Plugging an electric into a computer for recording?

[EShirazi]

Hey guys... I've plugged in my electric via 1/4 to 1/8 adapter, and am using Audacity... I got Cakewalk but for some reason the record button doesn't work. I don't know how to use that program. Anyway;

Whenever I record on Audacity with my guitar... it sounds very.... blah. I use the noise removal tool and everything, but it still sounds a bit muffled. Is there anything I can do to make it sound decent, or is that adapter only meant for acoustics?

[RADAR_Brian]

You might download and try the demo for Mixcraft... you can use plugins and fx for Mixcraft and Audacity... that may help also. I like using Mixcraft more for my electric.

[barockeva]

Do you plug it in the mic jack?

[EShirazi]

Yeah, Im plugged in through the mic jack.

New problem - so in the past two hours I've figured a way to get my guitar all set up to record via Cubase - problem is, it records fine... but when I click on "Monitor" it lets me listen as I play but theres a big delay between me hitting the note on my guitar and hearing it through my speakers. How do I lower the uh, latency I think its called? I've been googling it for a while.. no luck =[

[barockeva]

I dont know how to fix the problem, but latency is the correct word.

[RADAR_Brian]

It has to do with your soundcard... if your soundcard has ASIO support and the software uses it.. it will cut your delay way down.

You might just keep the monitor off and unmute the mic level on your Windows sound EQ and hear it that way... it won't have the effects there but you'll at least hear it.

[Flying V]

There's a whole lot of problems when trying to get your guitar to run through your computer, for me it nearly set my amp on fire :(. I tried the mixcraft demo which didn't seem to work. Your best bet is to buy a program designed for guitars. You may also need a pre-amp. I bought an iAxe metalien a few months ago which plugs straight in the usb. It comes with a choice of 3 amp designs (bluesy, tube amp or modern) and all the necessary equipment. The guitar is pretty well made too. I chose the tube amp software and the variety of tones is great. I can nail stuff i couldn't get on my 30 watt marshall (like a decent randy rhoads tone for example) and you can record straight to your PC without background noise.

Hope this helps ;)

[RADAR_Brian]

I don't run through an amp when going to the computer. I have never had any problems recording or doing anything. However, if you don't have a really good soundcard it can be the cause of problems. I have a Soundblaster Audigy and it's pretty good. Where I teach school my computer is not a high level system and it gives me a fit..

Also, knowing how the computer works is a big help too. Some people don't realize that there are two mixing boards on your computer.. one for PLAYBACK and one for RECORDING... the mic level that you get to by double clicking the speaker in your lower tray is only for playback.. not for recording levels... if you go to OPTIONS on your mixer and pick PROPERTIES then click the RECORDING button you'll get another mixer window which is the levels for recording...

hope that helps.

[Axeman]

Wouldn't it help if you used a preamp like the Presonus Firebox? I haven't got one yet but that was what I'm looking into.

Axe

[C.WaR]

what about plugging into a laptop? i've been having trouble tryin to manage that.

[AndrewC]

some options:

buy an audio interface and plug the guitar into that, which is in turn connected to your computer

use a preamp of some sort (a cheap ART model would suffice) and go through that into the sound card's "line in" jack

use an analog EQ pedal such as the Danelectro Fish 'n Chips to boost the signal heading into the sound card and to tailor the tone to something less muffled/muddy

[crocket]

Basically, to connect to your computer without latency probs you need some sort of interface. I don't have any experience of others but am using a Line 6 Toneport GX. It cost less than £70 brand new and comes with loads of software for recording and stuff. I'm just using it plugged into an old laptop PC and the Podfarm software included is awesome. If you can't get the tone you want it doesn't exist!!!
Even with a crappy old acoustic guitar I can get anything from a rich, Gibson Songbird sound to Eddie Van Halen tones if I want (I just wish there was a 'talent-boost' button so I could play as well as Eddie LOL). There are lots of pre-sets and you can alter these or make your own tones - infinite variations available - then just plug it into your amp (or headphones if you're practicing at home) and make some good noise :)
I only just started using this so can't really offer much advice other than it is reeeaaal good value for money and works great with no latency on a very ordinary laptop PC and with the added advantage that you can make a shit guitar sound good :D but only if you can play it and there is a magic way to learn this too! It's called ...... practice :)
Seriously folks, all the technology in the world won't help you to play but it can sure help you to get the best outta what you got.

