Cool video about how to mic an amp

[laxu]

“Comparing favorably” and being “100% just as good” are not the same thing.

I'm using "comparing favorably" just to be cute. I could not spot any real difference in this scenario, certainly not some "it'd sound so much better" difference.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I'm using "comparing favorably" just to be cute. I could not spot any real difference in this scenario, certainly not some "it'd sound so much better" difference.

I don’t think there would be a lot of disagreement from pros that one can get comparable sounds using digital gear and amps/mics in an apartment where one is volume restricted. Indeed, I imagine plenty of them have come to that discovery themselves explaining why the guys with at home studio setups usually have some digital stuff kicking about. None of that applies to what Bukovac is sharing in his videos.

 

[laxu]

I don’t think there would be a lot of disagreement from pros that one can get comparable sounds using digital gear and amps/mics in an apartment where one is volume restricted. Indeed, I imagine plenty of them have come to that discovery themselves explaining why the guys with at home studio setups usually have some digital stuff kicking about. None of that applies to what Bukovac is sharing in his videos.

I feel like in most videos, Bukovac misses the crucial context.

I can't tell if he's saying "Fender Mustang doesn't sound as good as tube amps", which I would agree, or if he's saying "all modelers don't sound as good as tube amps" because he does not make that distinction but makes more of a blanket statement.

He says "This guy did a shootout between tube amp and modelers, but used one of those Ox Box things instead of a mic, which to me defeats the point of using a tube amp". For the comparison to be valid, you'd want to minimize variables. You don't want "this Fender amp miced in the room" vs "some Fender cab sim in the modeler" because that's already more variables.

If he wanted this scenario, the best way to do it would be making an IR of that miced Fender cab, and using it in all the modelers.

I'd agree with him if he said something like "My playing experience is better when I can hear myself through the real guitar cab in the room, and that speaker is then miced" but again I feel like there's some important context missing and I'm entirely guessing if that's what he means, or if he's simply saying that the real miced signal will always sound better.

My experience with no volume restriction mics vs IRs is the same as lower volume, no major difference. I'll need to make some comparison clips next time I get the change to do this.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I feel like in most videos, Bukovac misses the crucial context.

I can't tell if he's saying "Fender Mustang doesn't sound as good as tube amps", which I would agree, or if he's saying "all modelers don't sound as good as tube amps" because he does not make that distinction but makes more of a blanket statement.

He says "This guy did a shootout between tube amp and modelers, but used one of those Ox Box things instead of a mic, which to me defeats the point of using a tube amp". For the comparison to be valid, you'd want to minimize variables. You don't want "this Fender amp miced in the room" vs "some Fender cab sim in the modeler" because that's already more variables.

If he wanted this scenario, the best way to do it would be making an IR of that miced Fender cab, and using it in all the modelers.

I'd agree with him if he said something like "My playing experience is better when I can hear myself through the real guitar cab in the room, and that speaker is then miced" but again I feel like there's some important context missing and I'm entirely guessing if that's what he means, or if he's simply saying that the real miced signal will always sound better.

My experience with no volume restriction mics vs IRs is the same as lower volume, no major difference. I'll need to make some comparison clips next time I get the change to do this.

He is also just rambling.

We are just all used to these semi-professional Youtubers like Rhett Shull and Paul Davids, who have whole storyboards and mood boards ready. They know word for word what they are going to say, the subject etc.

And then you have Tom Bukovac. More like coming across him in the bar... "Hey dude..what do you think about Fender Mustang?" Tom: "Modelers are just not the real thing man, Peace out!"

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I feel like in most videos, Bukovac misses the crucial context.

I can't tell if he's saying "Fender Mustang doesn't sound as good as tube amps", which I would agree, or if he's saying "all modelers don't sound as good as tube amps" because he does not make that distinction but makes more of a blanket statement.

He says "This guy did a shootout between tube amp and modelers, but used one of those Ox Box things instead of a mic, which to me defeats the point of using a tube amp". For the comparison to be valid, you'd want to minimize variables. You don't want "this Fender amp miced in the room" vs "some Fender cab sim in the modeler" because that's already more variables.

If he wanted this scenario, the best way to do it would be making an IR of that miced Fender cab, and using it in all the modelers.

I'd agree with him if he said something like "My playing experience is better when I can hear myself through the real guitar cab in the room, and that speaker is then miced" but again I feel like there's some important context missing and I'm entirely guessing if that's what he means, or if he's simply saying that the real miced signal will always sound better.

My experience with no volume restriction mics vs IRs is the same as lower volume, no major difference. I'll need to make some comparison clips next time I get the change to do this.

You want him to choose your context when his years and years of expertise have nothing to do with your context.

Nobody wants to watch Tom Bukovac teach people how to record guitars in an apartment. They want to hear him play guitar and talk about his pretty darn unique experiences. It’s not like YouTube is lacking the kind of comparison you are asking for.

If some moron is going to watch that video and ignore the whole caveat of “you need to have a good sounding room with a good sounding amp for this to work” context he shared and try to mic their Delixe Reverb on naughty-point-five at 11pm without waking the neighbors cause Bukovac said it’s better than an OxBox…

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

For the record, I have “done my research” too and also arrived at an understanding that in my world and my context, digital devices sound at least as good as, if not better than, tube amps and mics. I just don’t assume that everyone else’s context is the same as mine, and assume that when a guy that started a YouTube channel to share with the world his experience as a studio session musician shares his thoughts, they are within the context of what works for him as a
busy, high output, studio session musician and record producer.

 

[laxu]

You want him to choose your context when his years and years of expertise have nothing to do with your context.

Nobody wants to watch Tom Bukovac teach people how to record guitars in an apartment. They want to hear him play guitar and talk about his pretty darn unique experiences. It’s not like YouTube is lacking the kind of comparison you are asking for.

