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Sound card for guitar recording 1
- Thread starter grez
- Start date
To record guitar you're better off plugging into your amp and then taking the output (if it has one) into the line in on your soundcard. I'm not sure what the normal output of a guitar is but I would suspect it is lower than line level so using the mic input may be the best choice if going direct into the soundcard. Try it and see. You'll want to get a 1/4" jack to mini-jack adaptor to do this.
Bear in mind you'll normally only get sound from one speaker as guitars are mono unless you have a software application that will allow you to record into a single channel with panning to centre (Cubase or Logic to name 2)
Bear in mind you'll normally only get sound from one speaker as guitars are mono unless you have a software application that will allow you to record into a single channel with panning to centre (Cubase or Logic to name 2)
I wonder how studios record guitars. I would have thought they used sound out of the amplifier and recorded it with a boom microphone or a stereo microphone pickup of some kind. You would probably get different effects depending on the room accoustical properties. I would have thought they used a microphone pickup (OR SEVERAL?) and run it through an equalizer and then recorded it. Might have better luck if there was a Musicians Forum.
I would be leary of blowing up a sound card. I dont think they can take too many watts.
If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.
I would be leary of blowing up a sound card. I dont think they can take too many watts.
If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.
Most soundcards have an 1/8" Line Input jack. You would plug your guitar amps Line Ouput into this, using approriate cable with proper jacks. Make sure that the output from the amp is Line Output, that is a 200 millivolt signal, if you use and amplified signal you will get distortion and risk destroying your soundcard.
When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.
When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.
Depends on your end goal. Most soundcards today with a "line in" jack can deliver surprisingly good quality recordings. If you're doing this for personal enjoyment, or to burn some discs for family and friends, you will probably be content with the results you can get from a common card (Soundblaster is a good brand in this category). Your playing ability and guitar/effects setup are likely to be greater limiting factors than the card when it comes to sound quality.
If you are wanting to set up a home studio to do serious tracking for music that will be sold, you're going to want to ante up for a better soundcard. These can be hundreds of dollars, but offer much greater processing "grunt" for that extra level of quality.
I suggest you check out for reviews by musicians of everything related to music - including home recording equipment.
Good luck!
VBAjedi![[swords]](/data/assets/smilies/swords.gif "[swords] [swords]")
If you are wanting to set up a home studio to do serious tracking for music that will be sold, you're going to want to ante up for a better soundcard. These can be hundreds of dollars, but offer much greater processing "grunt" for that extra level of quality.
I suggest you check out for reviews by musicians of everything related to music - including home recording equipment.
Good luck!
VBAjedi
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1
- #6
CitrixEngineer
Technical User
Any soundcard from Echo would be perfect. The Gina is great, but the Layla is exemplary
Otherwise look for one that sports RCA connections - mini jacks are hopelessly noisy. An external box is necessary to keep the noises from the PC itself away from your nice, clean guitar signal.
Go for a 24-bit device with ASIO driver support. For real-time recording, ASIO provides lowest latency - Creative cards can be quite nasty when you've got several tracks going. A good buget option is the M-Audio Audiophile.
The ideal setup would be;
1. A small mixer, such as the Spirit Folio - you DI your guitar amp into this, and you can get a much better EQ than software. The output goes via RCAs into the breakout box.
2. 24-bit external sound module with ASIO support.
3. ACID Pro software. Yes, it's expensive (£400), but for flexibility and the ability to combine MIDI and Audio (including recording MIDI to Audio in real time) it can't be beaten. A very cheap alternative is the Magix range - great, especially for £50, but limited.
I would also recommend looking at the Line 6 Pod - it emulates great amps, like the Marshall JCM800, Fender Champ and Mesa Boogie MkII at a fraction of the cost (Link is to the New XT version - there are older models which can be picked up far more cheaply!)
Otherwise look for one that sports RCA connections - mini jacks are hopelessly noisy. An external box is necessary to keep the noises from the PC itself away from your nice, clean guitar signal.
Go for a 24-bit device with ASIO driver support. For real-time recording, ASIO provides lowest latency - Creative cards can be quite nasty when you've got several tracks going. A good buget option is the M-Audio Audiophile.
The ideal setup would be;
1. A small mixer, such as the Spirit Folio - you DI your guitar amp into this, and you can get a much better EQ than software. The output goes via RCAs into the breakout box.
2. 24-bit external sound module with ASIO support.
3. ACID Pro software. Yes, it's expensive (£400), but for flexibility and the ability to combine MIDI and Audio (including recording MIDI to Audio in real time) it can't be beaten. A very cheap alternative is the Magix range - great, especially for £50, but limited.
