Hey guys I'm completely a newbie when it comes to recording and want your advice. I'd like to record my own music if I can, or even some satch/vai covers.

Tell me if I'm on the right track - I have a JS1200 with a Vox AD60VTX modelling amp. I'm very keen to get a multieffects processor, like the Boss GT-8/Digitech DNX3000/Line-6 POD so I can get any tone I want. I also would like to edit recordings on the PC (not sure what you call it mixer/EQ/compression?) - basically I want to be able to edit parts of a recorded song, for example to bump up the volume of a lead if it sounds drained out, or even add more effects to the guitar tone.

I don't want to buy something that is incompatible...like if I get the Boss GT-8, I heard it doesn't have a USB port - whereas the Line-6 POD is much more 'PC friendly'.

So the questions are:

1) Direct or mic recording? Does both methods allow me to edit/tweak recorded tracks on the PC?
2) As I said I am new to this - what terminology should I be aware of (eg. certain outputs from effects processors/rack units/amps? etc...) that will allow for recording? - I just don't want to buy something and find out its incompatible and I can't relay information with it for recording...
3) Can someone explain a basic set-up of a recording studio and the equipments used (from guitar all the way to the PC?)

Any help would greatly be appreciated, cheers guys.

hey Andy

I sense a little confusion here. All the items you described are not directly related to recording. They create or alter sound.

To record you simply need a recording device. This could be a recorder. There are many kinds available from cheap to very expensive. They have cable inputs to which you can connect anything that produces and transfers sound, like guitars, mics, music players etc. They also have, depending on the cost, effects and EQ proccessors and storage capabilities. They can edit many tracks together and produce a final result which could be a song.

It can also be a PC (or mac). With a simple sound card that has "line in" or/and "mic" inputs and a program that records the inserted sound, you can record and edit your tracks. And of course, combine the edit tracks to a song. And of course there are sound cards that have great capabilities but are expensive.

Between a simple "line in" recording to your PC and a high-quality recording there are so many things you should know, try and buy. For instance you might hear about digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital converters or latency. I suggest you should take it step by step.

So, look at your sound card and find the inputs it has. Search the Net for "home studios" to find recording software. You might have a look here :http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com

Good luck

great thanks for the tips mate, I am completely new to recording and I have googled a bit on recording - and I must say it can get very confusing for newbies like me.

I have a new ACER lab-top (bought it only 6 months ago) so I'm assuming it should have a decent sound card...(will need to check though). I guess the thing for me to decide is what method of recording to use, as you mentioned-

...using either a recorder or straight to PC method of recording...do you have a recording set-up at home? I wonder if its better to record using the mic to amp method, or to use all the new digital gadgets and play the guitar through an effect processor or something directly into the PC and editing the effects later?

cheers

Hi Andy;

I think you might want to look into getting a sound card other than what came with the PC, as usually they are not high quality, I think the guys are better suited to answering that then me, I use a simple Creative card http://creative.com/products/product.asp?c...5&product=10769

I think Mic to amp is always better quality wise, and then you can manipulate to your hearts content on the PC, however, a lot of times due to volume, i just record from Guitar rig to my PC directly, and I saw I use plugins to alter the sound, and that way my orginal ain't tampered with, and I can fool around as much as i want.

hope that helps, btw, I think guitar rig 2 or a boss GT-pro would be a great idea for effects if you need them.

I'm actually not that keen on the Boss GT-Pro rack uni now, because I want foot pedals to be able to change effects instantly. Hence the GT-8 is more appealing for me (initialling) considering it is way cheaper (and they both are pretty much the same thing) - but people have told me for recording, the GT-Pro rack is much better...i have no idea why, is it the more outputs that the GT-Pro has? Like a USB/XLR?

Hey mouhsen, thanks for the advice. You see, I would also prefer to use mic to amp for recording to get that real amp sound. But I didn't know you could still edit the recorded sound using this method.

When comparing mic to amp recording to direct recording to PC, what are the differences when it comes to editing? Advantages/disadvantages?

I would have thought direct recording (because all the signal is 'digitaly' relayed) would allow you to edit the full spectrum of the sound on PC till your hearts content, whereas mic to amp is a recording of the sound that has already been relayed through the amp for output, and hence you can't do much digital editing on the PC afterwards.

There is so much I still need to learn.

we all need to learn :P

If the GT-pro is out of your price range that is one thing, however if not, they do have footswitches to go with it, and you can use it to control your effects and your amp too :) It's better quality due to the output signal quality which was designed for professional studio use, I don't have the exact specs but you can find it on roland's site.

Editing is Editing, at least for me, it just depends on what you have to work with to begin with. I record with a mike, cause it captures a little bit of the room, and I am looking forward to getting a couple more mikes to get what I hear onto my recording device.

the thing is that most amps have horrible lineouts, that don't sound anything like what you hear through the amp, and that's why most people don't record line out. I know so racks like the Mesa boogie tri-axis is good at that.

anyways, let's talk, add me to MSN or something. we can learn together.

hey mouhsen,

I've been doing alot of reading on the net - gear reviews/forum discussions etc... and I have changed my mind. I now have my eyes set on the GT-PRO. The generall concensus seems to be that the POD-xt Live is better at emulating amps whereas the GT-PRO is better at effects. Both are versatile (for use on stage/recording etc...). I'm after effects and recording - so the GT-PRO is the one for me I think, although its bloody expensive.

Hey what rig have you got? can you post a pic?

I've currently got a JS1200 with a Vox AD-60VTX modelling amp - thinking about getting another amp later.

By the way, I only have a 56K modem connection, and I really don't have time for MSN I'm afraid. Whats your email address?

Cheers mate.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Mouhsen/Guitars

I am using my Suhr guitar or my Fender, straight to the amp. I am playing around with guitar Rig 2 at the moment, and am thinking of buying it.

my email is Mouhsen@gmail.com

in the future [as at the moment I'm a full time graduate student], I am thinking of getting a roland vg-99 & buying an ESP Edwards les paul.

finally, check out musicplayers.com I think it's a great site to learn about gear and recording and stuff.

Hi Andy

I use an Edirol external soundcard (got one from ebay) and Audition 1.5 studio programme for all my recording - the results sound great ! Most PC recording programmes come with effects that can be added in and manipulated to suit exactly what you want. So you can play a clean sound in, and then turn it into somethng else !

I am not a computer whizz, but even I can manage to create something that sounds half decent. ;)