How to Record Amplified Harmonica
Hi David. I have two questions:
1. How do you record the study songs? What amp(s), mics, software, etc? How do you place the mic(s)? Do you record with your Dan-Echo plugged into your amp, and/or add reverb or delay effects using software? Do you eq the harp track with the recording software? Add compression, other effects?
2. I'm guessing your recording setup is more sophisticated than what most of us can manage (although I'm still curious). Can you boil it down to a simple recipe using basic equipment? For example, I use an SM57 into an analog to digital converter box (an "apogee one") into GarageBand on my mac. I'm guessing that or something similar is a common setup for many of us. How should I place the mic, what garageband effects if any should I use, etc?
I'm looking for advise on recording amplified harp with a jam track, as we do with study song submissions or contest entries.
Thanks,
Steve
Good info, thanks David! I'll check out the lesson and interview.
You mentioned you add a little reverb and a second delay. Are those pedals, or Pro Tools effects? What settings?
When you say you eq the amp, you mean in Pro Tools right? Just out of curiosity, what amp do you use for recording?
Thanks again,
Steve
Sure. I use the Dan Echo delay pedal with my amp... info in Equipment section of site on my settings for the Dan Echo.
I use the MegaTone ME18 for recording... I get the best sound with this amp.
The EQ, reverb and delay is in ProTools... of which the setting are specific to the plugins I use, so will not really be helpful unless you have the same plugins. The EQ is specific to your mic, amp, recording and you... so that's a very individual thing. The key thing is to experiment.
Thanks David. I'm still looking for the "Rod Piazza" plugin for GarageBand but I haven't found it yet. I'll keep looking. ;)
I really admire the sound you get on your recordings - but that may have something to do with lots of practice! There ain't no plugin for that.
I use a very basic setup... anyone can do this at home. Shure SM57 in front of my amp... 1" away from the speaker and 1" in from the rim of the speaker. I then run it into a digital converter before it runs into my computer (Digi 002) which connects via firewire. I use Pro Tools LE (the cheaper "light" version). I import the jam track into one track... setup a new track for my harp... setup a master track to use as a master volume. I do record with my Dan Echo plugged into my amp and generally also add a little bit of reverb, and a second delay... EQ the amp (generally adding more treble) and no compression or gates. When it's all done, I export it to a .wav file and then .mp3 for you guys.
You would use the exactly the same setup with your Mac with Garage Band, though a USB microphone would circumvent having to use a unit like the Digi (or you could use your built in microphone and headphones for a basic recording). There's a lesson on recording with Garage Band in the Equipment lessons. I show the very basics in there.
Also, Joe Tartaglia's Lesson 25 I show you how we record.
And one more thing... watch Scott Dirk's interview where we talk about recording... most specifically mic placement.