Getting a good sound from a guitar amp simulation isn’t always easy — let’s face it.
This is probably what leads many people to say it’s better to invest in a real amp rather than waste time with software.
However, this requires having a room with good acoustics and microphones suitable for recording electric guitar – which is not within everyone’s budget.
That said, it is true that even with a very good amp simulation plugin, the sound can have various types of flaws:
- too much bass;
- too recessed in the mix;
- not realistic enough, a bit “digital”;
- not enough cohesion or precision.
…unless you use the right mixing techniques. 🙂
In this case, your guitar tracks can sound like they are coming from real amps.
Here’s a selection of some tips that I regularly use and that will help you make your electric guitars more realistic.
Use Better Impulses
When you record a guitar, at least 50% of the sound depends on the cabinet used (cabinet in English).
For example, you won’t get the same sound from a 1×12 cabinet from Fender or a 4×12 from Marshall or Orange.
If you’re not convinced, here’s a quick sound example:
Choosing a good cabinet simulation is just as important as choosing a good amp plugin, as it will shape your sound.
Plugins use what are called impulses, or IRs or impulse responses. These are simply recordings of specific signals passing through a cabinet and captured with a given microphone.
If you use a low-quality impulse, no matter how many effects you apply: you will never achieve a “pro” sound.
So take the time to select a quality cabinet impulse that matches the tone you are looking for.
Mix Microphones and Impulses
Often, you’ll find that the sound of a single cabinet recorded with a single microphone isn’t enough. It’s too warm, too bright, not balanced enough, etc.
In fact, this is true for both “real” cabinets and simulations using impulses.
A possible solution is to mix two impulses whose sounds are complementary. For example, an impulse recorded with a dynamic microphone, very close to the speaker, and another recorded with a ribbon microphone from a more distant position.
By combining them, you will achieve a richer, more constructed sound. Deeper.
Thus, you can vary, depending on the impulses available to you:
- the cabinet itself;
- the type of speaker;
- the microphone used;
- the position of the microphone relative to the speaker cone.
Note: if you mix two impulses, ensure that they are in phase; otherwise, you may notice a lack of power and lose the benefits of mixing two IRs.
Adjust the Gain Staging
Amp simulations do not react the same way depending on the input level of the sound.
Typically, the stronger the signal, the more pronounced the distortion will be since the virtual circuit saturates more quickly. In other words, the simulated tubes or transistors in the plugin are more stressed.
So make sure to set your levels correctly from the start — this is part of what is called gain staging.
Note that many plugins offer level adjustments for input and output.
Use an Overdrive
In the same vein: we regularly need a sound that is sharper and more coherent than what an amplifier alone can provide.
This is particularly true for anything rock/hard rock/metal, where a precise sound is essential for the guitar to find its place in an already complex mix.
Guitarists then use an overdrive (such as the Ibanez Tube Screamer) to boost their sound level and saturate their amplifier more quickly.
The same technique can of course be applied in your DAW: insert a plugin simulating an overdrive pedal (like the Mercuriall TSC, free) before your amp simulation.
You will then feel your amp come to life and become more incisive! 🙂
Use an EQ
To achieve a realistic guitar amp sound using plugins, it is important to take the time to properly equalize your tracks.
Start by cutting some lows using a high-pass filter: it is the role of the bass guitar to be present in these frequencies.
Then, attenuate the fizz, that high-pitched crackling that amplifiers sometimes generate, with a low-pass or a high-shelf filter.
Finally, if you notice any particular resonances in your sound that seem bothersome, do not hesitate to minimize them through surgical equalization, focused on the problematic frequencies.
With these adjustments, you will gain clarity and your guitar will have a more natural sound.
Add Saturation
Surprising as advice, isn’t it?
Adding saturation to an already saturating amp?
Yet, if done subtly, it can make your sound significantly more realistic.
Indeed, if amp simulations are sometimes considered unrealistic, it may be because they are not always comprehensive. Thus, some only emulate the preamp stage of amplifiers, and not the power amplifier part.
As a result, adding a bit of saturation makes perfect sense.
For example, use tape saturation such as Overloud Tapedesk or one of the many other saturation plugins available.
You will see, this method will really bring a new dimension to your sound and your mixes.
And you?
What are your tips for improving your guitar amp simulations?
Leave a comment below to share them. 🙂