Do You Really Need a Reamp Box to Reamp Guitar?

Check out amazing free plugins - Free PDF guide: www.creativesoundlab.tv/free-...
FREE RAW Tracks - Mix & Share: www.creativesoundlab.tv/monta...
Padded cable shown here: p6jXZFUBS9...
I've been asked and challenged in my other videos that you really don't NEED a reamp box in order to reamp guitar. This video shows you the results that you will get and let's you decide for you own if you really should get a reamp box or plug your line output strait into your guitar amp! (That's not what your suppose to do, but this video shows what it sounds like)
I was personally surprised how well the JDI worked when using the padded XLR cable. Placing the pad after your digital interface allows you to run a hotter signal out of the recording interface, thus giving you a little better resolution and less noise. The padded cable allows you to not overload the transformer during the process (Which is really only designed to take lower signals).
I used the padded cable only, and did not use the on board pad that the JDI has. This was to proove that any passive DI box would work in the same way, and that I'm not endorsing that you must go buy the exact gear that I use to use the technique.
I also was surprised that there was a difference in noise floor from the two adapters. You can hear the difference in the first example of just the noise floor with no track playing.
All of the DI options checked out to be the same output at the amp, using a dB meter. I used a test tone about a foot out from the amp, and they all measured to be right at 118 dB. This is how I got my figures for how much I needed to attenuate the signal in the DAW. I understand that the impedance might have played a role and a more accurate way to measure output would have been to measure the voltage on the guitar cable itself rather than plugging it into a guitar amp. But regardless, the amp is matched very close, and after all you should understand how to adjust the volume to level match anyway.
All the DI boxes are passive, and the reamp box is passive as well.

[@creativesoundlab]

Download all 8 years of free downloads for Creative Sound Lab: www.creativesoundlab.tv/alldownloads

[@neodental7312]

Dude. You're killing it! Love your videos. Great, great ideas and techniques. Keep 'em coming. Cheers. Steve.

[@mhaines91]

One of the best explanations out there imho

[@stevemountford3707]

Another simple option is to use a reverse DI and - assuming you have one lying around - a passive volume pedal to drop the level. Not perfect but better than dropping the output gain on the interface.

[@picnicpointopenmic572]

Another well explained subject that I know know little or none of.. Thanks for putting this up.

[@vicdmise]

An important factor you neglected to mention is impedance (the reason for that attenuation you mentioned.) It's not just a matter of level; a DI box can be used to reamp out of a DAW, but on the average a DI will put out between 20k-200k ohm impedance into an amp (a far lower load than what an amp wants to see.) The amp will accept that, and it'll sound ok once you attenuate to a lower level, but a guitar will put out 500k-1M ohm impedance and an amp will be MUCH happier seeing that and will react like what it's hearing is directly out of a guitar. A good reamping box will put out that much impedance and levels (and more importantly, feel and tone) will match better.

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah that's a great point. Many commenting have said they prefer the sound of the reamp box. I actually have gotten another one since the filming of this video.

[@alsmoviebarn]

Impedance doesn't work that way. If the input impedance (Z) is higher than the output impedance it's fine, it only has issues when it's the other way around. Lower input Z draws more power, so if the output device cannot supply that higher power the voltage drops and causes a bad sound, but if the input Z is higher than the supplying device's output Z it just draws less power and doesn't make any difference. Think plugging an amplifier output (through a pad) into a line input channel (input Z is higher), vs plugging a line output directly into a speaker (input Z is lower). One will work, one will not.

[@AudioEcstasyProd]

Really enjoy your videos. Much different than some of the other channels, great info!

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks!

[@studio83soundwerkstatt47]

Man, thanks a lot for this examples and the explanations on these various reamping-possibilities. This is exactly what I was searching today!

[@creativesoundlab]

+studio83 soundwerkstatt Thanks!

[@poweredbyWatts]

Finally! Thank you so much for this video. It was more than just a "right" answer. It gave the experience of seeing different options that aren't readily available to me and provided options instead of just "do it this way". You are the man Ryan!

[@creativesoundlab]

Rick Guerra Thanks Rick! yeah the noise of each method was really interesting. I liked the DI box with the Padded cable if I didn't have access to a reamp box.

[@poweredbyWatts]

I honestly, liked the grit of coming straight out of the interface, for the right circumstance. Thanks for going through as many options as you could think of : it really opened my mind to other methods I hadn't thought of.

[@charlesandrewmoore8699]

@@poweredbyWatts Yep def nice when someone does an example experiment for you to give a good idea of possible results w your own applicaiton. Cheers to @creativesoundlab!

[@demagmusic]

I've been running my passive DOD-260's frontwards and backwards for years. Nice to see a comparison to a real reamp DI.

[@preciseaudioblog]

Such a greta video! Thank you so much! Subscribed!

[@qingli2324]

Thank u so much! I had JDI box and was thinking whether to buy a new reamp box. That`s really helps a lot!!!:D

[@creativesoundlab]

+Qing Li Yeah, I still like my reamp box, but this experiment surprised even me! That's half of why I do them!

[@Stourbridgestudios]

I've generally found a passive DI box in reverse with ground lift and a -20db attenuation does the job.

[@dramius]

Good stuff man. Ive always relied on trying to get your guitar amped & micd right, & just going with it. Well, thats nice, but you can sure make life easier & possibly better sounding by just making yourself a reamp track!

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, it's great to have a reamp track if you need it.

