Guitar re-amping

We all know that a great advantage of digital recording is the ability to keep our options open and delay making technical and artistic decisions until the last moment.

With unlimited tracks, and MIDI and software instruments running live we can leave it until the last moment before deciding what sounds, performances and effects will make it to the final mix.

With the advent of software like Melodyne and Logic's Flex time and pitch algorithms, we can even change the melody lines sung by singers or played by acoustic instruments.

One instrument, however, differs from all others. The tone of an electric guitar is primarily created with a combination of player technique, instrument and amplifier/cabinet. But what if we want the option of changing the tone after recording the performance? This requires recording the direct pickup output (a so called DI signal) from the guitar, and there are many channel strips and audio interfaces that provide a suitable DI input, and then later sending the recording through some amp simulation software plug-ins.

But many players rely on the responsiveness and vibe of the sound coming from their amplifier to create a great performance. You will be aware that valve guitar amplifiers respond to playing technique to give players an extra dimension.

This is easily solved by connecting the guitar to a DI box which copies the signal. One copy is converted to a mic level signal suitable for a mic pre-amp and which once converted to line level can then be sent to a DAW, whilst the other is passed to a Link or Thru output and hence back to the performers amplifier.

This video explains the process .. http://www.projectstudiohandbook.com/videos/playlists/audio-interconnection/signal-paths-from-guitar-to-DAW/signal-paths-from-guitar-to-DAW-video.html

Using a mic on the guitar speaker it's possible to simultaneously record both the sound from the amplifier and from the guitars pickup (the DI signal).

What, however, if we want to send the recorded line level signal from your DAW back to the amplifier, and then record the tone with a mic? This process is called re-amping and requires that the line level signal is converted back into a guitar pickup signal, which has a different level and impedance.

The solution is a simple re-amping box. These boxes simply convert line level signals to guitar level signals suitable for an amplifiers guitar input circutary. So now we can even delay deciding on the exact guitar tone until the mix.

It is not the policy of Project Studio Handbook to endorse any specific products but John Godsland's hand built interconnection products are so good and so inexpensive we can't resist. The Orchid Electronics Amp Interface box is a no-brainer.

We can of course also use a re-amping box to send any recorded or line level signal to a guitar amplifier, allowing us to process synths, acoustic instruments and vocals too. Suddenly a whole new area of sonic experimentation is available.

Thanks for reading and watching
FairFax