computer vs. live home recording

pgrace245 · August 13th, 2007, 04:10 PM

I'm trying to determine what is the easiest and cheapest route to go. I have audacity, but I need hardware to connect my guitar to the computer/audacity. What are my options for this hardware and what does it usually cost? Or would it be cheaper to record from my guitar amp instead? I am new to recording as you can probably tell. I searched the topic and still not sure which route to go. My guess is it might be cheaper to do it on the computer but can you use different amp models on Audacity? I like my tweed fx model on my amp.

I saw this gadget at Target. Does this connect to the amp and my guitar chord? If so, perhaps I could get my amp on the computer.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000FT4Z3Y

cacibi · August 13th, 2007, 05:25 PM

From the looks of it - that gizmo you linked to will allow you to play through your amp, and send the audio signal into your computer/hardward interface simultaneously....it will not help your amp audio into the computer. That can only be accomplished by mic'ing your guitar cabinet, unless you have a modeling amp with a Direct Out - in which case you can run your amp into a hardware interface via XLR - however, it will not be the same as recording your amp....in other words, there will be differences between the Direct Out of a modeling amp and how it sounds mic'ed. IMHO - nothing can emulate a physical speaker pushing air. That's not to say that you can't get sounds that YOU like and YOU find usable from modeling hardware or software.....it's all a matter of taste. I have some presets on my Pocket Pod that I would record with....maybe not for a final version, but certainly for demo or quick overdubs on someone else's project.

Kurt · August 13th, 2007, 07:07 PM

There are others here much more experienced with recording than I am, but here's my 2 cents. Your choice will depend on exactly what you're trying to accomplish - basic recording for practice, creating demos, creating high-quality mp3s, CDs, etc. If you really enjoy the sound of your setup thru your amp pushing real air, then a mike thru an audio interface could be the way to go. Otherwise, you'll probably want to look at plug-ins that work with Audacity to liven up your guitar sound. My guess is that a few Google searches should yield what you need for plug-ins. There are also a number of Audacity users here so they should have suggestions.

I work over the Internet with other musicians to create finished mp3s and I create guitar parts both with a mike and with software plug-ins (I like the miked stuff better). I'm also learning to contribute other parts via a MIDI keyboard. I use Mbox2 Pro for the interface which comes with ProTools. The downside is that ProTools is all proprietary. The upside is that most of the musicians I work with use ProTools so sharing projects is a bit easier. I also like the ProTools user interface.

However, looks like short money for you to try the gizmo you're looking at to see if you like it.

pgrace245 · August 14th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Thanks for the responses. Are these my options?

A. Get the gizmo from target + Audacity and I can start recording. With the possibility of picking up my amp model settings. Worse case just using the Audacity amp settings since it's possible my DSP settings wont go through.

B. Get an audio feed that can record my guitar playing through my amp, eliminating the need for hardware that will connect guitar to computer. Possibly sounding better. Kurt you use Mbox 2 Pro, are there more affordable options that will give me decent quality (recording for practice and maybe demos)?

This is my amp

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbas...2/6/427426.jpg

It has "Aux In" red/white cable connectors on the front of the amp. Will this allow me export sound or is it just for importing sound? If I can export sound, then perhaps getting the XLR hardware may be the way to go.

OK I'm getting somewhere...

Kurt · August 14th, 2007, 06:25 PM

I used to own a Tascam US-122L audio interface which worked well (handles guitar input, mike input, etc.), comes with Cubase LE (stripped down version of Cubase) which you can use instead of Audacity if you want, and you get can some basic free plugins for amp simulation (they're ok but I never found one that sounds as good as my amp-I prefer to mike instead). Some people put a modeler in front of the audio interface, I think, to improve the sound.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about picking up DSP through an interface and I don't see any outputs on the amp that would allow this. I assume that the inputs are for an mp3 player, etc., if you want to play along with some tunes.

Hope this helps. Not an easy decision. My mistake is usually to go with something inexpensive only to outgrow it and then have to trade up.

pgrace245 · August 15th, 2007, 09:57 AM

So I found this gadget on MF. It looks like it will do what I'm looking for. Its the Behringer USB Guitar Link. It comes with one Native Instrument Classic Amp Combo. You can choose three, combo #2 was referred to as the "Twang Combo" so you can guess which one I'm going to go with. It's the Fender amp modeler with a bunch of different settings.

Gadget
http://www.behringer.com/UCG102/

software/amp setting look
http://www.behringer.com//IAXE393/NI-GuitarCombo2.gif

Best part it was only $39 from MF. I'll let you know how it works.

