Noob questions

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bouldy

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Hello!

I've been trying to a while now to record some decent sounds to my PC from my guitar and have tried a few different ways. Basically i'm wondering if i'm wasting my time without buying a new soundcard (be it USB or PCI). After find this site, and from this tweakheadz, i decided to try running through my mixer (which is primarly used for record mixing, but i figured if it a mixer then surely....!) Incidently the mixer is a Behringer VMX 200)

I can never get the sound I achieve from my amp (VOX AD50VT). I always end up with a very muddy sound. The way i've got it set up at the moment is lineout from the amp into the microphone socket on the mixer and the from line out (phono) scoket to my PC (standard souncard). I've tried the guitar stright into the microphone socket too but i'm still not happy.

I also have a Tascam DP-01 8 track recorder and I find i get much the same unclear sounds from that as well.

Just some pointers as to where i could be doing things differently would be brilliant

Mike
 
If you get a decent sound from the amp then you'll have more luck with a mic and preamp. But obviously it's not always possible. Line outs from amplifiers will never fully capture the tone of the amp, because a lot of the tone is the speaker and the cabinet it its in. You could try a modeller like a POD or V-Amp or something, or go direct in without the amp and use plugins.

Still, personally don't think you can beat miking. If your mixer has a preamp, and if you can afford it, get an SM-57 (they aren't too pricey) and give it a go.
 
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I tried miking, the sound was muffled but this might have been fro the poor quality mic i suppose. It's an art in itself though mic recording, i've heard!
 
What mic were you using and where were you pointing it?
 
It was an "instrument mic" i got from Maplins: maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=23239

Now was I supposed to run this through a pre amp before the PC/8 track? These are the fundemental questions that i think i need to know. I pointed it at different places.

I appreciate your help in this by the way I understand it'll be like pulling teeth for you!
 
bouldy said:
. Basically i'm wondering if i'm wasting my time without buying a new soundcard (be it USB or PCI).
Click to expand...

This is the ground-floor for any computer music setup --- a good or at least workable soundcard / input / gateway to build on.

You could try one of these.

As far as your problems getting a decent guitar sound on your Tascam, try one of these along with taking legionserial's advice and investing in an SM57. I've still got my first 57 that I bought new 20+ years ago and it's still going strong.


.
 
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legionserial said:
If you get a decent sound from the amp then you'll have more luck with a mic and preamp. But obviously it's not always possible. Line outs from amplifiers will never fully capture the tone of the amp, because a lot of the tone is the speaker and the cabinet it its in. You could try a modeller like a POD or V-Amp or something, or go direct in without the amp and use plugins.
Click to expand...
The VOX AD series does the same modeling with a "line out" for recording, and one Tube for output. Only has 2 user pre-sets.
I had one and never liked the results of the "line out", so I returned it for a Zoom G7.1ut, which also has one tube, amp models, FX and can save 80 user presets + 80 factory. The G7 and G9 have USB interface ... so there is no need for a soundcard. Can monitor though them, too. Plus they have a Line In, if you want to record non-guitar.
Still need an amp, but getting results with the Zoom direct, and play though the studio monitors.
 
I had a Zoom G7.1ut before I got the Vox, i didn't like it. The recording was not like what was coming through my amp. it was almost too intense. Maybe i'm expecting too much from a home setup on a budget.

I'm swaying towards miking the amp up now. For this i understand I still need a decent sound card and a microphone preamp? Can someone confirm this?

Cheers

Mike
 
bouldy said:
I had a Zoom G7.1ut before I got the Vox, i didn't like it. The recording was not like what was coming through my amp. it was almost too intense. Maybe i'm expecting too much from a home setup on a budget.

I'm swaying towards miking the amp up now. For this i understand I still need a decent sound card and a microphone preamp? Can someone confirm this?

Cheers
Mike
Click to expand...
Were you recording through the USB ?
Are you aware, some patch banks were designed for Direct and some through an Amp ?

I found recording through the USB, the levels were too loud / high. So, I went analog through my old Yamaha 4 track as a mixer into my PC.

Recently, I picked up a used SB Audigy 2 ZS for $40, which can record in stereo (or 2 inputs, one in Left, one in Right) at 24/96. Plus, it has 192MB RAM to store Soundfonts / MIDI Samples, which I use for MIDI drums, pads, and a scratch bass guide track.
 
Yeah it was through USB. I was aware yes, whether I used the right one is a different matter!

How are you suggesting I use the SB card? SB---PREAMP----MIC----> [AMP] or

SB ---- GUITAR or something else
 
bouldy said:
I appreciate your help in this by the way I understand it'll be like pulling teeth for you!
Click to expand...

Not like pulling teeth at all. We were all in the same position once. I'm hardly an expert but I enjoy imparting the knowledge that I picked up at this place. Which is pretty much everything I've learned.
 
bouldy said:
Yeah it was through USB. I was aware yes, whether I used the right one is a different matter!

How are you suggesting I use the SB card? SB---PREAMP----MIC----> [AMP] or

SB ---- GUITAR or something else
Click to expand...

Guitar ... AMP
MIC ... Pre-amp ... soundcard Line-In. Note: Pre-amp could be a mixer

Zoom or Vox "line out" can also go to a pre-amp or mixer. I fine-tune the analog volume of the Zoom on the mixer, so it's not sending a killer signal to PC. I stopped using the USB.

Note: Some soundscards have a Mic pre-amp built-in. Presonus 1394 Firewire. Check what M-Audio or Edirol models have this, in USB or Firewire.
 
Thanks for this Johnny it's exactly what I need. The m-audio fast track USB says it's a "high quality" pre amp, i might just get that and go from there.
 
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