If some moron is going to watch that video and ignore the whole caveat of “you need to have a good sounding room with a good sounding amp for this to work” context he shared and try to mic their Delixe Reverb on naughty-point-five at 11pm without waking the neighbors cause Bukovac said it’s better than an OxBox…

Except he was talking about some tube amp vs modeler comparison he watched, so I'm basing the context based on whatever that video likely is. Tom was the one who didn't understand minimizing of variables to make that comparison as like-for-like as possible.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Except he was talking about some tube amp vs modeler comparison he watched, so I'm basing the context based on whatever that video likely is. Tom was the one who didn't understand minimizing of variables to make that comparison as like-for-like as possible.

“I have beliefs about why the outcome of this video might not represent the full story, especially as it relates to the world in which I work. I started a YouTube channel specifically to share my unique experiences in this world that at least 100,000 people seem to be curious about. But I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

 

[FuzzyAce]

The pros comments:

"and we still feel like we're not good enough..."

Guitar Forumites: "With certitude, lemme tell everyone how little this person knows about the real world"

I've only watched maybe one vid with Tom about 3 yrs ago. Not sure why some get worked up about his opinions.
Based on the vid above I'd probably have a good time hanging with him, shootin' the shit and playing.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I've only watched maybe one vid with Tom about 3 yrs ago. Not sure why some get worked up about his opinions.
Based on the vid above I'd probably have a good time hanging with him, shootin' the shit and playing.

If I got worked up about everyone that disagreed with my thoughts on modelers, I’d have no one to play with in my area.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Are the houses in Nashville seperated from each other?

Where I live it just depends. Some houses are, some appartements, some villas.

If you don't have any neighbors blastings your tube amp might not be so much of an issue. So yeah, Tom just looks at the world differently.

I start to realize with a modeler I never have to be scared to hit the strings hard.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Are the houses in Nashville seperated from each other?

Where I live it just depends. Some houses are, some appartements, some villas.

If you don't have any neighbors blastings your tube amp might not be so much of an issue. So yeah, Tom just looks at the world differently.

I start to realize with a modeler I never have to be scared to hit the strings hard.

If you're a studio musician and the studios you go to are equipped with rooms and space, great pres and mics -- you're going to use mics and amps 99% of the time guaranteed. Why wouldn't you?

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

If you're a studio musician and the studios you go to are equipped with rooms and space, great pres and mics -- you're going to use mics and amps 99% of the time guaranteed. Why wouldn't you?

I think if today’s digital stuff had been available to Tom in ‘94 when he first arrived in Nashville and he was doing plenty of budget demo work where you are going in blind to learn and track 5 songs in 3 hours in a small-ish demo studio, he might have a very different perspective on digital. While still preferring amps and mics for his current work.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I think if today’s digital stuff had been available to Tom in ‘94 when he first arrived in Nashville and he was doing plenty of budget demo work where you are going in blind to learn and track 5 songs in 3 hours in a small-ish demo studio, he might have a very different perspective on digital. While still preferring amps and mics for his current work.

Supposedly, quite a few Nashville guys used the original POD and racks when they first came out. Tom may have played or tried a lot of that stuff back then, I don't know? He just vibes more on tube amps and cabs because they feel a certain way.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Supposedly, quite a few Nashville guys used the original POD and racks when they first came out. Tom may have played or tried a lot of that stuff back then, I don't know? He just vibes more on tube amps and cabs because they feel a certain way.

It’s all so much personal taste.

I can’t understand why somebody would buy a car without any form of new technology. And some can’t understand why I would want an automatic and why CarPlay / android auto is a must have.

I also have Bowers and Wilkers in our new car. Some find that cork sniffing

 

[FuzzyAce]

Another thing, mic'ing an amp in a space is like creating a 'perfect' model for that particular situation, in real-time.
There's a certain amount of romanticism and energy about that for players and it fuels their creativity. I enjoy using modeling for recording because it's easy and sounds great, and most importantly I can record silently. Speaking honestly, if I had no limitations with noise level and space I'd mic up amps majority of the time guaranteed.

 

[BahamaDada]

It sounds to me like you are shitting on modelers.

Maybe a bit bc I am salty, that I can't crank a 100w monster? It depends on *how* I *listen* to them.

Am I listening with a "producer ear"? The right tone and sound is everything that counts and that can be achieved with a professionally miced '68 Plexi or a original bean Pod with the right dials and solid playing.

Am I listening as a guitar player? I want fun. Modelers are fun. Moving real air and capture that on a song is an experience itself and should be experienced by every musician at some time in his musical journey.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Another thing, mic'ing an amp in a space is like creating a 'perfect' model for that particular situation, in real-time.
There's a certain amount of romanticism and energy about that for players and it fuels their creativity. I enjoy using modeling for recording because it's easy and sounds great, and most importantly I can record silently. Speaking honestly, if I had no limitations with noise level and space I'd mic up amps majority of the time guaranteed.

The loudest I could get during the day is volume 2 on a Deluxe Reverb getting to 3. After that my wife would be worried about my hearing.

 

[PLX]

Don’t you live on a compound surrounded by nothing but trees and mountain ranges and shit?

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Another thing, mic'ing an amp in a space is like creating a 'perfect' model for that particular situation, in real-time.
There's a certain amount of romanticism and energy about that for players and it fuels their creativity. I enjoy using modeling for recording because it's easy and sounds great, and most importantly I can record silently. Speaking honestly, if I had no limitations with noise level and space I'd mic up amps majority of the time guaranteed.

on the other hand, I totally get why this guy uses a Kemper for these kinds of sessions (note: longish video that isn’t guitar centric and is done by a YouTube personality that…is likely to grate).