August 13th, 2007, 04:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
pgrace245 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 251	computer vs. live home recording I'm trying to determine what is the easiest and cheapest route to go. I have audacity, but I need hardware to connect my guitar to the computer/audacity. What are my options for this hardware and what does it usually cost? Or would it be cheaper to record from my guitar amp instead? I am new to recording as you can probably tell. I searched the topic and still not sure which route to go. My guess is it might be cheaper to do it on the computer but can you use different amp models on Audacity? I like my tweed fx model on my amp. I saw this gadget at Target. Does this connect to the amp and my guitar chord? If so, perhaps I could get my amp on the computer. http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000FT4Z3Y

August 13th, 2007, 05:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
cacibi Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,740	From the looks of it - that gizmo you linked to will allow you to play through your amp, and send the audio signal into your computer/hardward interface simultaneously....it will not help your amp audio into the computer. That can only be accomplished by mic'ing your guitar cabinet, unless you have a modeling amp with a Direct Out - in which case you can run your amp into a hardware interface via XLR - however, it will not be the same as recording your amp....in other words, there will be differences between the Direct Out of a modeling amp and how it sounds mic'ed. IMHO - nothing can emulate a physical speaker pushing air. That's not to say that you can't get sounds that YOU like and YOU find usable from modeling hardware or software.....it's all a matter of taste. I have some presets on my Pocket Pod that I would record with....maybe not for a final version, but certainly for demo or quick overdubs on someone else's project. __________________ www.krisgeren.com

August 13th, 2007, 07:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kurt Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: MA Posts: 363	A few thoughts There are others here much more experienced with recording than I am, but here's my 2 cents. Your choice will depend on exactly what you're trying to accomplish - basic recording for practice, creating demos, creating high-quality mp3s, CDs, etc. If you really enjoy the sound of your setup thru your amp pushing real air, then a mike thru an audio interface could be the way to go. Otherwise, you'll probably want to look at plug-ins that work with Audacity to liven up your guitar sound. My guess is that a few Google searches should yield what you need for plug-ins. There are also a number of Audacity users here so they should have suggestions. I work over the Internet with other musicians to create finished mp3s and I create guitar parts both with a mike and with software plug-ins (I like the miked stuff better). I'm also learning to contribute other parts via a MIDI keyboard. I use Mbox2 Pro for the interface which comes with ProTools. The downside is that ProTools is all proprietary. The upside is that most of the musicians I work with use ProTools so sharing projects is a bit easier. I also like the ProTools user interface. However, looks like short money for you to try the gizmo you're looking at to see if you like it.

August 14th, 2007, 06:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kurt Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: MA Posts: 363	Alternatives I used to own a Tascam US-122L audio interface which worked well (handles guitar input, mike input, etc.), comes with Cubase LE (stripped down version of Cubase) which you can use instead of Audacity if you want, and you get can some basic free plugins for amp simulation (they're ok but I never found one that sounds as good as my amp-I prefer to mike instead). Some people put a modeler in front of the audio interface, I think, to improve the sound. Unfortunately, I don't know much about picking up DSP through an interface and I don't see any outputs on the amp that would allow this. I assume that the inputs are for an mp3 player, etc., if you want to play along with some tunes. Hope this helps. Not an easy decision. My mistake is usually to go with something inexpensive only to outgrow it and then have to trade up.

August 14th, 2007, 10:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
pgrace245 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 251	Thanks for the responses. Are these my options? A. Get the gizmo from target + Audacity and I can start recording. With the possibility of picking up my amp model settings. Worse case just using the Audacity amp settings since it's possible my DSP settings wont go through. B. Get an audio feed that can record my guitar playing through my amp, eliminating the need for hardware that will connect guitar to computer. Possibly sounding better. Kurt you use Mbox 2 Pro, are there more affordable options that will give me decent quality (recording for practice and maybe demos)? This is my amp http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbas...2/6/427426.jpg It has "Aux In" red/white cable connectors on the front of the amp. Will this allow me export sound or is it just for importing sound? If I can export sound, then perhaps getting the XLR hardware may be the way to go. OK I'm getting somewhere...

August 15th, 2007, 09:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
pgrace245 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 251	So I found this gadget on MF. It looks like it will do what I'm looking for. Its the Behringer USB Guitar Link. It comes with one Native Instrument Classic Amp Combo. You can choose three, combo #2 was referred to as the "Twang Combo" so you can guess which one I'm going to go with. It's the Fender amp modeler with a bunch of different settings. Gadget http://www.behringer.com/UCG102/ software/amp setting look http://www.behringer.com//IAXE393/NI-GuitarCombo2.gif Best part it was only $39 from MF. I'll let you know how it works.