How to record professionally, electro-acoustic guitars?

RUSTIC_MAN

How do Great bands, record the acoustic guitar parts?
Do they connect the guitar to a interface? to an amplifier? to a mixing desk?
How to get the best performance?

Answer
Great bands will use lots of equipment - mics - mixers - computers - preamps - signal processors - on and on and on.

You don't need all that - all you need is a simple USB mic to make a great recording of your guitar:

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S/ref=sr_1_2?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285620765&sr=8-2

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What cable and software i need for recording music with my guitar?

guitar usb preamp image

�ystein S

I want to record and edit my guitar music, but i dont know what cable and what software is the best to use!

Help please! :)

Answer
I just started to record as well and i needed a few things.

First, i bought a music program that will allow for editing/recording of music. It's called Sony Acid Music Studio and i bought it for around.. 40 bucks at Best Buy.

Next, to get your guitar inputed into your computer, you have to buy a preamp, which is essential a place to plug the guitar in and then it will transfer into a USB cable. I bought the M-Audio fast Track Pro for 200 bucks (pricey, yes but good quality) also at Best Buy.

There are tons of preamps and guitar recording software you just have to look around for your price range.

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Is there any way to use the line-in/microphone jack to play a guitar through Ableton Live 8?

guitar usb preamp image

I got Ableton about two weeks ago. I want to plug my guitar into my computer via the line-in/microphone jack to be played out of the program as a MIDI. If that's not possible, tell me what I need to do to make the sound coming out of my amp to go through the cord and play out of my speakers via Ableton.

Answer
You could do that, but the audio chip onboard a laptop will give you really bad latency (a delay between the sound going in and the sound coming out). This would make monitoring and overdubbing nearly impossible.

What you need is an audio interface like the Novation Nio or the Focusrite Saffire 6. They basically plug into your USB port as an external sound card. A really advanced sound card with really low latency, really high fidelity, nice preamps, and multiple channels in/out.

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How do I record my guitar from my amp to my computer?

guitar usb preamp image

Sergeant W

I have a Line 6 Spider II 30 watt, and it has a line out for recording. The line is a 1/4 inch size, the same as any standard guitar lead jack. At the moment i've just been connecting my guitar to the computer with a 3.5mm to 1/4 inch cable, but the recording quality is HORRIBLE.

What kind of cable or equipment do I need to improve the quality of recording?

Answer
You have to get the signal variables, as PCs have a different power system (voltage step downs and frequency input, interference changes) as compared to the one from a standard instrument amp, to be compatible.

A direct line into the PC may work straight for just playing over the PC speakers, but to go through the OS and any on-board audio of the standard PC software, may need to be altered.

This is done either by getting 'studio' software that is designated for such instrument inputting or having to add an Audio Interface device (powered by USB), connected between the PC and for any instrument input as guitar or microphone. Even (some) accommodates analog decks as tapes and turntables.

Then, there is the joy (being sarcastic) of getting to learn the software involved to get it all in operating mode and discovering whether or not that this will work out. Not to mention, further downloading of any 'upgrading' or even some Internet relationship with the makers of these products, continued advertising or promotional material involved and even additional 'fees' for service in the future.

It will be a 50-50 proposition with this process. All short of getting some digital recording electronics that will be independent of the Internet as CD recording decks or mixer/preamp to really have a hands-on recording tool to get the job done.

So, it would be of your benefit to gather all the research that you can before going by 'virtual' systems through your PC and software/audio interface or... an actual, home set up to record and playback at your command.

Both methods can get rather costly and time consuming, but worth it in the end to get the results you are looking for and the quality of reproduction to be expected. Whatever will work out the best.

Good luck. And welcome to the world of home recording.

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Is there any way to use the line-in/microphone jack to play a guitar through Ableton Live 8?

guitar usb preamp image

I got Ableton about two weeks ago. I want to plug my guitar into my computer via the line-in/microphone jack to be played out of the program as a MIDI. If that's not possible, tell me what I need to do to make the sound coming out of my amp to go through the cord and play out of my speakers via Ableton.

Answer
You could do that, but the audio chip onboard a laptop will give you really bad latency (a delay between the sound going in and the sound coming out). This would make monitoring and overdubbing nearly impossible.

What you need is an audio interface like the Novation Nio or the Focusrite Saffire 6. They basically plug into your USB port as an external sound card. A really advanced sound card with really low latency, really high fidelity, nice preamps, and multiple channels in/out.

