Check your routing.

Ensure that the DI signal is the DI Signal and not some random input.

Let me set the scene:

While recording electric guitar overdubs on a record I am producing and engineering, we used an amp head in the control room and had the speaker in the other room with a few microphones to capture the sound.

Usually, when we record an electric guitar, we like to record a clean DI signal of the guitar before any pedals and amp. You know, the raw performance or the player straight off the guitar as a “Backup Plan.”

Let’s say that during the mixing phase of the project, the client decided that the guitar tone we had on recording day no longer worked for the song. We have the direct signal recording of the performance. We take that signal to send it back to the amp again and add the changes to the tone the client is looking for. This is a very common practice known as Re-Amping. Easy, right? We do it all the time.

We usually don’t “Listen” to the DI while recording. We ensure we have a good signal level and mute the track. We want to hear the amp sound while tracking.

In the case of the example here, you can see that the GTR DI track has a signal on it and is muted. But upon closer inspection, you can see that the input to the DI Record track is the control room talkback microphone and NOT the DI; oops.

So what got recorded was the talkback mic from the control room. The signal coming in looked like the guitar signal on the meter because the actual track was hearing what we were listening to in the room.

So, of course, this is the ONE song that the client said - “Hey, you know what? I don't think it works after hearing the guitar tone we got together with the drums and bass. Just run the DI recording through an amp sim to give it more of an AC/DC vibe.” -

I thought, cool. I can do that. Until I started to listen to ALL the DI tracks and noticed the input of all the DI tracks was the same. Yup. Nothing but EVERYTHING that we were listening to in the control room while recording guitars the entire session. Click track, drums, scratch vocals, Scratch guitars, etc. NO DI GUITAR. Again, Oops.

Our job as the engineer on any session is to ensure the signals are correct. Please make it a point to double-check that your signals are all correct. Listen to them as well to ensure the path is correct and that the signal is what you think it is.

Let’s make it a point to pay attention and ensure our inputs are correct. It never fails. That guy Murphy and his Law will come hang out with you when you least expect it.

Out of 11 songs that we have recorded for this album, the one that the clients want to re-amp the guitars on is the one that I ignored the inputs of the DI. 

I just saw the signal on it and thought, perfect. I see the signal. It’s all good. Yup, My Bad. OOPS!

Good practice session, fellas. 

See you next week. Oh, and bring your guitar next time. And, by the way, the next session is on me.

I hope this helps you remember to double-check your signals and not get cocky in the control room. 

Peace and love y’all!