Recording instruments...

[jake_]

Any thoughts on how to record my bass/guitar with decent sound quality with my computer without spending a lot of money or getting a good sound card?

I've been playing around with directly plugging it into my PC and going through my amp first, but the sound quality is much too distorted to be of any use. I assume the fault lies with my sound card... amirite?

[Xylaquin]

Re: Recording instruments...

I'm not familiar with how such guitars work, but I imagine the output jack(s) on them do not give out power, so they're a bit like microphones in that way.

So if you were to plug the guitar into your line in, I wouldn't be surprised if nothing happened, or a very quite and/or distorted sound was produced. And plugging it into the mic in might work, but I'm sceptical.

You could probably use the line in on your soundcard if you went through an amp first. Try setting the amp to low volume, and flat equalization (should it have an equalizer or treble/bass knobs).

Just experiment i suppose.

[CaptainKirk]

Re: Recording instruments...

lmgtfy...

http://www.musiconmypc.co.uk/art_record_guitar_on_pc.php

[jake_]

Re: Recording instruments...

lmgtfy...
http://www.musiconmypc.co.uk/art_rec...itar_on_pc.php

I already knew all that. I was curious to see if anyone else had a better solution than spending money on a new sound card or other device or using a mic (which I have and can use...), i.e. something cheaper that might not show up on the first few google searches.

Believe it or not, sometimes it is actually better to ask for advice rather than just using google.

[[GCA]Tim270]

Re: Recording instruments...

http://line6.com/podstudioux2/

Used that for years. Decent bit of kit if you can find it cheap enough.

Used with http://www.ableton.com/

[AlecJ32]

Re: Recording instruments...

When I record with Guitar Pro, I plug the instrument of my choice directly into the 'Line-in' on my motherboard. That means no amp in the loop.

You could try that, but of course you'll just have a raw sound which you'll have to apply VSTs and effects to after you've recorded.

http://line6.com/podstudioux2/

Those are expensive as hell if you're just an hobbyist and don't have piles of money to spend on equipment.

[[GCA]Tim270]

Re: Recording instruments...

Those are expensive as hell if you're just an hobbyist and don't have piles of money to spend on equipment.

Well I payed halfs with a friend on it, and we got it cheaper at our local music store. I agree, its a steep price but you can get a lot out of it...

[TGL|FalseLion]

Re: Recording instruments...

I've been playing around with directly plugging it into my PC and going through my amp first

i wouldn't recommend doing that. I had a friend fry his soundcard doing that.

I use an M-Audio Fast track for home recording. They run about $80 for a two channel and work pretty well. I've got a friend who uses a PCI recording card, that I've heard good things about but haven't gotten the opportunity to mess with yet. I think the one he has is an 8 channel that he picked up for around $200 if i recall, wouldn't swear to that though.

[jake_]

Re: Recording instruments...

http://line6.com/podstudioux2/


Used that for years. Decent bit of kit if you can find it cheap enough.

Used with http://www.ableton.com/

Yeah.... no.

i wouldn't recommend doing that. I had a friend fry his soundcard doing that.

I use an M-Audio Fast track for home recording. They run about $80 for a two channel and work pretty well. I've got a friend who uses a PCI recording card, that I've heard good things about but haven't gotten the opportunity to mess with yet. I think the one he has is an 8 channel that he picked up for around $200 if i recall, wouldn't swear to that though.

Looks interesting. I was talking to my brother who's an electrical and computer expert. The problem is that my computer takes low-impedance input while the guitar/bass is high impedance. A small USB interface is all I really need, I guess. I'm gonna probably trying to find the simplest/cheapest one I can find, though. I already have a good amp/bass cabinet sitting right in my room.

[AlecJ32]

Re: Recording instruments...

i wouldn't recommend doing that. I had a friend fry his soundcard doing that.

I fail to see how that's even possible under normal circumstances.

[TGL|FalseLion]

Re: Recording instruments...

I fail to see how that's even possible under normal circumstances.

I can't really remember what he said happened. I just know he did it with his bass amp.

[jake_]

Re: Recording instruments...

I've been using a USB mic I have to mic the amp. It seems to work quite well, although I would prefer something that didn't pick up ambient noise, which tends to crop up quite a bit when I'm recording in my room. :p