Mixing guitars into "Big" Hip Hop tracks

[Mickstape]

Hi all, just wanted to pick some brains about mixing mono guitar tracks into hip hop tracks.

I have been working on a few tracks for my little brothers hiphop group and have made a track that i really think can do with some nice moody guitar solos. I have been playing along through the gnx4 and out of my valvestate and it sounds ok.

so for the actual signal chain i would have the guitar routed through my gnx4 then into the ensemble and into logic. I should add that the actual track itself is produced through reason 4 then rewired through logic.

Now my questions are - 1. I have heard its best to track clean dry signal then either re-amp or send it back through the pedal and blend the two signals. If i do it this way will there be any problems with phase or latency due to the signal being sent through the pedal and into the interface? 2. I have made a custom patch on the pedalboard and am sure that i wouldnt be able to exactly match the sound if i just track directly into logic and then try and emulate the sound via plugs. Are there benefits to using onboard fx vs direct out of the gnx4? (Other than tracking a wet signal that couldnt be manipulated or processed). 3. Should i perhaps track the clean signal di'd into the ensemble, a clean dry signal direct from the guitar into an amp then mic'd up and then re-amp via the pedal and capture the actual amp signal that is totally wet?

This method of tracking to tracks that are already heavily processed has always interested me, i'm wondering when i actually do start to blend and mix the tracks into the main mix whether i'm going to have major eq and comp problems. As the bulk of the main track has a lot of sub 300Hz and a lot of 2-6kHz im thinking that although it may sound great now coming through my cabinet, when i actually run the signal through ensemble and into logic it may sound quite different. Then again it might not.

Any hints would be appreciated.

[Kurt]

Record the emulated out. Record the mic'ed up cab(s)
This will give you at least 2 distinct "wet" tracks (depending how many mics/cabs you record)
Also run a DI line pre-fx, you can re-amp or emulate it to your heart's content.

I'm a big fan of commitment, as much as possible, record the sound you want. Can save hours of F@#$ing around at mixdown changing guitar sounds trying to get the "perfect" tone. Nine times out of ten you'll just be chasing the sound you had in the room anyway!

[Mickstape]

Thanks for the reply Kurt.

Yeah i figured i kind of answered my own question in my post, i'm going to track track clean, a semi wet signal and the micd cab from the pedal. That way i keep the integrity of the sound and won't have to compromise on what i want vs what i need if that makes sense.

Cheers.