New to this

[above0924]

I have wanted to record my own music for a long time now and I finally took the first step. I bought an Apple Computer with garageband. My question is what do I do next?

If I want to record with my Breedlove Acoustic/Electric guitar, do I need to run it through an amplifier? I am probably getting ahead of myself as it is. From what I understand, all I need to get started is a guitar, microphone, computer, recording software, and an interface. Is that true?

If someone could provide me an answer of a simple setup for recoding with an acoustic/electric guitar I would appreciate it.

 

[Nick98338]

(snip)...From what I understand, all I need to get started is a guitar, microphone, computer, recording software, and an interface. Is that true?

If someone could provide me an answer of a simple setup for recoding with an acoustic/electric guitar I would appreciate it.

Your first paragraph is pretty much it. The exact answer depends on the interface. If the interface has a microphone preamp. Or, has more than one... AND the interface has both microphone inputs and instrument inputs... then your first paragraph is almost complete. Fortunately, most audio interfaces, even very cheap ones, have one, or two mic preamps AND inputs for both mics and instruments.

So, you play the guitar in front of the mic. - the mic plugs into the preamp/interface (cable needed) - the sound goes through the interface into the computer (another cable) - and thus into the recording software. Or, you plug the guitar straight (different cable) into an instrument input in the interface. Simple - after you learn how to use the software.

Now, that is sound going into the computer. You also need to think about how the sound comes out of the computer. Both in the form of real audio through speakers and headphones, but also sound out in digital form. Burning to CD, .mp3, copying to the web, etc... The "out" part requires speakers, and amplifiers, and headphones, and CD burners, and file format converters, and web sites, and lots of cables.

 

[above0924]

Sound

Thanks for the info. If I plug the guitar directly into the interface, is the sound going to be good? Do I need to run it into something else before I do that, maybe like an amp or a pod.