[@Butophane]

I was convinced I needed a reamp box, so I got myself a DIYRE L2A. I plugged my guitar straight into my interface, and recorded a guitar part in my DAW. This recording was to be reamped. Next, I wanted to test the reamp box, so I did 3 tests: 1: 1/4 inch straight from my interface into the amp, no attenuation on output signal. 2: cable to a splitter with isolated output, and from there into the amp, again no attenuation on output signal. 3: cable to reamp box, 1/4 inch from reamp box to amp. No attenuation. I recorded all 3 in exactly the same way. The result: 1: perfectly fine, just a little bit of hiss. 2: perfectly fine as well, a bit less gain though, and because of that, also less hiss. 3: too much gain, it chokes the amp with bass, also a lot of hiss. I checked the Ground Lift switch too. With some attenuation to get the same amount of gain as in test 1, the hiss was the same as in test 1. What is this?! Why is a reamp box redundant for me?! I don't get it at all! Do you know how this could happen? Best Regards,

[@josephbrandenburg4373]

Does your interface have an unbalanced out? That does the same thing as a re-amp as far as I know.

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

@@josephbrandenburg4373 depends if it is 'hi-z' guitar output or 'consumer line' recording output RCA etc

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

Worth noting, I was advised that if you are wanting to not potentially lose a little high end when re-amping, to use an active reamper as opposed to a passive - I think for guitar probably not a huge deal but since I am using re-amper for electronic music to process through analog gear, so crispy drums are important etc. Also, if anyone ends up getting a Xone 96, you don't need a reamper anymore - the mixer has a hi-z output! However you could still benefit from using a re-amper if wanting to run DAW interface direct (avoiding mixer in the chain on the way out).

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Nice video. Thanks for doing this. I never come out of the box, once in. To me it just doesn’t make sense with the quality of plugin FX these days. However, I’m a synth player, and of course I love guitar pedals. Synths spit HOT signals. Often even so-called “line level” pedals will clip easily. The reamp pedal takes away the guess work, or the worry. A lot of synth dorks say, “just turn the volume of the synth down”. This does not account for impedance mismatch however. Its all about making the best possible recordings. If you have a $3,000 signal chain (synth + 2 pedals) squeezing in a $79 pedal to maximize quality is no big deal. Also, not all line level pedals are created equal. The is pro-audio line level which is +4dBu at the input, but there is also consumer level which is -4dBu allowable. Strymon El Capistan is +3dBu and clips quite easily on a bass patch for instance. You really need to refer to the manual or contact the manufacturer to find out what signal is allowable.

[@stenbjorklund461]

Interesting. Good vid. I've reamped from my DAW through Mackie mixer send (adjusting send level for right gain) to amp and back to DAW. No noise, no frequency loss. Can't tell original and reamped apart with identical amp settings. Maybe just a lucky combination.

[@TheOklep]

I know some of these words!

[@TinoSchulz1990]

Most silly idea ever: Ignore the hum when going straight out of the interface > Record > record a potion of the hum on a 2nd track > phase-invert the hum-track > should be noiseless then. The resulting guitar-track might sound like sh*t after that, but i think i might give this a try. Just to test it :D

[@Barefoot67]

I'll call NASA and have them come by and set things up for me...

[@markitux]

well, i think they will send you a fake video of the process and a bunch of blurred pictures for details, hahaha

[@scottnelle]

This video could have been just the audio samples and then Ryan saying "Yes," but the additional explanation is appreciated. :D

[@mbareCT666]

Thanks a lot for this brilliant video!

[@creativesoundlab]

+Nick Ferrenti Sure thing!

[@franciscodiaz2730]

thank you so much mr Vinnie Paul

[@jonshearsmith8649]

Thanks, Ryan!

[@ashergregory2013]

In this example i preferred the Di with the padded cable! I felt there was a bit more upper mid range present which benefited the recording. However despite the noise floor being reasonable, i wonder if this is will be blown out in higher gain situations... me thinky is where the re-amp box shines

[@fabriziocroce3242]

I don't know if this can help someone. Yesterday, after watching your video I've tried to find a solution before buying a reamp box. I took an output from the rear panet of my Fostex PH-50 headphone distributor, the left channel, that says "Cascade-10db". It worked, the signal is clear, strong enough and completely free of noise. I've play it back in solo, recorded to another track and it's a new world, a step up in the quality of my home studio. I've tried also the acoustic guitar revamped in the acoustic amp with the same good results. Thanks for the advices!

[@akela1]

awwww snap that bit talk makes sence! and i just ordered an di to use for reamp -.- damn

[@TrueDeva]

Great video! It just got me thinking: The noise floor, effects the overall dynamics of the track and also how well you hear certain frequencies due to it's masking effect. If is noise is present the dynamic range shinks (duh!), but "fletcher-munson" works differently, hence you get an "unpleasant tone" simply put.

[@jorgepeterbarton]

sometimes it works complementary though. I've heard of a a few producers mix in some tape hiss. I've even heard of one modern composer who would write music at the piano next to a detuned radio, because the masking effect brought out all the interesting harmonics.

[@snabelsnas]

Very useful video!

[@creativesoundlab]

+snabelsnas Thanks!

[@LasseHuhtala]

I went through all of these trials too, before I doshed out for a good reamp-box, the difference in sound quality is well worth the dineros. I got the Radial X-Amp, and it's just peachy! There are also schematics out there if one wants to save a few bucks and home-brew a reamper.

[@creativesoundlab]

+Lasse Huhtala Thanks for this...yes, I agree with you.

[@AleLoy]

Great vid! How about bass preamp pedals? Such as cheapo Sparrow Dr.J. The pedal is a preamp and DI all in one. Can I reamp a clean bass signal from the DAW using the pedal as an amp for coloring the sound but without reamp box?

