Radial Engineering Reamp X-Amp User Manual page 6

True to the Music
®
STEP-1: RECORD A DRY TRACK WITH A DIRECT BOX
As most Reamping is performed with an electric guitar, we have chosen
to discuss the process using this example. The same process applies
with bass, voice, keyboard, violin or any other instrument.
Start by recording a dry track using a high quality direct box (DI) such
as the Radial JDI, Radial J48 or Radial JDV. Keep in mind that cheap DI
boxes sound less realistic, have limited dynamic range and tend to have
less warmth. When Reamping a track, it is important that the source track
be as clean and natural sounding as possible.
The usual connection when Reamping is to connect the guitar to the DI
box and have the thru connection go to your guitar amplifier. The DI's
balanced output is then connected to the mixer and recording device.
Recorder
(dry track)
Amp
Recording a clean, dry track with a Radial direct box.
By recording this way, you are able to listen to your guitar amplifier's
sound while recording a 'clean' signal. The clean guitar track retains all
of the inflections and sustaining effects that you would normally hear
and 'feel' when you perform. Note that when playing with a loud, heavily
distorted sound, the guitar interacts with the amplifier. The amplifier's
sonic vibrations excite the guitar strings which in turn can produce sustain
and harmonic complexities.
The recorded 'clean' guitar tone will contain all the sustain and inflections
of the original performance. When Reamping, the clean guitar track will
drive the guitar amp in the same way as when the player was standing
next to it. Reamping recreates the same complex tones between guitar,
amp, and loudspeaker as when it was recorded. This allows you to replay
the performance back through various amplifiers and effects devices to
create new sounds.
It is a good idea to record the wet track (effects pedals and amplifier) at
the same time with a traditional microphone set-up. This way, you can
mix the original track with Reamped tracks to create new textures.
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Radial Engineering Ltd. X-AMP Reamper™