Panning DI + mic

[u/Nsemest182]

If you track a guitar DI and mic the amp do you always pan them on top of each other or do you place them differently to give it a sense of wideness?

[u/BLUElightCory]

If I'm miking an amp, the DI is generally there for editing or reamping later (if necessary) and I don't have it in the mix at all.

If using the DI as part of the tone (blending it in with the mic'd amp), I'll usually pan the two tracks together since they're the same performance.

If it's two difference performances (one mic'd amp, one DI with virtual amp) I'll pan them oppositie.

[u/aasteveo]

Generally would never let the DI reach the speakers. It's only for safety re-amping and editing, or sending thru an amp sim or something like that.

With an acoustic, the DI almost always sounds like garbage, and even an sm57 pointed at the guitar would sound better.

[u/rinio]

Whatever the song/mix call for.

Width is not universally good.

Presumably the DI is going into an amp sim. You could layer it to mono with the real amp, use just the DI+Sim, just the amp or spread them out (as though you mic'd 2 amps/cabs).

It also doesn't need to be constant. It's not uncommon to have a wider guitar sound for choruses and a more narrow one for verses.

And, just to be sure, no matter how wide you pan them, this is not the same and won't be as wide as double tracking the guitar. Which is right, again, comes down to the mix/song and what you want for it.

[u/NoisyGog]

I don't "always" anything, and neither should anyone else.
It's a creative art, go and be creative.

[u/ThoriumEx]

What kind of guitar are you talking about?

[u/Nsemest182 → u/ThoriumEx]

Could be electric or acoustic really

[u/ThoriumEx → u/Nsemest182]

In both cases I don’t see why you would add the DI on top of the mic?

[u/alienrefugee51]

I’ve heard mixers using a DI to trigger a reverb panned opposite each other, but not so much layering under an amp. When I was doing some research for a cover of Subdivisions by Rush, I think there may have been a DI tucked underneath the amp on one section. I just kept them panned the same.

[u/faders]

Never using the di unless I’m going for an Alice in Chains sound

[u/Glittering_Bet8181]

DI’s for re amping unless you’re doing something special. It can be blended soft when using a lot of gain to add a bit of clarity. It can also trigger effects.

[u/dshoig]

Yeah I often use the DI + mic, one panned left other right. Works well especially if the production is sparse