The Steel Guitar Forum

This is my first post on this section of the forum. I admire the sound that Doug's lap steels produce on his YouTube videos. It is my opinion that Doug is certainly one the finest lap steel players alive today! When he is asked about amplification, he states that he plays directly into the computer with only a bit of delay and reverb. And yet his sound is so very high quality, and it seems to me that his sound is unique to him. Frankly, I have never heard a higher quality recorded sound from anyone playing lap steel, and I wish he would offer a course in steel guitar recording so I could learn how he produces the sound that he gets. Have these thoughts occurred to anyone else besides myself? He has thousands of followers on YouTube and I am one of them. Maybe this section of the forum will have some recording experts that can analyze his sound and give some hints at how he is accomplishing such polished results! Thank you for considering this!

Hi John, thanks for posting this. I do play through an amp, but I don't mic the amp. I record the signal direct from the amp to the computer.

Here's the chain: steel guitar --> black box (tube filter) --> Amp (Quilter Tone Block 202 head) --> Hilton volume pedal --> into computer with Audacity recording software. I monitor through a pair of powered speakers on the computer.

Lately I've been using the reverb in the Quilter head and adding a bit of delay in the Audacity program. In the past I used a Holy Grail Plus reverb and a Boss DD6 stomp box.

My recording setup is very basic and I'm certainly not an expert when it comes to recording. But I've spent a lot of time in recording studios over the years and picked up a few things. Keep in mind that as a steel guitarist, I tend to mix the steel way out front! And lately I've been putting more time and attention into the backing tracks, which I make myself. I'm constantly trying to improve on that. Thanks for your kind comments.

Thank you for responding Doug! Great hearing directly from the horses' mouth. Lol. Okay, your technique has evolved through the years. You are now using somewhat expensive tools. However, I am not sure I detect that much difference from your earlier more simple approach. I think that you are quite skilled in mixing techniques, a skill that I am trying to get better at. Sound engineering is not a simple science. But I will continue my quest and will continue to use your videos as a standard in my quest. Again thanks and keep up the great work!!!

Face it, fellow steelers---Doug Beaumier could make a diddley bow sound great!

Doug - what do you use for your backing tracks that you say you make yourself - BIAB? Some other software? Or do you play the other instruments yourself?

After not bothering for a while (too busy), I'm not looking to make some backing tracks myself. I can upgrade my nearly 10 year old BIAB program for $79 - may do that. I'm considering options, though.

Douglas, I use BIAB for bass and drums only. I make a wav (or two separate wavs) of bass and drums and import them into the recording program (Audacity). Then I add (I play) three or four guitar tracks, sometimes uke. By the way, I’m still using BIAB 2008. Lately I’ve been adding some additional drum samples to my tracks. I have a very basic recording setup and I know I’m way behind in the technology, but it works for me. My YouTube channel is getting 50,000 views per day, 31 million total, 80,000 subscribers, so I must be doing Something right!

Doug, it's hard to hide great talent with limited equipment. I love what you do and hope you continue. Thanks for sharing great music and you talent.

Thanks Larry!

Doug, I want you to know how much I appreciate the videos you put out. I have watched them over and over. Most mornings I turn YouTube on my TV for a while, and your videos are playing almost every day.

Thank you

Thanks Doug, I'm glad you like my videos.