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

For my re-amping, I send my mixer output to Radial active Re-Amper X, then to effects, then to Radial JDI & Rolls MP222 mic preamp to bring back to line level. Presumably this is a better set of components than the all in one box 'EXTC-SA' from Radial (came out after I bought this set up) - would there be any advantage to using the EXTC-SA instead of the separate DI and preamp on the way back into the mixer? I've still not re-amped into my amps (I'm noob at mic recording) but mostly will be sending electronic production channels/tracks into effects, but also plan to record via DI -> mic pre -> mixer -> interface. Is there an issue recording with the JDI and preamp, then re-amping through effects, then back into the JDI and preamp? Presumably getting double colouration and treble reduction from the DI? I only have line level or mic level inputs on my mixer, but the mic inputs aren't full range inputs, so I need to get to line level for proper gain structure coming into the mixer.

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

A small tip, don't know if it really matters, but I run my Radial X Re-Amper (active) off my Cioks Ciokolate power supply - not sure if clean power to the reamper helps but I figure it might. At the very least, my Rolls MP222 mic preamp which came with US power supply wall wart would squeel when using a wall wart adapter. Running off the Ciokolate solved that noise issue. So consider powering your re-amper off your guitar pedalboard power if you can (helps avoid ground loops I presume at least - without needing to lift ground etc)

[@creativesoundlab]

Great tip, thanks for that!

[@gregedenfield1080]

I got to be honest I love the color of the DI box overall, given the "content" of your example.

[@tommontesi]

this was a great video. would of loved to hear the guitar direct into the amp though.

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, that would be a great video on it's own. This was just to compare reamp boxes post guitarist in the studio.

[@RiffLair]

Hey hey. Love the channel btw. Very informative. So Im gettting into reamping. I got a scarlet 4i4. What I do is set my input for instrument level. I currently am re-amping from mono output 3. I absolutely get no noise. No hum no buzz. Do you think I still need a re-amp box? (I own a hum destroyer for eliminating any noise too) Thanks in advance!

[@creativesoundlab]

Well if you don't get noise, then great. Make music! But you might get a more realistic tone that feels like you are plugging strait into the amp if you use a reamp box. But just try it man.

[@RiffLair]

@@creativesoundlab Hey. Thx for answering on a 4 yr old video! I tried playing through the amp vs DI to amp back to back. At first It was very different but then I realised I forgot I had to get the DI leveI hitting the amp right. I couldn't hear much of a difference if at all. But then again tho I an not an amatuer I might be mistaken. Never tried a reamp box.

[@johnstitt2615]

I went old school today and actually mic’d up an amp today. Been a while. I tried the 57/md421 and 57/c214 combination. Two mic combos for two different leads. The second combo was warmer. I mixed the two signals in each combo to taste. Any other suggestions or things I could experiment with ?

[@ZenMountain]

Excellent, thanks.

[@creativesoundlab]

TechtronicMountain Thanks!

[@BarnacleButtock]

I only heard hum/difference in the Direct DAW out

[@richardwilliams1310]

Radial JCR Studio Reamp Box is also passive and I'm sure it is better than the Radial ProRMP. The Radial X-Amp is another higher end option but is an active box. I would like to see them compared. Thanks for your video.

[@creativesoundlab]

John was giving me flac about not using the blue one, instead of his box, the JCR he sold to Radial, the other day. I found it funny.

[@jorgepeterbarton1324]

Will this affect fuzz sounds quite a bit? (in the way it might be like having a buffer which sometimes fuzzes don't like?). Do you use this for stereo or multi-amp sounds? Do you think its probably easier than dealing with phase problems even if i've got a cheap passive DI? Anything else i can use for a pad? My DI box has one but not sure what it does when run backwards, otherwise I have a few guitar pedals with either passive or active volumes.

[@TheManglerPolishDeathMetal]

wise guy ! i subscribe

[@guidoguidi2816]

Hi Ryan! I'm really enjoying your videos. Really dig your guitar tones and drum sounds (and playing) and your overall approach. I've recently tried a reamp setup and kinda failed. When going through a reamp box I'm getting the kind of (digital?) noise you're getting in this video when going straight out from the daw to the amp. When going straight from the outputs of my saffire 40 to the amp, noise sits in usable level, but I get a harshier, less guitar friendly tone. Any clues?

[@creativesoundlab]

+Guido Guidi It could be the levels that are going to the amp. If there is a adjustment knob for the gain on the reamp box that might be worth making sure it's all the way to the loudest. Personally, I think the reamp boxes sound great, almost like soloing a track from the daw but into an amp.

[@JamieClark]

can you share a schematic for the padded cable you made? would LOVE to have one, that was my favorite sound of all of these!

[@creativesoundlab]

+Jamie Clark Hey sorry to not be specific on that. Here's an image that shows what I did. instagram.com/p/6jXZFUBS9_/?taken-by=creative_sound_lab

[@JamieClark]

+creativesoundlab thanks a bunch! I'll heat up the iron tomorrow!

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Have to admit that I tend to reamp (something I do a fair bit recently) by using a Y-adapter or taking the record out (UNemulated) or the preamp Fx loop from an amp to record a signal and then simply use the headphones out socket into a miced amp at a later time this seems to work so am I doing something obviously wrong? DO I really need to use my (dusty!) DI?

[@dlvnmedia]

I have been trying to find a good answer for this, as someone who builds diy synths could I get away with a DI box in reverse for testing sound? I would rather blow a cheap 35 dollar amp vs my KRK Rokit8s

[@FusicPool]

I came here hoping to find a reason to not get a RE-amp box. Decided to just get that nice blue radial re-amp box, it's just gonna save a lot of headaches in the future for me.

[@ashergregory2013]

Re-amp Box 9:12 Radial Di 9:22 Radial Di with Padded Cable 9:32 Female 1/4 9:42 Male 1/4 9:53 Trash 10:03

[@theace7212]

Thanx

[@utubehound69]

I love your chn great stuff great chn , have you seen the new video "using any Boss petal to Reamp" ? The basic take away was the buffer was key to change the level to unity gain via the buffer. I thought of you went i saw it today.

