How do you record your steel with Protools

Jamie Lennon · Post by **Jamie Lennon** » 5 Jan 2012 4:21 pm

I have just got protools se with fast track interface. Just curious of how you guys records, direct, mic'd ?

Thanks

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 6 Jan 2012 3:46 am

I've got Pro Tools (MP9) but still using Sonar.

Regardless of the DAW software the "best" way is to mic the speaker.

But, I've got good results using a POD XT with a preamp program I setup just for recording. I tracked a (Dylan) song for a studio in New Zealand and used that and they were impressed with it.

I record dry and add any effects during the mixdown.

mtulbert · Post by **mtulbert** » 6 Jan 2012 6:02 am

Jaime,

I record direct to pro tools from a Sarno Revelation. It works great and I am happy with the tone that I get using this setup.

Mickey Adams has been exploring Pro Tools as well and I believe he goes direct as well.

Hope this helps

Mark

Jonathan Lam · Post by **Jonathan Lam** » 6 Jan 2012 8:24 am

My Princeton and a sennheiser 609

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 Jan 2012 2:14 pm

There is no "best" way but rather the way that "works best" for each individual.

I prefer to record direct thru a tube preamp and an outboard compressor at home in my small studio.

Steel > V Pedal > Tube Preamp > Out Board Compressor > Pro-Tools

Recording Pedal Steel is an interesting deal as it requires appropriate volume pedal technique as you record so you don't saturate the recorder input but still achieve enough strong signal to work with.

I work now and then with 3 different studio's around town, sometimes we go direct sometimes we mic an amp, I guess it's a "moment" thing...

I have found that the outboard compressor on the front end with a minimal soft setting has really made my life better .

Good luck, PT is a fine package...

t

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 6 Jan 2012 7:31 pm

I mic my amp with a Shure SM-57 fed into a tube preamp then into a Zoom R24. I've tried direct recording with real smooth sound but a little too smooth for me. I like the sound of my amp setup and prefer to capture that with a mic.

Greg

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 8 Jan 2012 1:06 am

Hi, Jamie. I'm at Omnisound studio in Nashville this week recording a CD with the band Saint Francis and using the same recording path I often do, straight out of a Peavey TransTubeFex into their API board and straight to ProTools. I use the same rig in my home studio, it's very easy to dial in any EQ changes needed and to add/subtract reverb, delay or other ambience according to the producer's desires. I've miced many an amp rig and the preamp route generally does just as good a job for me, with much less hassle.

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 8 Jan 2012 2:18 am

Direct always.
Usually through the Boss GT10 into an analogue desk set flat, then via Delta 1010 into Pro Tools.
If I want the sound of an Amp and Mic, I can re-amp it later, but I like it as clean as possible on the hard drive.
Cheers
Dave

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 9 Jan 2012 1:24 am

Just try a bunch of different things and see what you like best

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 9 Jan 2012 5:22 pm

I like both...If it's the older stuff I mic my Evans re 200....but I also like my profex and Vamp in stereo direct in....It's pro tools Dude!!!!!! Lots of ways to make it sound good...LOL

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Jan 2012 5:53 pm

Tube filter, direct. Sometimes a Fender tweed Deluxe amp.

Jamie Lennon · Post by **Jamie Lennon** » 10 Jan 2012 6:29 am

Thanks !!!

Frederic Mabrut · Post by **Frederic Mabrut** » 14 Jan 2012 12:35 am

Hi Jamie,
I work professionally with protools for more than 10 years now. Here's my easiest recipe to set up:
I plug my Franklin in the transtubefex unit, selecting a the preset I use for recording (i.e no reverb or delay)et then go direct to the protools unit.
Since I use no compression at this stage, one must be very careful concerning the output level from the fex as well as the input level in the protools.

Ken Morgan · Post by **Ken Morgan** » 17 Jan 2012 10:09 am

I've had some success DI thru an ADesigns REDDI, with a great player and amp, put an old RCA ribbon in front of the amp, mic thru an Avedis MA5 (Neve 1073 clone) or API 312 into PT..

With this mic scheme, rarely if ever need EQ or compression.

