanced and pleasant. This is
another good choice in boom boxes.
JBL Boombox 2
Unfortunately JBL is phasing out the stereo 3.5mm input jack so look for
one that still has it.
JBL Charge 4 (discontinued)
Unfortunately JBL does not offer the stereo 3.5mm input jack on the
new Charge 5 model – only Bluetooth. However, the old Charge 4
model listed here can be purchased for a great price and they sound as
good as the newer Charge 5 model. Buy two different colors (say one
red and one black) and run one only the left signal and the other the
right signal. Spread them at least 4 feet (about 1.5 meters) apart for a
very impressive stereo image. SPECIAL NOTE: Put the red speaker on
the right so you look like a pro.
To be continued…
Stay tuned next time… in part four of this series we’re starting to get
into the fun stuff like FREE guitar plug-ins (maybe some you’ve never
heard but should own), hundreds of free guitar cabinet IRs, hundreds of
free reverbs, and enough free software based gear to negate paying for
anything including an amplifier. There’s also a number of not-so-free
guitar programs listed for your consideration. From there we’re moving
on to a wide assortment of not-so-free guitar pedals that sound great
and, unlike a lot of software, are truly portable for your jam rig. In the
end we’ll cover the two main camps or schools of thought for the studio
techniques of recording metal and rock guitar. More fun than a roller
coaster ride to hell. This completed series will be available as a free
PDF download after the last posting.
After the guitarist began to play, James Marshall
resurrected, walked in, and ripped his name-plate
off the amp.
Knowledge, art, and music for all…
Zystrix = a source, shaman, or library disseminating secret or lost knowledge, art, or music.
ZYSTRIX
POPULAR FREE DOWNLOADS
Introducing
the
next
generation
in
guitar
cabinet
impulse
responses.
Try
the
new
Djammincabs
Maxxx
4x12.
All
of
these
cab
IR
files
are
based
on
old,
new,
and
boutique
4x12
cab
curves.
All
are
recorded
in
beautiful
24-bit
48K
mono
and
will
work
on
most
free
and
paid
digital
convolvers.
Hear
the
guitar
IR
breathe
fire
with
pure
attitude.
Don’t
be
suckered
in
with
high-dollar
sales
pitches,
there
ain’t
no
guitar
IR
downloads
better
than
these.
Choose
from
many
cab
sound
recording
styles:
cone,
edge,
angled,
arm
away,
inside
cab,
back
of
cab,
or
back
of
room.
Djammincabs
is
the
world
leader
in
guitar
cab
IR
invention
--
no
other
guitar
IR
company
can
imitate
these.
Djammincabs
Maxxx
4x12
makes
it
easier
for
you
to
design
your
own
personalized
sound
--
even
your
own
Metal
IR
pack.
If
you
can’t
find
a
cabinet
or
combination
you
like
here,
then
you
don’t
like
4x12
cabinets.
This
guitar
IR
download
also
includes
a
Tactical
Munitions
Manual
with
suggested
uses
and
detailed
cab
combinations.
This
is
the
best
free
guitar
impulse
download available anywhere.
Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12
“Murder Your Competition.”
I feel brave. I want to try them now. Here’s my email...
Djammincabs for Guitar
Download Free Guitar Impulse Responses
Click here to download
over 200 Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses.
Djammincabs for Bass Guitar
Download Free Bass Impulse Responses
Click here to download
over 200 Free Bass Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses.
Best Free Guitar Impulses.
The Top 11 Best Free
Guitar and Bass
Cabinet Impulse Responses for 2022
(in alphabetical order…)
Find, download, and test the best
free guitar cabinet impulse responses for 2022.
FREE BASS LOOPS SAMPLES DOWNLOAD
ROYALTY FREE BASS LOOP SAMPLES
FREE BASS LOOPS
Over 200 samples are included in the collection
Download the complete collection of 24-bit bass loops here.
NOTE: This download size is approximately 369 Megs.