[@Citizen_J]

Since you mention that the signal coming from the DI box is hotter than it would be from the re-amp box, I was wondering: what if I had two DI boxes, chained them and used the pad on the second one to bring the signal closer to what it would be out of the re-amp box?

[@creativesoundlab]

+ProjectAwesome1 That really should not work. Use a padded cable or a DI box that has a built in pad.

[@robhaley5136]

You know you can actually reamp by just sending a signal out of your interface (if there is a line out you can use), straight into an amp (as in a lead from a line out, STRAIGHT into input on your amp)... and it will work, done it myself easy as pie. Tried with a guitar signal into my fender amp, sounded great, then sent a bass signal to a bass amp, no DI box or reamp box used, just the out on my apollo and a mono guitar lead. Line level signals don't really muck around.

[@sleepless51]

Very informative video. I wonder if Palmer PAN 02 Active DI box that has -30db Pad Switch will do the job as a Reamp box ? Cheers!

[@creativesoundlab]

I always recommend passive DI boxes, and can't ever get it to pass signal backwards through an active box. Passive are much simpler I think, just watch the levels.

[@alvaroruizruiz7538]

Could I insert the line output signal of the interface into an active DI Box and connect the link output to the amp? Would I get any noise problems or headroom?

[@tatumalaidarous8967]

Finally some one who explain it thoroughly. I still have a question so the re-amp job is just to attenuate or also convert balance to un-balanced?I have a sescom 35dB attenuation cable is it possible to use only that from audio interface to amp? I think it's balanced stereo cable. If not and I still need unbalanced setting an rca adapter to 1/4? Thanks,

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah it does both, attenuate and convert to an unbalanced.

[@JimijaymesProductions]

It also uses a transformer to do this which has the added effect of reducing noise.

[@dramanovel]

Hi! Pro rmp user here. Any thoughts on why do i get a reversed phase track from the DI track? Thanks

[@sassulusmagnus]

I wonder whether this would work: using a passive attenuator such as the A-Designs ATTY between the recording interface and the JDI to reduce the line level output from the interface down to instrument level before it hits the JDI. The ATTY is designed to handle line level signal. It costs more than the Radial ProRMP, but less than the X-Amp or the Reamp JCR.

[@creativesoundlab]

Yes, that would work. Just like my cable I'm using more range of the converters, but keeping the JDI from being pushed too hard.

[@ashwalk85]

Thank you for this video! By the way, did you get the original noiseless recorded guitar signal by using a DI, or direct to DAW?

[@creativesoundlab]

+Dan Oliveira I guess the best answer to that is "both". Interfaces that have built in inputs for guitar are still doing the function of a DI and mic pre combo. I usually use separate DI and pre so I have more control.

[@ashwalk85]

+creativesoundlab oh cool, that's what I wanted to know. My Saffire PRO40's "instrument input"s are not as clean as a DI.

[@bastianmaoro8278]

I'm sorry, I'm very much in this world of guitars, pedals and everything, if you could please help me I would be very happy. I am in the mood to buy the Laney Irt Studio amp and my question is the following: - logically, you put the DI BOX between the guitar and the first pedal right? But, how will I do that on the amplifier that already has the DI Box and the reamp box embedded? I want to connect a pedalboard to make the reamping session able to use the effects of the pedals when recording stuff. Again, if you can answer my doubt it helps me a lot, because since I'm Brazilian... watching the video only gets a bit difficult for me to understand some things. Thanks and sorry for a dumb question lol. Thank u again.

[@jamesshen2691]

The noise coming out of the DAW directly sounds like a ground loop but not a noise floor...

[@angkit216]

Thanks bro

[@rosspeterson2658]

so you go guitar, amp, reamp box, mixer/interface/daw?

[@arngl2209]

Hello I would like to ask you about the fact that I now have a pick-up -active carvin electric guitar, with the apogee Jam and Bias Fx app in my i phone connect where the signals are damaged. Because of Active pick-up , I saw on a KZbin video that someone from ultra Di-400 p Behringer , between the sound card and amp , And I would like to know that before buying this device, I would like to know that there is a problem with the destruction of sound and the lack of elasticity and tolerance is gone? Thanks for your collaboration

[@enriquekikzdelapazbichain1126]

Can i use an ISA one to do the whole process as well?

[@manoskf]

When your sound card interface like line 6 pod or focuw right or iconnectivity have crystal amp build in ... you still need a reamp ???

[@creativesoundlab]

If the best possible sound is your priority, then yes you should re-amp over using a virtual amp or effects. For quick demos, maybe not.

[@BomzStyle]

Thank You, everything I wanted to know in one video. By the way what the mic was used for capturing sound from the amp?

[@creativesoundlab]

The mic is a md421

[@BomzStyle]

oh just in white, I never seen it in white, probably a vintage model... it looks like soviet union OKTAVA ML-51. USSR definitely copied the design, but not the sound :) but it has it's own unique and vintage sound.

[@jorgepeterbarton1324]

+BomzStyle They definitely came in white at one point. Some say its a sligtly different sound, all the reissues and variations especially the current md421-II would sound slightly different but still MD421...

[@racuminmata7591]

Hello Ryan! I hope this is not a stupid question but, what kind of cable do you use from the interface to the reamp box? I notice the reamp input is XLR. Do you have a XLR output on your interface, cause mine only has 1/4 jack output? What features should my cable have? Thanks you very much for such an awesome and helpful video!

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

2x TS to XLR input to send stereo to mono (or single TS connector to XLR for mono) - I got a custom cable designed at designacable uk - note that the connector gender is different to what you might expect!

