Re-Amping Guitars and Getting Great Tones
Can you share some useful tips to achieve great tones while re-amping guitars?
Every guitarist knows that the real beauty of their art is in the tones. Depending on your sound requirements, getting that perfect tone can sometimes seem almost impossible. One technique that can give you the flexibility you need to shape your guitar sound is re-amping.
What is Re-Amping?
Re-amping is a process in which a recorded guitar track is played back and sent through an amplifier again to enhance its tone. The significant advantage of re-amping is that it allows you to experiment with different tonal influences without needing to re-record the entire guitar track.
How does re-amping work?
To re-amp a guitar tone, you will need a recorded “dry” guitar track, an amplifier, a re-amping box, and a microphone. In its most basic form, this signal chain would look as follows:
- The recorded guitar track is played back from your digital audio workstation (DAW) or similar device.
- This signal is sent to a re-amping box, which properly matches the level and impedance of the signal to the input requirements of your amplifier.
- The re-amped signal is played through the amplifier, and the sound is then captured by a microphone.
- The microphone’s output is then recorded back into your DAW or recording device, thereby giving you a new guitar tone influenced by the amplifier and microphone combination.
Getting Great Tones
Now the question is, how do you use re-amping to get great tones? Here are some tips to guide you:
1. Experiment with Amp Settings
Try tweaking various knobs on the amp to get the desired tone.
2. Change the position of the microphone
A small adjustment to the position of the microphone can drastically change the tone.
3. Use Different Amplifiers
Different amps have different tonal characteristics.
4. Use Effects Pedals
Try sending the signal through a stomp box or effects rack before re-amping.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the most important element of perfecting your guitar tone is experimentation. With careful application of technique and a bit of creativity, re-amping can truly elevate your sound to new levels. So, get out there and start experimenting!