Free Pendulate Synthesizer Presets
Original Newfangled Audio Pendulate
synth patches/presets
Click here to download over 240
Free Pendulate Synth Presets (patches)
Synapse Audio
Dune Synthesizer
Download Over 200 Free
Synapse Audio
Dune 2 and Dune 3
Synthesizer Patches and Presets
Click here to download over 200 FREE Synapse Audio
Dune 2 or Dune 3 synthesizer patches or presets.
NOTE: This synth patch download is slightly over 1 Meg in size.
Free Reverb Impulse Responses
Choose from hundreds available in
48K 24 bit WAV format
including new original reverbs.
Over 400 Guitar Isolation Booth Reverbs
Download over 400 Free Zystrix Original Reverb Impulse Responses,
and over 200 Free Zystrix Original BONUS Reverb Impulse Responses.
Download all the Alesis MIDIVerb 4 reverb impulse responses.
Download all the Lexicon MPX-1 reverb impulse responses.
Download all the Alesis Wedge reverb impulse responses.
Download over 50 Reverb Relics from the past.
Click here to download free reverb impulse responses.
Free Drum Samples
Only Available from Zystrix
Free Gong Samples and Sounds
Free Snare Drum Samples and Sounds
Free Bass Drum Samples and Sounds
Free Oriental Cymbal Samples and Sounds
Free Oriental Bells Samples and Sounds
The Ultimate Original Drum Sounds List
Download over 2000 original slammin’ rock bass drums.
Download original Gongs, Cymbals, Broken Cymbals, and Bells.
Download Over 200 Free Original Bass Drum Sounds and Samples.
Download over 200 Original Free snare drum sounds.
Click here to download Drum Kit Sounds.
Dangerous Neighbors
The SW Michigan Power Trio.
Free Rockin’ Music Downloads
The
music
for
the
next
book
will
be
out
in
2023.
Production
is
a
little
behind
but
there’s
a
sneak
peek
demo
of
how
it’s
supposed
to
go
for
the
first
tune
on
the
album.
This
tune
is
called
Sting
of
Death
and
it’s
the
backing
music
for
the
first
chapter.
Click here to download recent Dangerous Neighbors.
Download
tunes
from
the
80s
to
today.
Use
the
special
codes
on
the
Embalmed
for
Life
page
(see
the
DOWNLOAD
FREE
AUDIO
BOOKS
link
below)
and
get
free downloads for the complete album and the free horror audio book
The Fluid - Embalmed for Life.
Click here to download various music from Dangerous Neighbors.
Download Free Synth Samples for
Intros, Interludes, and Endings
Listen to example #01 by clicking here (MP3 Sample)
Download FREE professional quality stereo sample packs that slowly
evolve over time. All samples are in 48K 24 bit WAV format and are
about 20 seconds long or more. If you like suspense, psycho, outer
space, or terror then this collection is for you. These range from
paranoia to sci-fi, cinematic gore to strange industrial horror, and creepy
creatures to insane laboratories.
Click here to download all the synth Intros, Interludes, and Endings.
DOWNLOAD FREE
AUDIO BOOKS
The Fluid, Embalmed for Life
There are Free Audio Book codes for Audible downloads (must sign up).
There are also free sample downloads of the book reading.
There are free downloads of music samples.
There is a free “Look Inside” download of the paperback.
There is a free glossary of the largest list of mortuary slang in the world.
The Free Dangerous Neighbors Album The Fluid, Embalmed for Life comes
included as part of the audio book and parts are available here as a free
download.
The paperback book is available for sale at Amazon dot com. I have no control
over these sales; because of the Amazon agreement I cannot offer complete
paperback or complete audio books here. I’m sorry for any inconvenience.
Click here for free audio books,
book reading samples, music samples, etc.
NEW RULES NOTICE -- What Zystrix does with your download information…
Take me back to the top of the page.
What's new at Zystrix? Read on...
