OLP's recording methods w/ Bob Rock

Mark Loj · Post by **Mark Loj** » 3/17/2004, 1:11 pm

From the voxamps.com website:

My first recording tip revolves around recording multiple amps. I usually use anywhere from two to five amps at once when recording, and that really thickens up the overall guitar sound. The different sounds of each amp lend themselves to a really rich, thick rhythm guitar sound. Here’s a scenario that I used when recording with Our Lady Peace.

As usual, I relied on one of my old favorites: the VOX AC30TB top boost. The amp is a tried and true favorite of mine. It always sounds great! I usually mic it up with a Shure SM57. I dial in a decent tone (very slightly overdriven, just a hint of dirt) with the AC30 and move on to the next amp. Keep in mind if you have two Valvetronix amps, you could dial in the AC30TB model on the first amp!

In this case with Our Lady Peace, I then brought out my VOX Valvetronix AD120VTH head and AD412 cab and also mic’ed it with an SM57. I love this amp! It has every great amp sound and effect all built into one box. To contrast the lightly overdriven sound of the AC30TB, I selected the “Recto” amp model on the AD120VTH. The modern, hi-gain sound of the Recto model mated up well with the jangly, lightly overdriven sound of the AC30TB.

I find that when recording rhythm guitars, the sound tends to get a bit too saturated distortion wise. It makes the tone a little muddy. So, once I dialed in a cool sound with the Recto setting, I took the guitar and unplugged it from the HIGH input (high gain) and plugged it into the LOW input (low gain). Plugging into the LOW input helped to give a bit more clarity and reduce the saturation while retaining the overall tone that I was going for. This is great when recording distorted rhythm guitars.

Another way to do it is to record one pass of the guitar part with the guitar plugged into the HIGH input and again through the LOW input. Then you can mix them both together to your liking for better articulation. For added thickness when using the Recto model, try adding a little delay. It thickened up the sound of the Recto program even more!

From there, a whole spectrum of sounds is available to you with the Valvetronix. There are so many combinations to work with! The combination of the AC30TB’s sparkle and jangliness combined with the girth and gain of the Recto model gave me a killer rhythm sound. I highly recommend trying this out. Next time, we’ll talk about the VOX Valvetronix ToneLab. I’ve just started using it in the studio and it sounds killer! Until next time…

Bob Rock

Neil · Post by **Neil** » 3/17/2004, 1:20 pm

Wow.....sorry Bobby but I don't know SHIT about what you said.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 3/17/2004, 11:39 pm

Sounds like he wanted OLP to record his way.

Brooklin Matt · Post by **Brooklin Matt** » 3/18/2004, 4:21 am

or maybe they saw eye to eye...............I'm sure Raine wouldn't let Bob record something that he thought sounded like shit. It just seems natural that they would probably share the same views on the actual recording technique.

Bob better know his shit about amps.........I'm gonna give him some serious frownage if it doesn't sound good. :uh:

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 3/18/2004, 9:12 am

It should be obvious that Bob does know his shit about ams.

When OLp first recorded with him, didn't he tell them to leave their gear at home?

Joe Cooler · Post by **Joe Cooler** » 3/18/2004, 9:58 am

Yes he did. He told them to bring a pair of drum sticks and nothing else.

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 3/18/2004, 12:54 pm

You guys do realize that Bob Rock's recorded with like a gazillion other people, and definitely does know his stuff, right? :lol:

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 3/18/2004, 12:55 pm

Oh, and Neil... change your hosting site for your pictures. It keeps asking for a login, and it's really irritating.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 3/18/2004, 12:58 pm

Of course I realize that. I'm not a good musician if I don't. Silly

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 3/18/2004, 1:08 pm

nikki4982 wrote:Oh, and Neil... change your hosting site for your pictures. It keeps asking for a login, and it's really irritating.

haha, i was wondering why it kept asking me to login

xoNoDoubt69 · Post by **xoNoDoubt69** » 3/18/2004, 1:13 pm

haha i was wondering that too! I thought i had a virus or something :freak:

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 3/18/2004, 1:25 pm

*hopes he comes on and changes it soon* So... annoying... *essplodes*

clumsychild_ · Post by **clumsychild_** » 3/18/2004, 1:31 pm

Long Jon wrote:
nikki4982 wrote:Oh, and Neil... change your hosting site for your pictures. It keeps asking for a login, and it's really irritating.

haha, i was wondering why it kept asking me to login

Ahh.. and I thought it was only me.

trentm32 · Post by **trentm32** » 3/18/2004, 3:18 pm

clumsychild_ wrote:
Long Jon wrote:
nikki4982 wrote:Oh, and Neil... change your hosting site for your pictures. It keeps asking for a login, and it's really irritating.

haha, i was wondering why it kept asking me to login

Ahh.. and I thought it was only me.

Me too, I thought I was special. :cry:

Random Name · Post by **Random Name** » 3/18/2004, 3:27 pm

NO ONE IS SPECIAL!!! :evil:

!!!!

trentm32 · Post by **trentm32** » 3/18/2004, 3:28 pm

^ has had waaaaaaaay too much coffee.

Waiting to Exist · Post by **Waiting to Exist** » 3/18/2004, 3:32 pm

nikki4982 wrote:You guys do realize that Bob Rock's recorded with like a gazillion other people, and definitely does know his stuff, right?

I'm sure he's quite knowledgable about what is good, or at least crowd-pleasing, but that's sort of what worries me, especially after Gravity. I love Gravity, but as a general rock album, not as an OLP album, if that makes any sense. I'm just worried that his working with other bands will turn OLP into... well, one of those other bands.

Even so, you can bet I'll be first in line for the new album

WTE

Neil · Post by **Neil** » 3/18/2004, 3:43 pm

Which picture are ya'll talkin about??? My avatar one.....I'm assuming? :lol:

since its gone, somebody listened.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 3/18/2004, 3:51 pm

It has never asked me to login 8-)

xoNoDoubt69 · Post by **xoNoDoubt69** » 3/18/2004, 3:51 pm

ahhh it's still there *implodes*