[@escalator9734]

You need a TRS to xlr(male or female depending on your reamp box/di/whatever) cable. TRS because the outputs of your interface are balanced signals and a di/reamp takes balanced signal too. Or you could just use some adapters (not the ones with transformers), I highly suggest you buy a bunch of them. TRS to xlr, male xlr to male xlr, female to female. That way a simple xlr cable can become whatever your desire. Adapters saved my ass on gigs and in the studio more times than I can count.

[@kimmorken8838]

Hey. Amazing video. Definitely getting the reamp box. One question: Do i need a di-box to record guitar straight into my sound card, or can i just record this unbalanced? Is there any difference between the two is really my question.

[@creativesoundlab]

+Kim Morken Thanks! Yes, to recording guitar going into your sound card, you'll need a way to convert the unbalanced to balanced, and then bring it up to line level. You'll need to plug into a DI box, then that DI box goes to a preamp (XLR/Mic input). Some interfaces have "HI-Z" inputs on the front, and this is fine too.

[@kimmorken8838]

+creativesoundlab Alright! I will try the Hi-Z on my UR22 sound card first then. Thanks for the reply!

[@pablobarra297]

you can use two D.I. Boxes?? one in the way you used, and the another one to pad -20 db the signal??

[@creativesoundlab]

No because it's about the type of signals that are coming out of the DI. I would find another way to pad the signal, ether just turn the volume down of the DI track, or use a padded cable.

[@micalea5202]

hey whats the difference between having an active and passive re amp box??? ive just noticed in other videos some people use an active re amp box and when i looked up the one you use here its says passive??? cheers man love the videos

[@creativesoundlab]

I'm really not sure why they would make an active reamp box, as you are basically turning the volume down, and don't need to amplify the sound. I'm sure they have a reason though, but those will be more complex than a passive one, and you'll need to plug it in.

[@ayeapprove]

I have a totally different problem. I want to use my phones headphone out to reamp into a preamp pedal but the level is lower than a standard guitar would output. In this case I can just boost the signal, right? I would measure what my guitar outputs with the preamp and then boost the signal after outputing it from my phone to the same level.

[@ytscksdabig1]

Just turn the fucking signal up in your daw. Why are you trying to boost a signal by going through all that bullshit when you can just turn the trim up? Seriously?

[@TimKaseyMythHealer]

Really like this video.

[@creativesoundlab]

+Tim Kasey Hey thanks Tim!

[@TimKaseyMythHealer]

creativesoundlab I've struggled with live recordings, and mixing until I started to re-amp. You've got to get it perfect. What you taught me was how much better the sound is when you use a dedicated re-amp box from Radial. I have several DI units (LR Baggs, Radial D2 & DI Pro). I've done re-amping, and it never sounded like the guitar was playing back through the amp (live recordings, through other amps, and not taking the time to capture the direct). The dedicated re-amp box is simply right. The other methods you presented are not useable (to my ear) and the dedicated box makes it simple. You need to spend your time on the writing, and less fiddling with the gear (IMO).

[@creativesoundlab]

+Tim Kasey Nice! Yeah I have a couple other videos about live stuff....How to record Live-in-studio and How to mix a live recording. Yeah, there is no writing for the show. I do too many videos to script them out.

[@TimKaseyMythHealer]

creativesoundlab I meant songwriting.... not writing a tutorial video script, lol. I guess it could be taken either way. :-/

[@creativesoundlab]

+Tim Kasey Haha, yes totally. An amazing song is key over the difference that messing with gear will get you.

[@ThatOneGuyWithAReallyLongName.]

I'm not sure if this is entirely relevant to this video, but I'm needing some advice so here goes. Long story short, I just got my first tube amp and I don't have any overdrive pedals to tighten up my high gain tones. Is there any way to run a Tube Screamer VST, for instance, in my DAW, back out to my amp, and have the amp send its overdriven signal back into my interface without causing a feedback loop? I have an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra (6 in, 6 out) and I'm not running a cabinet. In the cab's place, I have a THD Hot Plate and speaker simulation is coming from a plugin in my DAW. Guitar goes into input 1 on my interface, using an instrument cable, which is being fed into a Mono track in my DAW set to receive signal from input 1, running an instance of a Tube Screamer VST. From there, I send it to a bus which I send to output 2 on my interface, which is going into my amp, as mentioned, via output 2 on the interface, connected with an instrument cable, which is then going from the speaker output on the back of the amp into the Hot Plate, which is then run back into input 2 on my interface into another mono track in my DAW, set to receive signal from input 2, which is being sent to master track using any combination of my 4 available stereo outs (output 1+2, 3+4, and 5+6 all create the same feedback issue). I've also tried to send the mono track that's *supposed* to be the combination of the Tube Screamer VST and amp signals to a bus with an output that is different than the output that's set on my master track in my DAW, but this didn't alleviate my feedback issues. I've also tried numerous different in/out configurations using the inputs on both the front and the back of the interface, whether the guitar was going in 1 and coming out 4 with the amp going in 6 (with appropriate changes being made in my DAW, of course) or vice versa, etc. Is there something I'm messing up with my signal path that's creating the feedback? Or would I need a reamp box to be able to do this correctly? Should I just suck it up, wait until I have the necessary funds to grab a Precision Drive and let the cabling and screeching, squealing nightmares put themselves out of my mind? Or is there a workaround for this until I'm more financially sound and can afford a solid OD pedal? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's a link to a flowchart if you may find it helpful. Apologies for the watermarks. prnt.sc/ia8k2o

[@nikolamijic]

You do need a reamp box, also sometimes "I know people will say WTF??" but I even put a DI box after reamp box for in case there's a ground issues or whatever.I'm also using vst plugins like tubesreamer vst ans so on.The results are amazing...Download as many plugins as you can, and just throw them on the signal.Play with them and you'll see what fits you. For cab simulation I recomend you to try Two-Notes: Torpedo Wall of Sound or the standard free cab impulse loaders like nadIR, LeCab1/2, ... Cheers!

