record guitar girect to computer...HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Karmadog777
  • Start date Start date
K

Karmadog777

New member
I posted this in computer recording...no replies ,maybe fellow guitar freaks can help :D

Hi I am kinda new to computer recording,I have been learning some ,but so far this is my problem.I have only been able to record my guitar tracks with my crappy computer mic infront of my amp speaker(dont sound as bad as u might think) or direct from my digitech processor pedal,no amp(I dont like the sounds as well as my amp)
So I did some reading and thought I needed a DI direct box,so I bought a active berhinger box,got all the adapters i need and my guitar sound is pure fuzz,I dont know if the DI is defective or if perhaps I misunderstood what it does,some more reading leads me to believe that I may need a preamp or a mixer to get the proper voltage level to my soundcard...which is another big question mark.I have a soundblaster 24 live soundcard and it has one imput that is labeled in the manuel as being "Line In/Mic In/Digital I/O jack (DIGITAL_IO) " I guess that you control the function by the control pannel?I have switched it from mic to line in and the over distorted signal stays the same.
Do u think my DI is defective? Do I need either a preamp or a mixer? I know i will be told I need a new soundcard,but the recording Im doing is the most basic demos and mostly used for song writing. sorry the post is so long
any advise is apreciated
Peace!
 
Are you going gtr-DI-SB?

If you've got your amp in the chain using the speaker out you are in danger of frying everything.
 
I have tried both ,results,same distorded signal,as if i just plugged my guitar straight to the card.
The DI I got is berhinger ultra-G GI100 ,its manuel talks about using it with a amp for imputing a mixer OR recording devise,it clearly illustrates how to run through your amps speaker outs,even has a direct to amp line so that you still power your speakers,as not to blow your amp from not having the correct olms
load.Yeh,if the DI is defective,I could blow everything..hence my post for help .
my soundblaster manuel shows imputing a guitar thru a mixer or preamp to the soundcard{quote}Put together your own productions consisting of multiple music tracks from a MIDI Synthesizer, an electric guitar or a microphone. Alternatively, connect your electric guitar using a Pre-amp Box to the Line In jack. Use a convertor if your electric guitar comes with a larger connector. {unquote} I was thinking the DI box would replace the preamp,I know the mixers have preamps in em,but I gues I need the DI to connect my guitar to the mixer(the DI box is designed to run the amps speaker output to the mixer instead of micing the cabinet....my goal!) isnt anyone doing this? is everyone micing their amps?ugh! I could use my digitechRP80 direct to the sound card,it works perfectly,but the amp modeling really dont sound anywhere near as good as my actual amp. ok again sorry Im long winded,just want to give as much info as I can.
the question still remains... how do I ?
 
your getting "fuzz" because your soundblaster is not really made for audio recording.
I'd return that DI box and get something like THIS or ya might wanna try amplitube with your DI box and see if that helps....they do have a free demo out somewhere..its called "amplitube UNO"
 
thanks for the replies,Im taking everything into consideration.
The MAudio interface really dont seem to do anything my RP80 wont for my purposes,like I said it works perfectly...no fuzz,but thats forgetting the fact that I want to use my amp,not a amp modeler.
I have seen the"the soundblaster isnt made for recording music" posted throughout these forums,and Im not really buying it,I mean I know its not specificly designed for audio recording,but there is a page in the manuel dedicated to this(see quote from my earlier post),and it does come with recording software,even though I dont use it ,I use cool edit pro2.
I will look into amplitube.

Im considering guitar>amp>DI>Mixer(with preamp)>computer
I know the "fuzz" is a voltage level issue,I just dont know exactly what the remedy is.
thanks again
 
As far as soundcards go those soundblasters don't have a good reputation for recording... for a perfectly clean guitar signal for computer recording this cheap combo works great for me...

soundcard
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--EMU8803

preamp
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHMIC100

and then amplitube or other ampsim software for different amp sounds. If you want to hear what that setup sounds like (this sounds like a plug for my music :p ) http://www.soundclick.com/artist/7/jameswalrus_music.htm the first two songs
 
Karmadog777 said:
The MAudio interface really dont seem to do anything my RP80 wont for my purposes
Click to expand...

your RP80 wont bring things up to line level...you need something made to do that..hence the m-audio or tascams soundcards.
I dont care what that manual tells you...your soundblaster is not made for audio recording..its basically false advertisement..its a gamers card!
Let me ask you something..if it was made for guitars and microphones..then why does it have a 1/8 inch jack if neither a guitar or microphone uses it?
 
Last edited:
I messed around forever trying to get a good signal out of my soundblaster... then I bought that E-mu & all problems solved... even has a direct plugins for guitar and midi.
 
lol you guys are gonna toss me out on my ear before long, yeh Im not goint to try to defend soundblaster,I know its a crappy lil card,but its all I got for now and Im just recording guitar tracks and a drum machine anyway.
Actually the RP80 does output at line level and if I was happy with its amp and cabinet modeling then I wouldnt have a problem,but I want to record how I sound live.(TubeWorks*drools*)
eventually I will probably get a better soundcard,but I have some guitar parts I have to record and mix,I could use the ....yes the DigiTech RP80 as I have in the past with fair results,but Id really like to get my true sound down...
I want to direct record my amp :mad:

SnakeDog,...cool,I was eating a bag of popcorn while I listened to that first song,and it actually made eating popcorn a fun adventure! :D
Now for the million dollar question....are you using software to get your guitar sounds or are you going thru your amp/effects first? where in the chain is the preamp?
 
Hey,thanks! I appreciate it. The way I record is the guitar is plugged directly into the preamp, then the preamp is plugged into the soundcard. Then with amplitube software on the recording track you can make that one guitar sound so many different ways (mine's one of the cheapest guitars out too) So every instrument you hear in my songs (other than drums) are from the same guitar with no physical amp, just different modifications in amplitube.

If you mess with soundblaster enough you can get a decent recording... I'm not saying it can't be done, it was just a pain. Then sometimes I'd be recording and everythings good, I turn on the comp the next day, everythings the same but the fuzz is back, the guitar would sound different, it was just a lot of hassle.
 
If you direct your amp you won't get cabinet voicing.

Almost all my rumbles are a Digitech RP50 direct into my notebook, mixed with headphones.
 
apl,true and good point,also a interesting collection of tunes you have there,lots of variety. I like hearing the stuff you guys have done.I appreciate all the responses,I may infact be just trying too hard to do what I think I want.I actually just did 2 tracks thru my RP80 into cool edit and it wasnt too bad,I guess I need to spend more time tweeking my digitech.
What Im trying to accomplish is laying down guitar tracks and a basic rythem pattern for some songs to forward to a bassist and drummer for some compilation stuff,I may be overcomplicating things being stubborn,but eventually I would like to have a decent computer based recording studio...er..living room :rolleyes:
Finding out what others are using is very helpful,I been looking around the forums alot.
on a sidenote,what are you guys using for drums/percussions? any reasonably priced easy to use software out there? I use a little akai practice amp that has a drum machine built in,but I can only adjust the tempo,no rolls no fills and it only has 3 usable beats for rock,the RP80 has a super crappy sounding drum machine that I cant even bear to hear ,its nasty.
Im really glad I ran across this site actually a couple years ago,recently revisited it for info,and found the forums
Well..Im gonna go blow something up so you guys can say "I told you so" :D
Peace!
 
Karmadog777 said:
...what are you guys using for drums/percussions?
Click to expand...

I've got a Yamaha RY9 Rhythm Programmer. I've been to lazy to actually learn how to program it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top