Whip Lashaway · Post by **Whip Lashaway** » 17 Jan 2012 3:50 pm

I go direct. There is so much at your fingertips within PT's there is no need to mic an amp. But, as mentioned, play with it and see what trips your trigger! Good luck and Gos Bless. Whip

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 15 Aug 2012 1:13 pm

I always use pre-amp out on amp. I use the booster out on my LTD and I think line out on 112. Like much better than mike sound but to each his own. Seems to me, mikes lose that hiss sound that I like.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 22 Aug 2012 3:25 pm

I’ve had good luck going direct with a Nashville NV 112.

Steel > Black Box > Volume Pedal > NV 112 (No amp Reverb)

On the back of the NV 112 I have a Y chord plugged in the Pre – Amp Out. One Y goes dry to Pro Tools. The other Y goes into my stomp boxes and back into Power Amp In. So I’m sending dry to Pro Tools but hearing effects in the NV 112 speaker. I use plug-ins on the dry signal for the effects and additional channels if it needs to be “Stereo.” (Sometimes I mic the speaker and record it as an effects channel to bring in under the dry signal.)

So ultimately I can provide two versions: a dry signal plus a wet signal. The wet signal being what I think the effects should sound like in the context of the track. The NV 112 doesn’t sound bad direct. Someday – I'm going to try another speaker

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 15 Nov 2012 10:50 am

What do you all think of this signal path?

Steel > Sarno SGBB > L120 VP > Art tube MP >. MboxPro

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 15 Nov 2012 1:22 pm

Sounds like that would work great, Tom. Since this thread has been running I've gone back and forth between tracking real amps through ribbon mics, various studio preamps, and I'm still happy with a TranstubeFex direct, and most recently a Line 6 HD Pro.
One thing about ProTools- for those of us who came up with analog recording and trying to get the signal as hot as possible without overdriving the board or channel, you just don't need to do that in ProTools or most other DAWs. A solid signal in the middle of the volume range is fine, of course redlining in digital is ugly! But ProTools has various solutions for altering the volume after the fact including "gain" under audiosuite, output volume on whatever plugins used, or volume automation. Very easy to set your level just where you want it in the mix stage.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 15 Nov 2012 1:34 pm

Yes. That's why I didn't put an outboard compressor in that signal chain. Just doesn't seem as important as it used to be.

By the way, if you like T-Racks, Sweetwater has the 3 Standard on sale for $80.
List is $200

Phillip Broste · Post by **Phillip Broste** » 5 Jan 2013 11:05 pm

You guys have totally inspired me to experiment with a direct signal! Right now my setup looks like this:

Steel > Philosopher's Tone Germanium > volume pedal > Hardwire reverb > Ampeg Reverberocket > Shure KSM 32 about one inch back from the speaker grille

But I feel like I'm missing that smooth detail up in the highs that the classic country players have. I'm probably being limited by the voicing of the amp. I bet I could split a clean signal out after the volume pedal and go direct for a nice full range parallel track. Sure would be cheaper than buying a Peavey or a GK! Gonna try it tomorrow!

Sure am thankful to have such a wonderful resource out there for a noob like myself.

Jerry Kippola · Post by **Jerry Kippola** » 17 Jan 2013 9:14 pm

Demeter tube direct> urei BF 1176,

Steve Collins · Post by **Steve Collins** » 25 Jan 2013 11:11 am

Can anyone share experiences they have had with reamping their PSG signal?

Alex Cattaneo · Post by **Alex Cattaneo** » 25 Jan 2013 7:16 pm

If you have a Nashville 400, you can use the PRE AMP OUT in the back. The awesome thing about that is that you can play with any amount of reverb you like, but the reverb doesn't come out of that output. So you can play with a wet signal but a dry signal will be fed to your recording. So you get the benefits of direct recording and the comfort of using your amp and playing without headphones. Best of both worlds, really.

My chain looks like this:

Steel - Hilton VP - Nashville 400 - HHB tube preamp - Apogee Duet - Logic or Pro Tools

I do want to put together a totally direct set-up to record quietly, so next move will be a Lemay MK1 preamp or perhaps the new SMS tube preamp...

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 25 Jan 2013 9:14 pm

My favorites, for now!!
1; Stereo Steel Direct
2: Revelation Direct
3: Avalon Tube Preamp, M350 Processor
4: Evans FET 500, (Reverb Removed) Dual Mic'd SM58, and a condenser
I run all these into a Presonus Board....Great preamps in these units!!>.