Recording a Guitar Signal

[TuleBox]

I am new to this, so bear with me. I want to record my electric guitar
signal on my computer through my soundcard.

At the moment, I only have a guitar amp, but I am thinking about
getting a direct box and a pre-amplifier. I do not have a microphrone
or really want to use one. I would like to use a direct connection instead.

How would I set this up (if I had all of this equipment) to get a strong and
clean signal into my computer?

TuleBox

 

[swollenrod]

Instead of buying all that equipment, you might want to think about buying some sort of effects processor to run your guitar through. Your guitar by itself will not put out a strong enough signal, and needs amplification. I'd suggest a multi effects petal so you can have a varitety of sounds to work with. You can get a decent one for 150 bucks or so. all you have left is to run a guitar cord from the line out to the line in on your computer. this will require a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter. Make sure its stereo as well (both the guitar cable and the adapter for that matter). Radioshack is your best bet for that. Make sure the tip of your cord (the metal part that plugs in) has two gooves in them instead of one. (2 means stereo, 1 means mono.) As for what kind of software you want to record it with...thats another subject altogether man.

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Wait though. Effects boxes can be great, but they're not meant for recording direct. You'll end up with a real buzzy fake sound unless the box has cabinet emulation...in which case it's probably not an "effects" box but a DI box. (yeah DI boxes have effects and effects boxes can DI...but you might as well use them properly)

Look into the POD from Line6. Everybody loves em I guess. It has various effects and emulates some of the most popular amplifier/cabinets AND is supposed to be pretty good when used as an effects pedal into your amp.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[TuleBox]

Hmmm, I never really noticed if my adapters had one or two grooves
on them. I just bought a 1/8" adapter from RadioShack, and I can see it
does have 2 black ring grooves below the tip but all my 1/4" guitar cable
plugs only have 1 groove. I don't think I have ever seen stereo guitar
cables before . I ordered mine from a Musician's Friend magazine, and
the picture of the cable on the page only shows 1 groove.

But anyway, if this POD can amplify my guitar signal and also can output a
signal that is balanced with the input of my soundcard, then it sounds like
it can do the job of both.

TuleBox

 

[swollenrod]

yeah i know your pain. Dont ask me how i got a stereo guitar cable. I think it came with my footswitch that came with my crate amp. but i am living proof that they do exsist.

-swole-

P.S. - listen to slack, he knows a lot more than me. I'd never even heard of cabinet emulation being a problem. that kind of sucks too cause i just sold my pocket size korg with Cabinet emulation.