Tascam us122L question

[adolescentsfan]

I posted a similiar thread on a different board, but this seems like the right board, I'm new to this site and recording, so whoops.

Alright I have no recording equipment and I'm looking at the Tascam us122L. It seems like a solid buy so far, especially since it is supposedly an improvement over the 122. I need to ask though, if I run it with Audacity, or one of the other similiar programs can't I record an almost unlimted number of tracks(not that I'm doing 50), and I can play back the existing tracks while recording another, right? Also since I've been told that playing a guitar directly through it would probably sound crappy. Could I run a guitar to an amp, to the 122L, or would I get better results miking the amp?

I'm trying to find out all I can so I make the right purchase, besides I'm sure you guys will have some interesting convo because of this.

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by adolescentsfan

if I run it with Audacity, or one of the other similiar programs can't I record an almost unlimted number of tracks(not that I'm doing 50),

I recommend you start with the $40 shareware program Reaper because it's made for multitracking which Audacity isn't and will run both softsynths - of which there are about a million free ones - and soft effects. And yes, until you've filled up your computers memory you can record an unlimited number of tracks and play back existing tracks while recording another.

Also since I've been told that playing a guitar directly through it would probably sound crappy. Could I run a guitar to an amp, to the 122L, or would I get better results miking the amp?

I've had one of the original US-122's for years now and have plugged my guitar straight into it with mixed results. I wouldn't call it 'crappy' but I probably wouldn't use it on a CD either. Your idea of micing your amp is a good one and will work, but don't stop there. Experiment with eveything you can lay your hands on, from Pods to distortion boxes to delays as processors before your guitar signal hits the US-122L.


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[adolescentsfan]

I'm starting off slowly, I'll bet I could get a bearable sound from plugging my guitar directly into it. As long as it sounds better than The Germs song "Forming" than I'm cool with it until I can get some more equipment. My idea would work though of plugging my guitar into the amp, then plugging the amp into the 122L via my external spkr jack, wouldn't it? I could throw a pre-amp in between the guitar and amp, would that be superflous?

[Elton Bear]

Your amp has a pre-amp in it, so your last point is correct, adding another would be pointless.

As for running your guitar amp into the US-122, don't use your speaker lead because the US-122 is not a speaker. IF, and only if, your amp has a DI or line output, you can use those to connect it to the US-122; I wouldn't bother though, it won't sound much better than plugging straight into the US-122 unless you use a mic.

[adolescentsfan]

I couldn't run it through my amp, another poster mentioned Pods, Delays, and distortion boxes, I'm not looking for a complicated sound, I just want it to sound as good as it does coming out of the amp. I could put a pre-amp in between the guitar and Tascam, but I'm willing to bet that would be no better than running it through an amp, please tell my I'm catching on.

Just to make sure I'm getting this clear, could I play back excisting tracks through headphones while recording another track? So I hear what I'm recording, and what has been recorded at the same time(the M Audio Fast Track Pro can do that). Like if I had drums laid down and was putting guitar in next, or I had all instruments down and was doing vocals. I don't want it to play back out loud and have that go into the mic along with the vocals.

[Elton Bear]

Yup - monitoring in headphones is easy if you use the headphone jack on your US-122

As for your guitar sound, mic up the amp, that's how you'll capture the sound of your amp.