NOOOO. Why amp sim! buy a sm57. crank the amp. use a good distortion pedal if your amp distortions isn't epic.

among amp sims that I have tested "Kemper" is much better than Axe Fx specially for metal. but , Real amp is much better than both of them. I can help you with getting better sound of your amp if you want.

 

For metal, you really need the lowend of a speaker moving.

You can use the send/return directly to the interface to use impulses too, im using a behringer ultra g gi100 between the head and the cab, one cable go to cab another to the interface, so i can use impulses with the sound of my poweramp. But with you dont want to use your amp, both 11 rack, Axe Fx...Pod HD...with good impulses will do the job. I recomend the Heavy Hitter pack from Ownhammer.

 

I just can't get the sound what I want, it is always too much bassy, whatever I do, and if I make up the high or presence, then it will be even worse, too much crispy, harsheness. I put the SM57 by the edge of the cap. The settings are by the amp: Gain 4, low 5, mid 2, high 6.5, resonance 6, presence 6, post gain 3. I used an SD-1 for boosting (drive 0, level max, tone at 11 o clock).
I read or saw a video on YT, I can't remember, and there said that the 5150 is too much dark and bassy for recording...speacially with Celestion V30, I have a mesa 2x12.
Here is an example what I've recorded. https://clyp.it/ywp2kdpf

 

That's a good sound for one 57. Get one more mic and start blending.
Are you comparing your one track to the multiple mics and multiple tracks you hear on recordings?

Now take the output of your preamp and add IRs. You want more highs add a bright cab instead of EQing.

If it's too harsh, gradually move the mic away from the center. Angle the mic. No one mic position works perfectly and doesn't take into account for different pickups, room, etc.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Jul 8, 2017

If you JUST want a sim for home recording, i will advice you to STAY AWAY from hardware. Because those hardware sims will do their best live.
Now, if you want to replace your real amp everywhere...it is another story :D

As a reference, i sold my last real all tube amp to keep a Tonelab LE (hidden gem, when you know how to set it). Everything else is pure software.

Here is my take on the subject :D
Cab sim is the key

So i would advice the BEST EVER software cab sim : Nebula, combined with OwnHammer Nebula cabs.
Here, you get this metal "bottom rumble", dynamic and more sizzle and such. Not that "static" impulse sound.

As far as 5150/6505 sim, TSE X50 v1 (free) or v2 (paid).

But of course, you are not tied to X50. The KEY is to use a regular cab sim for playing, and replacing it by Nebula/OwnHammer afterward.
100% pure software. And killer sound.

To me, when ppl find the difference obvious between all soft and all hard, main factor is "aliveness" lost in regular/impulse cab sim ;)
As a side note, new algos were introduced in AxeFX cab sim to recreate this Nebula-like "aliveness" to regular impulses.

On Kemper, it is different : the whole engine is based on non linearity, so it captures cab/mic, along with the rest...like Nebula ;)

You can try this solution by going on the sister site :D

 

Man your demo is a great sound . You can't get the touch and edge of this distortion with any amp sim.
put your sm57 in the center for the most edgy sound. but you should find the sweet spot.
put all of the Eq nubs in null position then change the mic position.
want somebody to play sth for you or do it yourself with guitar strap and your headphones.

after you found the sweet spot of your amp you can give the mic some angle with the amp surface. if the mic is vertical to amp you get the most edgy sound and if you give it angle it will get more bassier.
in the end dial you fav Eq and gain on your amp. crank the volume until you are near to get fired out of city.

and definitely you need post processing of recorded audio. use an Eq to shape the sound. also you need double recording the riffs.

I think this youtube video is good :

see this for advance EQing :

if you want to see the difference between direct sound of an amp sim with the miked sound just see this video after 3:55 . It clearly shows what direct recording lacks:

 

First of all, your tone is great. Try move the mic more to the center, or open the tone knob of your SD-1, it will tame the lows before the amp. Another thing is your room, try decople the amp of the floor or put the amp away from a corner. But i think you can get the sound that you want just backing off the low and resonance knob a little

 

I used to own the Axe Ultra. Amazing unit by the way, but I have since upgraded to the xl+ and it's by far a much better unit. I have tried the kemper and several vst's and I was never happy with the tones. I know its pricey, but keep in mind that it is also an audio interface with endless possibilities. In my experience, I pretty much sound the same live as I do in the studio.