Guitars thru scope?

Post by **irrelevance** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:00 am

I'm just wondering how many of us connect guitars directly into their creamware cards? I've thought about getting a DI box but not sure if it's worth the money as I'm not a player but like to use the guitar on occasion for effect.

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:04 pm

A DI should be essential for proper gain-staging and tonal-balance.

Post by **garyb** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:08 pm

a much better idea than a di would be a mic pre with a high impedance input. a guitar is mic level so to get a good sound, a mic pre is a good idea to get the signal to line level. the di is half of the equation. the di converts high impedance signals to low impedance, to drive a long distance or to go into a mic pre.

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:53 pm

Yes, that Is what I really meant.

I use a GT "The Brick" for this task.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:19 pm

I would strongly recomend you a JoeMeek VC3, it is cheap, extremely reliable, it sounds terrific and it is small. NOw, if you really want to get a something much more capable and flexible, then get the VC6Q for a few more dollars. It all depens on what you want to do with it.

Have a go here, good to get started with the VC3 or the Q version called VC3Q, both very good, the first without EQ, and the second with. If you can, get the Q version. Good luck

http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/ ... amp-1.html

http://www.proaudioreview.com/december0 ... -Web.shtml

http://www.joemeek.com/testimonials.html

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:56 am

Anyone in the market for a Mic pre to do this job really should check out the Focusrite Tone Factory as well.

They are very good.

<a href="http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun98/a ... html">Full SOS review of Tone Factory by Paul White</a>

[ This Message was edited by: Shroomz on 2006-04-10 04:26 ]

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:10 am

A few user reviews of the Focusrite at HC for anyone interested.
<a href="http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/ ... l">Harmony Central user reviews</a>

[ This Message was edited by: Shroomz on 2006-04-10 04:29 ]

Post by **irrelevance** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:54 am

Thanks for all the input guys.
I have mic pre's all over the place at the moment that are not used. I have my mackie desk pre's and a beringher A/D. So, if I just make up a cable with a 1/4" jack to XLR that would do the job?
The Joemeek stuff looks cool Nestor, but I would rather treat the sound within scope.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:34 am

The Focusrite isn't just a mic pre. It was designed for guitarists (or at least with guitarists heavily in mind) Building a cable will most certainly not do the same job, nor would the mackie or behringer pres you have. You'll get away with all sorts of workarounds at the end of the day though, so whatever you're happy with

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:09 am

a micpre will have the same problem as the card's input - it's low(!) impedance will significantly damp the guitars highs.
I've just verfied it (the obvious, though 10 KOhm isn't that low) with a passive Strat.
The level itself would even be acceptable, at least typical guitar amp sims add a lot more noise than Scope's input opamps

your micpre must have an 'instrument' or 'hi-z' switch, then it's perfect.
If none of your gear fits then the most cost effective solution would be to buy a cheapo FX pedal and set it to 'bypass' (in cases you don't want to record it's FX) - it will still do the impedance matching

cheers, tom

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:06 am

Including the petrol money to go pick it up in person, our Tone Factory only set me back £130. That's a pretty cost effective way of getting either guitar, bass, vocals, synths or drum sounds into your daw in a professional manner.

It's designed for many jobs with a swag of features making it definately worth a look. Output wise it sports both balanced XLR & unbalanced 1/4' sockets. It has separate inputs for instrument, mic & line, which you switch between on the front panel. There's lots more to tell but you'll get the jist if you read the SOS review. I'd say these are a real steal at their 2nd value. If money wasn't an issue I'd have 6 or 8 of these strips.

Counterparts · Post by **Counterparts** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:13 am

I usually either go

guitar->PSA-1->mixer->Scope

OR

guitar->PSA-1->tiny 1-valve mic pre->mixer->scope

I mute out my "live instruments" (guitar, bass etc.) channels on the mixer, which has the effect of putting them on the group bus, which I can then take as a separate balanced output into the Scope card's XLR inputs.

Seems to work OK

Post by **garyb** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:38 am

sure! but if you use the micpre, you don't need the mixer in the chain. nonessential electronics only add noise.

H-Rave · Post by **H-Rave** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:10 pm

I just come straight out of my Boss GT 6

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:59 pm

Yea, sure, you should always treat the sound within Scope, that way you’ll get the best of results. But the “raw” sound is also VERY important when recording audio signals, whichever the instrument. I too treat the sound within Scope, and by the way, for guitars and basses I use the Celmo’s plugins, the GAM and BAM respectively, with perfectly professional results, and more…

Shroomz is right, the Tone Factory from Focusrite is also great, it sounds very clean. I prefer the character of the JoeMeek, no doubt, it has a strong character if you want to. Tone Factory is somehow clearer, more transparent, but less inspiring as well; cool if you want to use it for voices.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:34 am

I have mic pre's all over the place at the moment that are not used...

all he needs is an impedance converter if none of the pres has an 'instrument' switch.
Either a stupid FET (transistor) stage or a wired transformer (which may be more tricky to identify as 'good')

on the other hand

...as I'm not a player but like to use the guitar on occasion for effect

just plug it in, it lacks some high details but you'll probably distort it anyway or apply other wierd stuff.

cheers, Tom

[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2006-04-11 01:43 ]

TimingLess · Post by **TimingLess** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:18 am

Hi guys

someone had experience with focusrite voicemaster???

katano · Post by **katano** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:06 am

I use a dbx 376. and spdif out to spdif in on my scope card...