Setting up my guitar and bass DI channel strip (pics inside)

[Plenum n Heather]

I spent a fair amount of time this morning dialing in the DI channel strip for my next album. This will be the first time I am going to attempt using DI/reamped guitars exclusively on an album. My main channel strip is an SSL Alpha Channel. Compressors is an ooold 2 channel Made In Germany Behringer optical comp based off of the dbx.

Signal chain is:

GUITAR/BASS > input on SSL Alpha Channel (Hi Z, pad on) > SSL insert Send to Compressor 1 (2:1; 6dB GR, 3dB makeup gain) > out of Compresor 1 into Compressor 2 (4:1; 6dB GR, 3dB makeup gain) > SSL insert Return > Analogue Out > DAW avg -12dBU input

I am running the insert summed with the direct signal (adds a touch of noise, but also cuts off some of the "klang" from the comps. Rolled off some high freqs, added a bit of mids to taste, added low freqs for bass guitar (doesn't seem to affect DI guitar at all).

It sounds VERY good!

[blue]

sounds interesting, certainly be interested to see how you feel about the D.I. approach when it's finished.  Is this a new project?  Did you finish the Phantom Isle project?  I was looking forward to getting a hold of that

I was actually just listening to your Twilight Odyssey cd a few days ago!  great stuff :)

[JJretroTONEGOD]

nice SSL! I bet that cost a fair bit of money but it should sound decent, I remember when behringer was made in germany too, when they were actually quite good.

[Plenum n Heather]

sounds interesting, certainly be interested to see how you feel about the D.I. approach when it's finished.

Will do! I ran a whole mess of tests before choosing this option and it's the best way to get the quality control I want for the guitar tones. It will definitely be my most 'guitar tones' album yet.

  Is this a new project?

Yep, this is a studio-only (at the moment) progressive rock project; first release will be a single 45+ minute long track. I will be posting more as things develop. Just finished the drums and will start the guitar tracks soon. This one is a bit different in that I wrote the piece with Luigi (the drummer from PI) providing live drums and fleshed the ideas out based on our jams, but am recording using Steven Slate drums using Luigi's live drums from our jams as a guide.

Did you finish the Phantom Isle project?  I was looking forward to getting a hold of that

I did, indeed. Just waiting on approval for the last mix and then it goes off to the rest of the band for mastering and release ... in theory. I had a little bit of a falling out with the band so once the mixes are completed and handed over, they plan to continue PI without my services and input.

I will definitely be posting when the album is released, however!

I was actually just listening to your Twilight Odyssey cd a few days ago!  great stuff :)

Thanks for the kind words! I've not listened to that album in ages ... I would probably cringe if I heard it now!

[Plenum n Heather]

nice SSL!

Thanks!

I bet that cost a fair bit of money

It did :)

but it should sound decent, I remember when behringer was made in germany too, when they were actually quite good.

The SSL is superb if you want REALLY big sounding tracks. It's great at creating huge guitar tones.

[Oli]

A very nice setup is to use the SSL X-Rack, with the mic/line input module, silver compressor module and the black eq.... I've had di bass tones that haven't had any work after... The alpha channel is a good all in one solution though :)

[Plenum n Heather]

It's funny you should say that because I was thinking something similar yesterday; the only benefit from reamping would be to add a mic'd bass tone and blend it in. I don't think it needs much in the way of improvement at all! The guitar DI sounds great, too.

I've looked into the X-Rack and it's great, but now that SSL is making 500 Series modules, it doesn't necessitate buying the proprietary modules.