Guitar- recording at home

[fr33th3w33d]

well, i play guitar and i always seem to get into some pretty intense grooves when i toke. the problem is that i can't ever remember the stuff i come up with for more than like 2 days what with my memory being clouded in smoke and all. i decided to buy some kind of recording software or something, but im not sure about what i need and i don't feel like going to guitar center or any other store because they always pressure me into buying shit i don't need. or so it seems anyway.

so i have come to you all. does anyone know how i can go about recording my stuff, without the use of a mic. some sort of software or something, with decent quality that won't break the bank.. $100-200, as little as possible i guess...

 

[meduser180056]

If you want to go digital recording which it sounds like you do then you can use your computer [provided it's fast enough and has a decent soundcard] and a recording software program [lots out there]. You will need a soundcard that will accept your guitar input or you need a mixer or something that you can plug your guitar into and then plug the mixer into the soundcard. Then you need some sort of speakers hooked up to the computer so you can hear yourself playing.

Guitars and computers don't go hand and hand like keyboards [cuz of the lack of midi 99% of guitars] and computers so it takes a lil tweaking.

Or you could spend a $100 on a midi pickup thingie and install it on your guitar. Don't recommend that though as I hear the latency is pretty bad. If you wanna drop cash get a Godin Midi guitar[$1000]. They have the best ones out there right now.

 

[fr33th3w33d]

my soundcard only has a yellow (speaker) and pink (mic) jacks..

would i maybe be able to get a jack converter to the small soundcard jack, and use like fruity loops or something to record?

really anything to save my stuff would be useful, but good sound quality wouldn't hurt.

 

[meduser180056]

You'd probably be better off just getting a better soundcard like a M-audio one. That would be within your budget.

 

[meduser180056]

You'll still need some kind of mixer though in order to be able to connect your guitar.

Guitar>>>Mixer>>>soundcard

I wouldn't use fruityloops for guitar. Personally I use Cubase, but Protools is good too. Depends what you like and what kind of music you make.

 

[Rastanfisk]

Buy a MBox2 mini it´s about $329 but it is worth the $
You get everything with it

Meet Mbox® 2 Mini — the world’s smallest, most affordable Pro Tools LE™ system ever. Whether you’re a singer/songwriter who’s new to recording or a seasoned pro on the go, Mbox 2 Mini packs professional features into a robust, ultra compact, easy-to-use audio workstation to record and mix music wherever your inspiration takes you. And with its diminutive size, Mbox 2 Mini literally puts the power of Pro Tools in the palm of your hand.

Tha Shit
GOO For it

 

[Rootstyle]

On the new macs they come with garageband and also an internal recorder. So you just have to select real instrument in GB and you can record straight into your computer without any wires attached. If you play next to the comp it pics it up pretty good. This is how I record all my stringin. Then you can go back and dub which is wicked.

 

[Shmike]

In my opinion, the best way to never forget a song is to write it down...

...it's accurate, it's cheap, and it's fun!

 

[Jack D Ripper]

mbox + protools is the most affordable way to multi-track high quality sounds

but if you just want to record jam sessions to remember your tasty grooves, use Audacity (free and open source) and a mic converted into the 1/8th inch line in on your sound card.

 

[stizzle]

I bought a little 4 track digital mixer/recorder and a SM57 mic and it sounds really good but would cost you around $400.

 

[RED145]

Go into your closet,look under all those boxes and grab the cassette recorder,six bucks in Maxell tapes and blow smoke at the recorder while pressing record!!Just like they do in the pick of destiny!!!

 

[DrLongbottom]

If you plan on upgrading your soundcard check out Amplitube2 its an incredible Preamp/Amp/stomp/rack/cab simulator......oh ya and it sounds awesome!! I run it on my macbook....I havent turned my tube amp on in almost a year!!...peace DLB

 

[strain_searcher]

Most important is a also either sonar for pc or pro tools which you can now use on pc or mac. I suggest finding a friend that can be there with you and knows what they are doing. It will save you many hours . We recorded a whole record in sonar and then mixed everything in pro tools. Good luck and yes amplitube 2 is freaking amazing. If you want to add some keyboards get your self a controller and sonik synth program. Always make sure your computer is compatible with what ever gear or software you get or you will not get it to work properly. Also read as much as you can.

Almost forgot you do NOT need a mixer. Make sure you get a sound card that your guitar can plug write into. M-audio makes a good one for $100 to start you out with. The fewer things you put bewteen your guitar and the computer the better signal and sound. You can eq mix and add effects... right from the music program. If you are tight on money just get an adapter and use the input from the back of your computer.

 

[1969]

I've used lots of stuff for recording guitar to pc, both expensive and in-expensive. I'd say your best bet for the amount of money that you want to spend is to buy a Tascam US-224. It hooks up to your computer via USB 2 and has a built in mixer that works with the bundled software. If I remember right, it records in CD quality audio.

I just looked and saw one on E-bay for 60 US.

Do a search and check it out.

edit

Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/TASCAM-US-224-D...INTERFACE_W0QQitemZ220145554764QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Guest]

thats tascams a really good find and i have used it before its really easy to get use to. also the tascam dp-01 i think thats what its called its $300 us now brand new

 

[fr33th3w33d]

thanks for all the ideas. i checked out the amplitube site, and i saw this http://www.stealthplug.com/Main.php?prod-SP.php thing.. i think at this point, thats the easiest solution to my problem.. only 130 beans, maybe ebay will have it for less.

or

 

[Jack D Ripper]

a used m-box on ebay is 1,000,000 times better and the same price... and pro-tools is better than whatever ass-clown software that thing comes with

 

[strain_searcher]

.I would not in a million years purchase that! It targets people that want a quick fix and do not know shit . this is cheaper and guess what???? you can plug your guitar right in to it.



http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUSB-main.html


when you get some money later you can upgrade to

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWire410-main.html

enough said

 

[fr33th3w33d]

It targets people that want a quick fix and do not know shit

they sure as shit had me goin.

i like that Fast Track though, it seems just about what im lookin for. a friend of mine is giving me some software too. either AcidPro or Ableton.. new dilemma.. i hear both are good, which will be best for both hip hop beats and guitar?

 

[Verite]

" Always remember to push record. " --- Tenacious D