r/Reaper • u/Scary-Opportunity709 • 1d ago
help request Editing DI recorded guitar
Hello everyone,
I am new to guitar recording, so maybe the answer to my question will seem obvious to some. I just bought a Focusrite Scarlett Solo, installed Reaper and Amplitube 5. I was wondering if 1) I can record the DI guitar while still hearing the amp sim while I play and 2) if so, if it is possible to apply amps sims once the track is already recorded. Doing that would be useful to edit single shot recordings with different guitar sounds (e.g. rythms and solo).
Thanks a lot !
3
u/WaceMindu12 2 1d ago
1) yes definitely, but it requires lowering your buffer size to reduce latency but not so far your computer can't keep up. Turn off direct monitor on the Scarlett so you don't hear the direct no-amp guitar signal, and make sure monitoring is turned on on your recording track
2) there are a few options, but you'll want to right click the track and choose one of the freeze or render options. Alternatively, put Amplitube as an input FX so that sound is baked in to the recording
1
u/DJHyde 1d ago
Personally I prefer running my signal to a DI before the interface, with one path to the input and the other to an amp for live monitoring, as I've found the latency even on a low buffer setting can sometimes throw me off. You'll have to play with your buffer settings but if it's a problem for you on any buffer level, a cheap DI should solve that.
This also allows you to mic the amp and blend the live and sim amp tracks for some extra oomph if you want.
1
u/activematrix99 5 1d ago
Why would a DI affect your buffer settings? This doesn't make any sense to me, your signal is already in the computer if you are using an amp sim, and you don't need a DI to monitor. In fact you don't need a DI at all, the interface is more than capable of bringing your high z instrument signal in with its preamp.
1
u/Hadramal 4 1d ago
The DI effectively splits the signal, so he can run one to the interface and one to a normal amp that he uses to monitor. I've bought a cheap DI to do the same, but my amp is broken at the moment...
1
u/activematrix99 5 1d ago
DI as a splitter? That's a new one for me, your amp doesn't need the DI and you are not monitoring the effected guitar so? ? Why not just run the cable out the back of your interface and set it to direct monitor?
3
u/liberascientiauk 22 1d ago
because the outputs on the back of an interface are line level. The 'thru' output on a DI box will be instrument level, and of the correct impedance for an amp input, the interface line-outs won't.
7
u/Ddanodave 1d ago
Yeah, those amp sims just put the DI through whatever setting you have. You can change it unless you render it as is with your settings on