[@NihilQuest]

I have the same reamp box but I still get buzz like in your last example when it's connected directly (doesn't matter what amp it is). I'm using Roland Octa-Capture. Could it be impendance problem? Maybe connections on balanced jack-XLR cable are wrong? It's a unique cable so I can't swap it for another to check out.

[@ytscksdabig1]

You're running a balanced cable into the amp? Should be a balanced cable from your interface > Reamp Box > unbalanced cable > amp

[@RaffaeleSansone]

The reamp box had definitely no rivals, but the padded gain cable did an awesome job with the DI! Just wondering, couldn't you just add a bigger resistance to it in order to attenuate just the right amount of volume? Or, I'm gessing, it would be too much and would have some downsides on the sound?

[@creativesoundlab]

Hmm, I'm really not sure what the trade off would be. Converting signals in the way that reamp boxes do, is a unique task and takes a special transformer.

[@RaffaeleSansone]

+creativesoundlab first thing that comes in my mind is that higher resistance values create more impedance when connected in series, meaning more noticeable low pass effect, in the same way running longer guitar cables does. Not sure if the cut frequency would get in the way of typical guitars bandwidth though. That being said, impedance mismatch is definitely an issue when trying to capture the cleanest signal possible. I was just curious since as I said earlier the DI box connected in reverse did a more than ok job in my opinion if you're in a budget!

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, that passive DI worked out well I thought. Better than I expected.

[@DrUmSensitive]

Oh well, I might be stupid or easily impressionable, but after subscribing (hehe) I went about and bought a Palmer PDI09 (aka The Junction). I am not sure if it's the same thing (it's not a re-amping DI, it's a guitar DI). Can this one be used for the same application? :) Thanks for the videos! :)

[@creativesoundlab]

+DrUmSensitive I don't believe so. It's made for post guitar amp signal between the amp and the speaker, not guitar type signal. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6qYq3lubM55rZYm35s

[@teddy3k3]

I dislike the idea of having to buy a reamp box after buying several DIs already. I actually tried using a DI in reverse and with my USB mixers dedicated XLR output and the onboard amp control, I was able to basically get a very much useable tone

[@willgaines5269]

Hey Ryan, not sure if you'll see this since it's an older video, but I had a question pertaining to this. At a church that I mix for, we get guitar signals to amps backstage by using a D.I. at the pedalboard, then sending it down an XLR cable under the stage, and through another D.I. (backwards, with an XLR female to female adapter) into the amp. Are their any disadvantages to using this method instead of a reamp box in this situation, where the entire signal path is analog?

[@creativesoundlab]

Are you using one of these or something like it? If not, then who knows what two DI boxes are actually doing. I've never tried doing what you are doing so I can't say for sure how bad or good it would be. You really need a DI to Preamp to reamp box to do what you are doing, or use the Radial type product. www.radialeng.com/sgi.php

[@willgaines5269]

Creative Sound Lab Wow, I didn't know this kind of thing existed. We're just using a pair of Whirlwind IMP2 D.I.s and a female to female XLR connector to do this. We do have some problems with buzzing in the amps with our current method, but it's not too bad. I'll have to look into these and consider then as an option when our budget resets in a couple months! Thanks Ryan!

[@akg414]

If you want to record a guitar with a DI box, and the guitarist uses stompboxes, do you take the signal directly from the guitar and run in through the pedals when you reamp it, or do you just put the di box at the end of the pedal chain and record it with the effects? Any thought on this?

[@alchemyinstruments5650]

akg414 run your signal from the di box into the front of your rig just as you would run your guitar into it order to get the desired sound. In other words, plug the line going out of the di into the same signal chain you'd plug your guitar into.

[@Napalm93]

could you combat the noise floor issue when using a DI box in reverse by putting a noise gate on the DI tracks in your DAW? Thanks!

[@creativesoundlab]

For noise gates, yes sure, but the better question is do you have hum or hiss a part of your guitar tone when the guitar is loud? There's gotta be a better way to get better guitar tone, so that's where a re-amp box comes in. John Cuniberti actually made fun of my little blue re-amp box in my videos...he had first designed the original Reamp box and now Radial makes it.

[@davidsnakedoe7322]

amazing video, dude. The only thing that is not clear to me, is how to reamp a guitar with a jack adaptor (using an external audio card), without using the reamp box. I mean, how to set the guitar amp as audio output, in which I want to hear my "preamped" guitar recordings?

[@creativesoundlab]

+John Jack Doe Ok, I think I know what your asking. Just set the output in your daw so that track has a direct out for that output on your sound card. You can also just solo that guitar, and then use either L or R on your main output to feed the amp/reamp box.

[@davidsnakedoe7322]

creativesoundlab thanks, man, I'll make some experiments xD I recorded an album and now I want to reamp the guitars , but I would like to do that without using the reamp box. I think that putting the jack ( that should be supposed to be put into the headphones output of the external audio card) into the output of the amp...it should work. Am I wrong ?

[@creativesoundlab]

+John Jack Doe Yes, the headphone jack is a totally different kind of jack. What you need is balanced line out.

[@davidsnakedoe7322]

creativesoundlab I know what you mean, I will have to work a lot on adaptors, and make different experiments. The noise that comes out can depend also on the amp...Using certain kind of amps, the noise will be different than using another kind of amps...I think I understand what the reamp box really does, it adjust the impedance between the pc and the amp, sending in the amp a more clean and "powerful" signal, anyway thanks for your videos, you really earned my sub!

