Just as title says, I've got a scarlett solo 3rd gen, my electrical guitar goes into it then I record using ampsims in FL, the problem is that it doesn't sound right to me, it sounds way too loud, way too noisy, it lacks clarity, like the notes being played are barely distinguishable because of all the noise going on. Maybe I'm wrong and it sounds fine but all of the examples I've looked at have very clear sounding guitars even if they're distorted and whatnot.
I've searched around the internet for a bit regarding this problem and I'm not the only one this happens to, and the only real solution I've seen mentioned is getting a DI box, but I thought I should ask anyway before spending more money.

In the vocaroo below I used Neural DSP's Gojira ampsim, gain knob on the scarlett set to 0 (it clips if I turn it any higher), instrument input enabled. And just to clarify, it is not the ampsim, I've tried other ampsims, same exact result.
vocaroo.com/17zwpbvEYLwD

 

Not too sure on how to do this but here's some readings I've got

 

LUFS isn't really useful in this case. Open you DAW mixer, you should be able to see some metering alongside the faders. Try to get it at around -18db.

I find it weird you can't use the gain in your interface, there is most likely a gain staging problem in your setup. Maybe you're recording too loud, maybe the amp sim has the input gain too loud, maybe there's something in the DAW that is boosting gain after the interface and amp sim and it is clipping the output. There can be a multitude of reasons for why this is happening.

 

Hallo @qk303, a DI box might help with your problem.

Millenium DI-33 Aktive DI-Box - 29,90 € www.thomann.de/de/millenium_di33.htm

Use a good XLR cable and connect it to channel 1.

The 6 WORST Guitar Home Recording MISTAKES!

 

Last edited: May 7, 2025 at 4:23 PM

Do you have it connected to the Input 1 on the front? You have to get it Hi Z mode enabled. Don't skip this part.

 

I see what you mean, pulled up Wave Candy and Fruity Limiter in FL, set Wave Candy to RMS and tried getting the level as close to -18dB as I could using the compressor from Fruity Limiter and it definitely sounds better. Changing the Gain knob on the ampsim has an effect on this so I'm assuming that this is a case by case situation and I'd have to finetune it depending on the scenario.

It's connected to input 2 and the INST button is engaged as I've said in the original post, input 1 is for an XLR cable.

 

Step 1. Make sure the "halo" around the gain knob on the Scarlett stays in the green at all times when you are playing.
Step 2. Record a clean guitar sound onto a new track. No effects at all.

If that still sounds odd then upload the audio to the web and post a link on here so we can hear what you mean.

What sort of guitar are you using? Are the pickups active?

 

whats your setup?

if you put any boss pedal in stand by in the chain you probably will get a good impedance match, thats what I do when I don't want to use DI or Reamp box

 

Input level is fine on the interface, the halo is green at all times.
The guitar I use is an Ibanez RG with quantum pickups but I don't think the guitar is the problem, I've got a Pacifica and I'm having the same kinds of problems.

I don't have any real amps or pedals, it's just the instrument cable from the guitar to the audio interface input.

 

I have 3rd gen 18i8 , i have to select the input air/instrument/line. ive no idea but if you have focusrite control its worth a look

 

- Make sure your guitar has passive pickups
- Plug your guitar into your Focusrite interface
- Click the INST button and turn down the interface volume knob to 0%
- Turn your guitar volume knobs to 100%
- Create Audio channel in your DAW and select an amp sim plugin (Neural Dsp, Guitar rig etc ..)
- Adjust input and output volume on plugin to taste

If you still have noise issues, check your guitar cable type.
https://travelingguitarist.com/guitar-cables-unbalanced/

 

I was able to do more testing and I'm pretty certain now that this was the problem, I wasn't gainstaging, at all.
Many thanks to you good sir, you just saved me quite a bit of money and most likely countless hours of research and annoyance.

If anyone else that has this issue somehow stumbles upon this thread, you need to learn what gainstaging is and how to do it.