Newby, Suggestion about what buying for do the next...

[tangomannn]

Hi !, I'm trying to build the dream of record my own cd at home, and I'm doing my first steps. I tried with the typical pc that everyone has at home,, and I didn't like the guitar sound that I captured, so:

To start I just want to record a guitar and a voice.
My question is,, what would you recommed me to catch a clean sound from the guitar, in my PC?
If I bought a 4 channels card, do I need a pre-Amp for the guitar? or can I plug the guitar directly to the card? What do you think is the best to have a clean sound without noises?

And question 2:
If I bought a mixer with a pre-Amp,,, do I need also a good Amp,, or can I just Plug the guitar directly to the pre-Amp Mixer ?

Any recommendation as a trade equipment, or a good budget equipment is welcome!!!!
Thanks! , Fernando from Argentina

 

[Creamyapples1]

Your best bet, for the best sound, in my opinion, would be to put a microphone on your guitar amp. Run the mic into a preamp or mixer preamp and then the preamp out or the direct out of the mixer to the input on your soundcard.

 

[random.hero]

u need something... you cant just plug guitar into pc... or at least im pretty sure you cant.

just get a cheap mixer with built in preamp and phantom power... dont skimp on mics...
you get what you pay for...
or so ive heard

 

[bubbagump]

Listen to Creamyapples1.

 

[Theo_C]

Getting a good guitar sound

Depends what sort of guitar? Is it electric or acoustic with a pickup?

If it's an acoustic, you're best using a condenser mic, straight into a mic preamp then into your soundcard. If the guitar also has a preamp, you could try using the second channel of your audio card and recording the direct signal from the guitar preamp at the same time as the miced signal. You can then mix the two together to get a really detailed but full sound.

If it's an electric guitar, then put the guitar through a decent guitar amp, then mic the guitar amp with a dynamic mic like a sure sm57 and put that through a mic preamp then into your soundcard.

Recording a good sound from any guitar, whether it's acoustic or electric is a real art. It has to do with:

1. The way you play the guitar
2. The room you are recording in
3. The mic you use
4. The position of the mic relative to the guitar/amp
5. The type of guitar
6. The type of guitar amp

Then to a lesser extent the mic preamp you use. And finally the soundcard you use.

So there are a whole lot of variables in there which can drastically affect the sound you get. You need to experiment to get the best sound.

A two channel audio card with built in mic preamps is probably your simplest choice. There are some really good brands out there, just have a look on the web at what's on offer. You can look at reviews from people who've bought cards and check out which ones are good.

Most major brands of audio cards will do what you want.

Putting an electric guitar directly into a mixer/audio card input doesn't give a good sound generally. The sound tends to be very thin. It's best to mic a guitar amp, in order to get a decent sound.

Cheers
Theo C
------------------------------------------------
http://www.theoc.co.nz

 

[tangomannn]

Thanks a Lot, and a few more question

First of all Thanks to Creamyapples1 , Random.hero, BubbaGump, and specially to Theo_c who invest a Lot of time in the answer !!!! I really appreciate your helping! me!

I have a few more questions, before spend my saves in equipments =)

(at the moment my equipment are an American Strato Fender, 2 generic Microphones, a Zoom II, a cheap Amp, and a PC with a soundblaster)

1)In a mixer,,, is the same a pre-amp, than a mic pre-amp? and if it's not the same, what is more recommended if I use the technique of put the mic close to the Amp guitar?

2)When you say a 2 channels sound card ,,, are you talking about the typical sound card that are in every PC,,, or your talking about a 2 channels special sound card for music purposes ?

3) Would it work approximately good, if I put the pre-amp Out directly to the LINE-IN of the Sound Blaster? (I can't try it, because I don't buy it the mixer, yet)

Well Any Help, any clue is really welcome!! from anybody!!!

Thanks again, Fernando

 

[wx3]

1)In a mixer,,, is the same a pre-amp, than a mic pre-amp? and if it's not the same, what is more recommended if I use the technique of put the mic close to the Amp guitar?

Yes. A mixer will have a bunch of mic pre-amps in one unit. It is a good way to get lots of mic pre-amps for little money. You can also buy stand alone pre-amps. If you just plan to record one or two things at once, maybe stand alone pre-amps would do the trick for you.

2)When you say a 2 channels sound card ,,, are you talking about the typical sound card that are in every PC,,, or your talking about a 2 channels special sound card for music purposes ?

Any newer computer will come with a 2 channel sound card. (Stereo). The problem with the stock sound card in your computer is it has poor analoge, to digital conversion, and will introduce distortion to your signal. A special 2 channel sound card, or audio card as they are refered to, will have much better A/D conversion and there for will give you a much less altered sound.

3) Would it work approximately good, if I put the pre-amp Out directly to the LINE-IN of the Sound Blaster? (I can't try it, because I don't buy it the mixer, yet)

You can do this, and I have made reasonable mixes using only a soundblaster, a mackie 1202 mixer and a sm57, but, and this is a big but, you will see a huge performance increase with an audio card. They don't have to be expensive. Look into the M-Audio 24/96 for a great, inexpensive, 2 channel audio card. If you can't afford the card at the momment, start with a nice pre, and a nice mic, and go from there.


Good luck

 

[random.hero]

good luck, i hope it all turns out really well

 

[Creamyapples1]

Good replies, I think you've got a ton of information to use. I can vouch for M-Audio, I'm using two of their soundcards and love them! What software are you using? If you aren't going to run the signals back out to a mixer and on to a CDburner or DAT then the other option is stand alone microphone preamps and you can mix inside the PC. You can probably get a better quality stand alone preamp than what would be in a mixer for around what you'd pay for a mixer, but there are some mixers with great pres too, for decent prices.

 

[tangomannn]

really good replies! these are my last questions! I promise!!

Thanks again, for the High quality Answers , you all give me.
I have just a few more questions!, and I promise they will be the last!!

1) Does anybody knows a good/not so expensive Pre-amp ?

2) I'm using cool edit pro 2,,, a researching through internet I found, that there is 2 kind of programs, Multitrack (cool e p) and Sequencers (cubase),,, but I don't understand the difference!!. What should I use to record every single instrument at a time?

3) did somebody hear an opinion about PHONIC Helixboard12 Mixer with USB out (or something similar)? ( http://www.poweralley.com/Helixboard12.htm ) ,,, Because if I buy this I think I shouldn't change my audio card.

Well THANKS AGAIN!! with all your answers I could almost write a tutorial!!!

Fer

 

[murphy54]

there is nothinq better than a computer with the right sofware for the job

 

[Mindset]

well you can plug a guitar into a M-Audio FastTrack directly... but I've never tried it.