Why does my [stereo] electric Guitar recording sound hollow?
I'm not sure if it's something in my setup, something I'm doing wrong or a general lack of knowledge, but I find that recording my electric Guitar->Amp(w/fx)->audio in Mono produces a much fuller, more pleasing sound than recording in stereo. Is this normal?
Equipment:
Les Paul special w/ new 10-52's
Line 6 Spider IV 15 15W Amp
MXL 910 Condenser Microphone w/ XLR to USB 3.0
1/4" audio to USB 3.0
Windows 10 PC w/ Propellerhead Reason 8.1 & ASIO4ALL sound drivers
Setups:
Guitar -> Amp -> Condenser Mic -> PC (Reason)
Guitar -> Amp (Audio out) -> 1/4" to PC (Reason)
Fx:
I typically play with drive, chorus and the "metal" or "insane" preset. My levels are roughly BASS 1.2, Mids 1, Treble 1.1 (where "1" is default level)
Audio Samples (full set @ Soundcloud):
Mono Sample @ Soundcloud
Stereo Sample @ Soundcloud
Note, these may not be the best samples since they're both exported with Fx. I will try to update later with new, clean recordings.
(3)3 Comments
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Your entire signal chain into the DAW is mono, so any stereo effect you're having is coming from the DAW itself. I would check that the DAW does not have any sort of phasing effects, chorus, modulation, etc on a single channel (or both, if you also have it on your amp) which could cause phase cancellation on your audio source when played back with both channels. This includes effects, subtle timing adjustments, etc.
A sound example would be helpful here.
In my opinion, you should record guitars always in mono, because mostly you will just have one mono signal (if you are working with one mic or a line in signal)
If you want to have stereo, which is recommended, record two different tracks and set them to your left and right channel with a bit of variation in your amp settings. That way it will sound much fuller, but it depends on your style of music you are recording.
For answering everything else regarding your tone, we would need to know your recording setup and some sound examples.
What device is indicated by 1/4" audio to USB 3.0? Do you have some kind of audio interface? That is almost definitely where your problem lies. Rarely do devices have 1/4" stereo inputs, but your Line 6 has a 1/4" stereo output.
You probably have to get a splitter cable that has a male 1/4" stereo (TRS) connector on one end, and then either two male 1/4" mono (TS) connectors on the other other or two mono RCA connectors on the other end.
If your 1/4" input is mono, then it is summing the left and right channels of the 1/4" stereo output, and the audio at that output wouldn't sound stereo at all if it were 100% correlated and in-phase. When the decorrelated audio is summed, some of it cancels, creating a filter (usually a comb filter) and causing the "hollow" sound.
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