I would also recommend looking at the Line 6 Pod - it emulates great amps, like the Marshall JCM800, Fender Champ and Mesa Boogie MkII at a fraction of the cost (Link is to the New XT version - there are older models which can be picked up far more cheaply!)
- Thread starter
- #7
TekTippy4U
Technical User
Depending upon exactly what you want to achieve....citrix looks to be on the good path here....
A decade ago, i used my Marshall HalfStack w/cab wired in parallel to obtain 4ohms, rather than the 16ohms series wiring usual.....and ran the Head at 4ohms, so it thinks it's driving 4 separate cabs (ala
50watts to each spkr) not the 12 and 1/2 watts usual with 16 ohms
Anyway i used my other Marshall cab for my "clean" sound....
with a Boss line selector (A/B switch for clean/heavy),
A crown rack amp, an eq, boss(roland) rack effects, and a direct box to go into the snake, to the Soundcraft board, and out to the PA
The idea here was to have a passive direct box w/quarter inch line, one in and one out, and low impedance mic-level out(lo-z), a ground lift switch and most importantly, a Spkr/Line In selector switch....so if i wanted,
I could plug the SpkrOutput of my fully amped overdriven Marhall Head directly into it, and get a low-z line out signal, and then Re-amplify it with a "clean" power amp, back into the Cab
(Eddie V used to achieve a similar effect with power attenuators)
The Low-z was primarily to prevent signal loss over distances...
You'd be hard pressed to find a sound card with a 3wire low-z mic-in, i'd think..
You could get a "Rockman" by tom scholz or similar for amusement and decent sounds without spending a ton...
w/built in fx, 1/8 out, but quite limited, yet cool...
I wish i was up on current stuff more..
For more serious stuff, like live acoustic (a great mic and room acoustics are key) and serious dubbing, check into citrix's links....I will, just cause i'm curious, and it may even spark my ass into playin' again..
Mabe not too much useful info here, but i sure had fun writing it...thanx for indulging all
TT4U
Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs..All involved shall be spared the grief.
A decade ago, i used my Marshall HalfStack w/cab wired in parallel to obtain 4ohms, rather than the 16ohms series wiring usual.....and ran the Head at 4ohms, so it thinks it's driving 4 separate cabs (ala
50watts to each spkr) not the 12 and 1/2 watts usual with 16 ohms
Anyway i used my other Marshall cab for my "clean" sound....
with a Boss line selector (A/B switch for clean/heavy),
A crown rack amp, an eq, boss(roland) rack effects, and a direct box to go into the snake, to the Soundcraft board, and out to the PA
The idea here was to have a passive direct box w/quarter inch line, one in and one out, and low impedance mic-level out(lo-z), a ground lift switch and most importantly, a Spkr/Line In selector switch....so if i wanted,
I could plug the SpkrOutput of my fully amped overdriven Marhall Head directly into it, and get a low-z line out signal, and then Re-amplify it with a "clean" power amp, back into the Cab
(Eddie V used to achieve a similar effect with power attenuators)
The Low-z was primarily to prevent signal loss over distances...
You'd be hard pressed to find a sound card with a 3wire low-z mic-in, i'd think..
You could get a "Rockman" by tom scholz or similar for amusement and decent sounds without spending a ton...
w/built in fx, 1/8 out, but quite limited, yet cool...
I wish i was up on current stuff more..
For more serious stuff, like live acoustic (a great mic and room acoustics are key) and serious dubbing, check into citrix's links....I will, just cause i'm curious, and it may even spark my ass into playin' again..
Mabe not too much useful info here, but i sure had fun writing it...thanx for indulging all
TT4U
Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs..All involved shall be spared the grief.
TekTippy4U
Technical User
Even a decade ago I was using old modded gear
(had an early '70's 200watt Marshall head at first, then a 100watt Lead, and finally, and still have/using rarely, a 1968 Marshall 50watt head and '69 Greenback cab..)
....I'm a stickler for that true vintage sound, and music equip manu..are finally catchin on with incorporating technology and also Re-issuing a lot of vintage series gear....
CitrixEngineer:
thanx for those interesting links.....much to think about now...and got a lot of catchin' up to do
![[bigsmile]](/data/assets/smilies/bigsmile.gif "[bigsmile] [bigsmile]")
TT4U
Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs..All involved shall be spared the grief.
(had an early '70's 200watt Marshall head at first, then a 100watt Lead, and finally, and still have/using rarely, a 1968 Marshall 50watt head and '69 Greenback cab..)
....I'm a stickler for that true vintage sound, and music equip manu..are finally catchin on with incorporating technology and also Re-issuing a lot of vintage series gear....
CitrixEngineer:
thanx for those interesting links.....much to think about now...and got a lot of catchin' up to do
TT4U
Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs..All involved shall be spared the grief.
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