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How should I connect a guitar to an USB mixer having a mic input with preamp?

guitar usb preamp image

Pramit Gho

I am buying an USB mixer (Behringer 302USB) having a Xenyx preamp built into the mic-in jack. Will I be able to record an electric guitar if I plug in the guitar (with or without effect units) directly into the mic-in jack? Will a keyboard/synthesizer also work if I connect them the same way?

Answer
The Behringer 302USB has a combination XLR/TRS input. I haven't seen one of these before but apparently it accepts both a Lo-Z mic plug or a TRS plug (inserted in the center) Your guitar cable is a TS connector but it should work. Use the Gain control to adjust the sensitivity of the input.

Alternately, you can try plugging the line out from your amp (if it has one) into the Line-in on the mixer. You'll need RCA plugs to fit the mixer input. The same holds true of the keyboard. It will work on one or the other of the inputs. This looks like a pretty useful unit for simple home recording.

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How do I record my guitar from my amp to my computer?

guitar usb preamp image

Sergeant W

I have a Line 6 Spider II 30 watt, and it has a line out for recording. The line is a 1/4 inch size, the same as any standard guitar lead jack. At the moment i've just been connecting my guitar to the computer with a 3.5mm to 1/4 inch cable, but the recording quality is HORRIBLE.

What kind of cable or equipment do I need to improve the quality of recording?

Answer
You have to get the signal variables, as PCs have a different power system (voltage step downs and frequency input, interference changes) as compared to the one from a standard instrument amp, to be compatible.

A direct line into the PC may work straight for just playing over the PC speakers, but to go through the OS and any on-board audio of the standard PC software, may need to be altered.

This is done either by getting 'studio' software that is designated for such instrument inputting or having to add an Audio Interface device (powered by USB), connected between the PC and for any instrument input as guitar or microphone. Even (some) accommodates analog decks as tapes and turntables.

Then, there is the joy (being sarcastic) of getting to learn the software involved to get it all in operating mode and discovering whether or not that this will work out. Not to mention, further downloading of any 'upgrading' or even some Internet relationship with the makers of these products, continued advertising or promotional material involved and even additional 'fees' for service in the future.

It will be a 50-50 proposition with this process. All short of getting some digital recording electronics that will be independent of the Internet as CD recording decks or mixer/preamp to really have a hands-on recording tool to get the job done.

So, it would be of your benefit to gather all the research that you can before going by 'virtual' systems through your PC and software/audio interface or... an actual, home set up to record and playback at your command.

Both methods can get rather costly and time consuming, but worth it in the end to get the results you are looking for and the quality of reproduction to be expected. Whatever will work out the best.

Good luck. And welcome to the world of home recording.

Powered By Y! Answer Blogger Poster

Is there any way to use the line-in/microphone jack to play a guitar through Ableton Live 8?

guitar usb preamp image

I got Ableton about two weeks ago. I want to plug my guitar into my computer via the line-in/microphone jack to be played out of the program as a MIDI. If that's not possible, tell me what I need to do to make the sound coming out of my amp to go through the cord and play out of my speakers via Ableton.

Answer
You could do that, but the audio chip onboard a laptop will give you really bad latency (a delay between the sound going in and the sound coming out). This would make monitoring and overdubbing nearly impossible.

What you need is an audio interface like the Novation Nio or the Focusrite Saffire 6. They basically plug into your USB port as an external sound card. A really advanced sound card with really low latency, really high fidelity, nice preamps, and multiple channels in/out.

Powered By Y! Answer Blogger Poster

How should I connect a guitar to an USB mixer having a mic input with preamp?

guitar usb preamp image

Pramit Gho

I am buying an USB mixer (Behringer 302USB) having a Xenyx preamp built into the mic-in jack. Will I be able to record an electric guitar if I plug in the guitar (with or without effect units) directly into the mic-in jack? Will a keyboard/synthesizer also work if I connect them the same way?

Answer
The Behringer 302USB has a combination XLR/TRS input. I haven't seen one of these before but apparently it accepts both a Lo-Z mic plug or a TRS plug (inserted in the center) Your guitar cable is a TS connector but it should work. Use the Gain control to adjust the sensitivity of the input.

Alternately, you can try plugging the line out from your amp (if it has one) into the Line-in on the mixer. You'll need RCA plugs to fit the mixer input. The same holds true of the keyboard. It will work on one or the other of the inputs. This looks like a pretty useful unit for simple home recording.

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