[SleepySamSlim]

IMHO there are 2 paths here - each has pros/cons - but for getting semi-decent tone into your PC/Mac you do need an audio interface / mixer. The primary job this does is hopefully has decent (quiet) pre-amps to boost your guitar signal BEFORE it gets to your computers audio.

Path 1 -- Easier but relies on USB or Firewire --- and that means more drivers involved. An external interface / mixer using USB or Firewire will need drivers loaded --- drivers either work great or have "issues". Drivers are either well written and induce minimal latency - or are crap and you will have issues. On the flip side, using a digital interface typically makes configuring your recording software easier (but these are general statements). Also going digital (meaning your guitar notes are converted from analog to binary in the external interface) can also reduce noise injection onto your recording. Also you need to have USB2 to really go this route or Firewire 400.

Path 2 -- Old Skool analog mixer --- this mixer sits either between the line-out of your amp or plug your guitar right into it. You've got pre-amps gain and tone controls etc. The mixers analog output goes to your computers Line-in. Simple and direct - no extra drivers - just your sound card drivers. In general you will have to do more fiddling to get audio inputs both enabled - levels set -and routed to your recording software.
Typical analog mixer: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/802.aspx

So pick your poison --- I just switched from a USB2 Tascam unit US-122L (simple unit) to a analog Peavey PV6. Primarily so I could use the mixer for XP and for Linux (Tascam has no Linux drivers). And yes there was 2 evenings of head scratching to get the PV6 to perfectly route into my Guitar Tracks Pro (Cakewalk).

[angelicrock]

The best route to go is Guitar>effects pedals>mixer (mainly if you are recording in stereo or more than one thing at a time)>AI such as an M-Audio box.

This will maximize your quality on a lower end machine and if you have the guitar and effects pedals the mixer and AI can be purchased for under $150. It will not give you professional studio quality for the low end price but you will get a great sound.

[J Gretch]

Whats up guys? I was going to start a new thread but this one is already on target for my question.

I'm getting ready to build a computer just for recording and I would like to know if I should go with firewire or usb as my interface? I'm still using Mixcraft and they don't recomend one over the other.

Also I'm looking at the Fast Track Pro or the Presonus Fierbox to use on the front side.

[angelicrock]

Sorry my reply is so late on this issue. With a computer, all you need is a dual core processor and either usb or firewire. I would say USB since most computers have them already and the firewire speed isnt noticeably faster. As far as hardware, you should get a mixer (you can get a decent one for like 50 bucks) and maybe an M-Audio Audio interface (it's like 100 bucks). With both of those you will have great recording quality and it will maximize the number of inputs you have while minimizing your cost. Most people would tell you to just get an audio interface but for a reasonable price you usually only get 2-3 inputs. Throw the mixer in there and you get around 20+ depending on the mixer.

It all depends on what you are recording though. If you are only using it for 1 guitar and vocals, the AI would be fine. If you are recording drums, or a live band, it is better to get the mixer as well. You definitely need the AI though for quality. It will take over the sound for your computer and basically shut down the sound card while you use it. Thus, you will not need to buy a sound card, onboard audio is fine.

[fly135]

Looking though this thread I noticed that no one has mentioned a major issue with plugging a guitar straight into a mic jack. The spec for the PC mic input is an impedance of the order of 10Kohms. A guitar pup will experience tone suckage with such a low impedance. Remember that volume pots are normally 250K for single coils and 500K for humbuckers. High output (or hot) pups generally are higher impedance and need to be plugged into a high impedance load. Amps have input impedances of 500K to 1Meg. So plugging straight into a mic jack is not conducive to getting a good sound. A cheap preamp like the Art tube preamp is a solution ($30 online) for a direct connect.

On a side note.. If you do go straight into a computer with a preamp you still need amp simulations to get a decent tone.

[ez-one]

line 6 has a product called Guitar Port, its about $100 new and about $50 used on ebay. Its super easy to hook up, has a great computer interface, a couple dozen stomp boxs and amps built it, a bunch of presets and user defines, and also you can download extra tones and tone settings from line 6 for just about any song or band you can think of. Just don't sign up for their learn guitar song stuff, its a monthly billing thing and the have a bad rep for not cancleing you when you request it, and if you don't save the cancleation request email, you will get nailed for the extra months that it takes for you to catch on.. they got me like that and I know a couple others that it happened to.