I need help with recording my accoustic guitar

[MisterGoid]

Im trying to recording my accoustic guitar on my computer using cakewalk 9. The problem is that I can't get a recording without the playback having static in it. The problem isn't that its peaking at all... I can see that from the track view. I think the problem lays in my setup. Here it is. I have my guitar hooked into a distortion pedal (its not turned on... its for amp purposes) that's plugged into a stereo double 1/4 cord to single 1/8 jack. The other input in the jack is taken up by a mic that im using to mic the guitar. The jack is plugged into my computer through the microphone input. If that sounds confusing, Im sorry.... A friend said that Im having problems because Im trying to push both signals through the 1/8 jack... but he didn't give me an alternative way of doing it. If anyone has any thoughts on how to get a good sound from this set up, or any other setup that ends up with everything going into my 1/8 mic jack, then please tell me.... im desperate at this point. If I have to go out and spend money... whatever. Thats not an issue. I just want to record and get a good sound. Thanks.

 

[MISTERQCUE]

Welcome

That is your problem! Yu are trying to maximise 2 different signals
onto 1 path thru your sound card's input. You'll prob'y need to update your sound card. What is your budget!!??

 

[Slackmaster2K]

If you're using a 1/4" to 1/8" Y cable, then you should be getting one signal left and the other right. If you've got the 1/8" end plugged into your soundcard's LINE IN and you're recording a *stereo* track, then you're doing everything right.

Most likely the source of the static or whatever is your equipment. You're opening up a whole new big can of worms here my friend, and I hope you're prepared.

What soundcard are you trying to use? Most typical PC soundcards are not made for this kind of thing, and sound like shit.

Your soundcard is of course ythe prime suspect, but what other equipment are you using? You mentioned a microphone. What kind of mic are you using? I'm not aware of any microphones that are able to deliver line level signals, so that's going to be a major problem for you and you'll need a preamp. If you're trying to use one of those little electret computer microphones then you're never going to get a good sound, plus it's going to require the low voltage phantom power delivered by your soundcard's MIC IN to work properly. Finally, how noisy is that distortion pedal you're using as a preamp? Since your acoustic obviously has electronics, make sure that you're not picking up interference from your computer monitor, which is a very common problem.

So anyways, at worst this will require that you buy a microphone, a preamp, a direct box or guitar processor, and a new soundcard. And after all that, you still might not be able to get the "good" sound you're after. Welcome to hell my friend

Let us know what you need.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[MASTON]

Hi Mistergoid,
I'vejust started recording too so I can empathise, believe me.
I started out by putting a $30 mike straight into the mic input on my soundcard, and boy did it sound bad

Since then I have learnt that the 'mic' socket on any card is unusable as the built-in pre-amp in it is noisy as hell among other things. So first thing is get a pre-amp which you plug into the Line-in socket on the card. (Don't plug it into the mic socket as basically you'll be running a pre-amp into a pre-amp and you might blow up your card like I did. I put some tape over the mic socket on my next card)
Anyway, I'm on a low budget so I got an ART MP. Works a treat.

Sos anyway, I plugged my crap mic into my new pre-amp, and yes it's better but still horrendous. Best pre-amp in the world will sound bad with a low quality source.

OK, so need a new mic. You'll need a condenser mic. I ended up getting an OCTAVA MK219 which are dead cheap over there in the US ($99), but there are plenty to consider depending on your budget. (see the endless posts on 'best mics for under $200, that's really confuse you)

Once I got the mic, OK now we're getting somewhere. I'm getting a passable demo quality sound. The guitar still sounds kind of muffled and 'dead' but I'm pretty sure that's because I'm using a Soundblaster Live 1024 which is a cheap consumer card. Next step for me is to get a 20, or 24 bit semi-professional soundcard.

Anyway, let us know how you go

cheers
Maston