[@jaybi7089]

I used several Passive DI boxes backwards to re-amp. NO WAY it was 18db louder than my re-amping box from palmer i bought afterwards

[@julianwest4030]

Just about all of the projects you work on sound like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

[@joelrudnick]

What about guitar effects that operate at line level, such as several strymon pedals?

[@Deeplycloseted435]

joel rudnick some are good, allowing +10 to +20dBu input. Others not so much. Not all “line level” pedals are created equally. El Capistan for example only goes to +3dBu, and I can clip the hell out of it easily when running my synthesizer through it. Eventide pedals are about +8dBu, but the H9 is only +4dBu. You really have to refer to the manual about the signal that is allowed at the input. I use a lot of synths, and a lot of pedals. The reamp pedal just takes away the guesswork and worry. I use it all the time regardless, and then hit the preamps on my audio interface before recording. Attenuation is not the same as reamping. There is also an impedance mismatch between line level and instrument level. So noise can be an issue, and especially gain dependent pedals like overdrive/distortion make the biggest difference. The more headroom allows the pedal to do its job.

[@smeogol691000]

hi hoping you can help in running a vox big bad wah,boss super chorus vox ice 9 vox saturator vox time machine, looking for the satriani sound do you think its vital to have the jdi over the boss ns ?

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

boss ns 2 and a DI box are entirely different things. NS2 is a noise gate. DI box is for recording either both amp mic'd as well as direct to mixer, or JUST direct to mixer.

[@fiascoseven2796]

To fully capitalize on a 144 db dynamic range is only hypothetically possible. The 24-bit resolution can not be upheld no matter what. I'm afraid. It's all about dynamic range which is the signal''s maximum strength above the noise floor. If you record a noisy source like that of an electric guitar, you have already degraded the dynamic range, hence bit depth to less than 16-bit. You could just as well record that track in 16-bit without audible differences. But for further processing the track is better off when converted to 24-but or 32-bit float as the processing won't degrade the material as much as it would with 16-bit. Also any plugin introduces its own noises. So if you have recorded a source with a Brauner microphone and a Millienia Media preamp and the signal was converted with a DB Audio A/D converter you will have attained the maximum dynamic range possible. But any additional processing in the digital realm will degrade the bit depth to a point where 24-bit is not even remotely possible to retain. Even simple plugins like a spatializer or equalizer will intruduce a noise floor that will immediately degrade the signal's depth to less then 22-bit, let alone things like a compressor / limiter.

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

People argue however that processing with upsampling or higher resolution/bit depth can aid a) digital plugins b) D-A stage for sending to analog processing, people argue higher resolution output gives the analog better representation of analog signal to work with

[@jeffreystrange4227]

About the db attenuation and resolution point, what about if the signal is coming out of the daw at unity and lower the converted analog signal via a potentiometer (for example an aux send on a mixer) instead before sending it to the amp?

[@creativesoundlab]

Well, what is unity? I think of it as -18 in the DAW because that should be what is considered line level (I'm away from my books right now but it's about 1.23 volt) coming out of your converters. The idea is to retain the headroom on the converters, considering that you are in the digital world, and then you would have a full signal, peaks and all, to attenuate. That way your reamp would be punchy and realistic. For your question, I think it's fine if you lower the signal. In terms of the pick up / guitar world levels, I know that some can create crazy hot signals, and some even can't be achieved via reamping, as they need a boost instead.

[@jeffreystrange4227]

creativesoundlab what i was trying to say was to let the signal coming out of the DAW with the virtual fader at 0db, so the converter is using all 24 bit of resolution and then, once converted in analog, to lower the electrical signal via a potentiometer before going into the amp for reamping. About the 1,23V thing i remember it to be the tension for a 0db line line level signal passing through a balanced cable. (sorry if my english is not perfect, i'm from italy)

[@EtcEtcAndEtc]

I've tried this, and the signal seems weak, even when the actual level is about right - I think issues like impedance are not solved by dropping the level on the mixer.

[@alvagoldbook2]

This may be an important thing to consider. A guitar amp is designed to work off the impendance levels and _voltage_ levels produced by guitar pickups. This is around 5 volts AC, give or take. Microphones use XLR cables because they run off of much lower voltages, only about a fraction of a volt for your average dynamic mic. This is why XLR cables need 3 pins, one is a dedicated ground, to keep the noise floor down. I'm not sure what the voltage levels are when reamping, but just the difference between guitar outputs and dynamic mic outputs should give people an appreciation for why you would need to cut 28dBs.

[@creativesoundlab]

+Alva Goldbook Yes, totally. What he said^. Also, one could try to argue that line level ,1.23, if I remember correctly could be close enough to the input of an amp, but the impedance would be all wrong. Some have commented that the reampers are not loud enough because they can't get to the 5 volts you mentioned, and that makes a lot of sense. I know Radial makes a DI box for acoustics because the voltages can be so high, that it leads to harsh highs when the headroom runs out for live DI use. Some of these situations I would never do, and I didn't use my special amps for this video for that reason.

[@alvagoldbook2]

+creativesoundlab One possible solution that's worth experimenting with might be to use a transparent booster pedal. Something like a MXR Microamp is a simple op-amp driver, which if the reamp isn't loud enough could be used to boost the signal back up in a fairly transparent way.

[@insertanynameyouwant5311]

hello! I`m not interesting in reamping but I`m building my vst-host PC for live using and the only thing I don`t know is how to plug from the output of the soundcard to the guitar amp`s input. Could you suggest smth? Do you think I need a reamp box, and if yes, then active or passive. And do other manufacturers make smth good, or Radial all the way?)

[@creativesoundlab]

+Anti Phase I've been happy with my Radial passive reamp box, but others make them. Little labs makes some unique boxes too. Anytime you go from balanced and line level, the reamp box gets you down to Hi-z unbalanced.

