Tone is muddy (recording with Cubase 13)

I'm not sure but it may be because of the DAC of the interface. Direct Monitor is before the sound goes through the interface DAC. Maybe it gets muddied by the Focusrite. I'm using a MOTU and the tone is pretty close to exact into the DAW, and definitely not enough to notice from live to a mix. I know not all DAC converters are created equal.

Another thing to try is if you are sending a stereo signal into Focusrite then you want to Direct Monitor in Stereo and not Mono + Mono. I'm not sure your interface has that option.

I'd suggest you just don't use Direct Monitoring unless you get a better interface--if you are dependant on an "exact" tone. Use latency correction in Cubase and set your tone according to what it sounds like in the DAW, and then go to Direct Monitoring to record not worrying if that tone is different. In the end, the audience hears what the DAW puts out.

I don't use SPDIF but I imagine the tone is exactly the same from output to output on the Kemper.

I really wouldn't suspect the converters in this day and age - at all.

How are you monitoring while recording?

Hi Actovis just a question... Isn't it an option for you to use the kemper as your audio interface?

Or at least try to see if the kemper as an audio interface sounds muddy.

You can also look into proper gain staging between the Kemper, your interface, and the DAW levels. If one sound is lower than the other then you might perceive it as being more muddy when it's only lower.

Try using just a regular guitar cable from the Kemper to the Focus rite and record that alone as a test, without any XLR.

The interface may be adding a preamp, thinking it's a mic signal due to the XLR.

It's also good to make sure you're sending a decent level to the interface.

Are you using any plugins in Cubase? Check your channel strip settings. Are you recording onto a stereo track? Do you have any technology like Sonarworks/SoundID enabled? And most importantly: Are you listening at the same level between live playing and playback? You might also hear the resonance of the strings while tracking. Try with headphones. Is the difference still there?

I always use S/PDIF to save an unnecessary D/A conversion.

Preamps on the XLR ins of your interface are often unable to be defeated so you can get some noise there. If you are going out analog, the output volume from the Kemper should be up full (unity gain) and no boost at the interface.

The possibility of a mismatch between stereo signal input and Mono track or panning issues are also something to consider as musicmad pointed out above.

Quote from Actovis

first of all thanks for all the answers

Michael_dk I used the monitor function included in cubase. I switched later between the monitor function in cubase and the direct monitiring from the focusrite.

Bakersounds I tried that in the very beginning but honestly I couldn´t mke it happen. Maybe I have to dig a little deeper in how that works... Dou you have any helpful links to threads or videos for that?

BayouTexan I´ll try that, the gain on fhe focusrite was off to very low and the gain at the profil was like 5-7/10. I´ll try changing that too.

DonPetersen so you think it´s something different than the conversion? I´m sorry for asking, english is not my mother language

Bu are you monitoring on headphones, or on speakers? When recording, or when playing back?

Quote from Actovis

I tried that in the very beginning but honestly I couldn´t mke it happen. Maybe I have to dig a little deeper in how that works... Dou you have any helpful links to threads or videos for that?

Sure:

Quote from Actovis

I use the KRK V6 as monitors, while recording and playback

It can be problematic - for some - to monitor on speakers while recording. Or rather, the direct sound of the pick hitting the strings can skew the perception of the tone, making the recorded tone seem more dull/lifeless. That's why I asked.

But you say you've tried using headphones as well.

Quote from Michael_dk

It can be problematic - for some - to monitor on speakers while recording. Or rather, the direct sound of the pick hitting the strings can skew the perception of the tone, making the recorded tone seem more dull/lifeless. That's why I asked.

But you say you've tried using headphones as well.

Very true. Our auditory perception of any sound is strongly influenced by the part of the sound that arrives first to our ears which will be the pick attack - which is particularly prominent at modest SPL. Enclosed headphones help (to some degree at least) screen out the pick sound which gives the sound a bright attack before the processed sound from the monitors or even the sound from of an amp some meters away arrives at the ear.

Quote from Antipodes

Very true. Our auditory perception of any sound is strongly influenced by the part of the sound that arrives first to our ears which will be the pick attack - which is particularly prominent at modest SPL. Enclosed headphones help (to some degree at least) screen out the pick sound which gives the sound a bright attack before the processed sound from the monitors or even the sound from of an amp some meters away arrives at the ear.

Huh - I never thought about the immediacy of the pick attack being a factor in this instance, I mostly thought about it in terms of attack and frequency, but it makes a lot of sense. Especially considering the Hass effect.