[@insertanynameyouwant5311]

creativesoundlab understood. I`ll be looking for passive reamps, then) Thanks!

[@msean135]

Not a mention of impedance?

[@djole02]

You where having ground loop issue when connecting directly from DAW... All the other devices are separating the grounds from your DAW and amp.

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

Yep, ground lift/isolator would make it more a fair comparison - I have used an ART DTI for line level and ART clean box II for guitar signal with some good effect, however my clean box II inputs are shoddy (move into the casing/loose) - going to try to fix it up. I was using it as first 'pedal' after guitar though so probably put strain on the inputs (now I have panel mount connectors on pedal board, to avoid that in future)

[@joemarchione97]

What is reamping?

[@shantbajac]

Does the XLR cable go from the JDI output to the amp's input?

[@creativesoundlab]

+Shant Bajac Nope, it goes to the preamp. The amp is just hanging out, not even turned on.

[@exoticazza]

can i send signal from daw to preamp input with this chain : daw - interface output - reamp box - di box - mic preamp input ?

[@creativesoundlab]

Sure you could. Usually it would be to use a stomp box or guitar effects for a track in your daw.

[@ytscksdabig1]

So you're trying to reamp an already recorded signal into a mic preamp box? Why? If you're trying to color it with the pre-amp, just find a plug-in that will do the same thing. If you're trying to "run it through analog electronics", save yourself the trouble, because 99% of your listeners won't be able to tell the difference, and 100% of your listeners won't care.

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

@@ytscksdabig1 So you think mic level input into a line level input on a mixer is fine? My mic inputs on my mixer aren't full range so I need to use the line inputs. I do worry about colouring the sound, but since I am going to send digital/electronic signals into the effects, I figure a little preamp colouration won't be terrible. I guess I can try both DI output as well as DI->pre output to see what I think of each. I have JDI, reamper & mic preamp, I need the mic pre for mic anyway since I don't use the mic inputs/pres on my mixer. So I figure might as well use it.

@@ytscksdabig1 Yeah... that's the spirit. ...it's all about who doesn't care anymore.

[@dizzycomma]

Where do you think that hiss come from? Could it be low impedance comparing to guitar pickups?

[@creativesoundlab]

Gosh, I really don't know. I'm not qualified for something that technical, although anytime you do something jacked up, you will get more noise and distortion.

[@AlbertoDati]

Imho it was a ground loop

[@mitchellchurch3385]

Just pump the audio out of the DAW and into a compressor adjusting the level with 1 to 1 compression.

[@yeahuri4724]

One question,How bout just audio interface direct to amp?

[@outzie6182]

If you record at max bitrate into your daw, you can just push it through the interface to the amp. Using internal soundcards like a headphone output could work but the noise ratio might be a bit high. (little late but yeah)

[@ytscksdabig1]

You'll have terrible impedance mismatching going on. Great way to blow an amp, have at it!

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

Depends if: a) your interface has a hi-z output b) your amp has a lo-z / consumer line inputs (and your interface can output hi-z or consumer line) - my old Roland JC-120 has 'lo z' input. Most amps don't though

[@Wadyofficial8]

Where do you get your studio desk? I like it lot

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks Wady, my dad made it.

[@Wadyofficial8]

+creativesoundlab wow! Can he make another one? Lol

[@NateThunder]

So there is noise.. Why couldnt you use a noise gate or a suppressor to remove the excess?

[@creativesoundlab]

+Nathan Holmes Yes, the noise during the silence is not really the problem. It's when you have 4 guitar parts to layer and that noise during the playing starts to creep up into the main parts.

[@carlocalamatta1306]

awesome \m/

[@creativesoundlab]

+Carlo Calamatta Thanks!

[@adamhutnik7186]

Can you reamp any sounds using these boxes? I wanted to do a lot of experimenting with running vocals and synths and drums through my guitar amp to see what types of sounds I can get, but I've read online in a few places that guitar amps are only designed to take a signal with certain frequency characteristics (that being characteristics like those of a guitar). Is that just the internet lying to me or is that true? I know I've seen you reamp vocals in another video, but I wanted to ask specifically so I don't completely destroy my amp during my experimentation.

[@creativesoundlab]

+Adam Hutnik The beauty of reamping is that you can play any signals into your guitar pedals, and most things into a guitar amp. Usually a guitar amp will distort if it can't take the low end, but please don't push it too hard. I usually get the signal routed to the reamp box with the amp all the way down first. Then I go to the amp and turn it up slowly.

[@adamhutnik7186]

+creativesoundlab Is there a good way to find out what frequencies an amp can't take? I read my deville manual but didn't see it, and I was thinking of using a high pass to get around that issue but I wouldn't know where to set it. Also, one other question. The guy I write and record with has a tubemeister with a direct out built into it. Is it safe to reamp any signal into that amp or would the same frequency issue be a factor? Thanks so much!

[@creativesoundlab]

+Adam Hutnik You just have to use your ears and see what works.

[@jorgepeterbarton1324]

+Adam Hutnik Its low frequencies which are usually a problem. But everything is a factor of volume and energy. That is you can run a bass through one at low volumes, its just low frequencies need a lot less energy to start damaging things.. Guitar amps tend to filter out highs, but they are less of a problem, you might want to back off the treble if its harsh but with a reasonable amp EQ, or even inside the DAW. If in doubt: Keep it low volume. And for bassy instruments hipass it. (there wouldn't be any reason to send bass instruments through a guitar amp for bass, usually that's to affect the top end with distortion, and mixed with a direct signal.) If you are looking at where to set it, then ~80hz is the guitar's lowest note and a good rule of thumb, for where amp frequencies tend to roll off anyway, but not set in stone...