Recording Direct From Amp

[fdbk]

I have a Marshall 60w amp that has Line Out, Mic Out, CD Imput, and a Headphone jack.

I can record using my SoundblasterAudigy2 by connecting the Headphone jack on my amp to the Line In on my soundcard, but I think I'm not supposed to do that...right?

The sound that I get on my computer is really bad when I use Line In. Do I need some sort of preamp to get a better sound, or did I just hook it up wrong?

I'm new to recording...

Thanks in advance!

 

[vintagetobes]

i suggest you simply do not record direct from the amp. A large chunk of the sound an amp makes depends on its speaker and by going direct, you are bypassing this. Micing with a sm57 is a good place to start. Sometimes the headphone jacks have a speaker emulation so if you do have a volume issue to bear in mind, then i suggest you use this output.

 

[fdbk]

So you're saying that I probably won't be able to get a good sound out of using the headphone jack, and should just use an external mic?

 

[tourettes5139]

Dude, just use a mic. That is really the best way to go. If you ABSOLUTELY must record without using a mic, then use the LINE OUT to the LINE IN. The headphones were designed for headphones, so it won't work as well as the line out.

 

[fdbk]

If I do get a mic though, say the sm57, will I need a preamp or would I just connect to the Mic In in my soundcard?

 

[warble]

You'd need a pre-amp for the 57 (or you could opt for a small mixer as well). What kind of inputs does your SB card have? Are they all 1/8" or are there 1/4" jacks (I'm guessing there are)?

I'll add to the above comments too - use a mic. I've recorded with a 57, and have even used a condenser to record the ambience of the room as well. You'll prob. get other recommendation for mics, but the 57 is a good start.

 

[fdbk]

My SB has all 1/8" jacks. Do you have any recommendations for a pre-amp or mixer? I don't know where to start looking! thanks

 

[(progger)]

What I've done in the past is to go straight into my Digitech Metal Master pedal and out the Mixer output and into the line in on my laptop. I've obtained OK sound that way but its still leaps and bounds better than from the line out on any amp.

 

[tourettes5139]

M-Audio DMP3. A very well-liked preamp around these parts. Plus, it's two channels, which is always great.

 

[Armistice]

Congratulations on taking your first tentative steps down the yellow brick road to Upgrade Hell...

But seriously, do as the guys tell you - get mic and pre as recommended - then you'll have to deal with the soundcard, and once you've got that sorted, well, it's a transistor amp isn't it... you'll be wanting a tube, and then something a bit better mic-wise to add to the 57 to catch some room....

Hope you don't have a mortgage...

 

[fdbk]

How can I tell if my amp is a transistor or tube? It's a Marshall G3OR CD and it says 80watts on the back.

 

[Armistice]

If it has tubes, you'll generally know, as you'll be able to see big glass things in the back and it will have a STANDBY switch next to the power on/off switch.

If you don't know, it probably doesn't.

 

[fdbk]

Well I didn't buy the amp, it's my friend's, that's why I was wondering. Is there any particular advantage to tubes over transistor? All I know so far is that the difference is mostly a matter of preference... kind of like Humbucker vs Single Coil.

 

[Armistice]

That is about the single biggest topic that would ever be discussed in a guitar / amp forum - I have my own opinions, and prefer tube amps (which cost about 3 times as much per watt as solid state) but that's because of the music I like playing and listening to.

As a sweeping statement, MOST genres of guitar music sound better (to me - disclaimer, disclaimer!) when tube guitar amps are used - blues, rock, pop, funk, country, soul etc etc - however there are some genres, mainly various newer forms of metal (not the old "heavy metal" of the 70s which primarily was created using tubes) where solid state amps are more commonly used. I don't particularly like or listen to that type of music, so that's about all I can tell you there.

The difference comes about due to the characteristic tone of an overdriven tube amp - and we're talking driving the power tubes rather than the preamp tubes (there are 2 types) here. Also, the playability - with a good tube amp you can have a level of preamp distortion set that will sound almost clean when you play gently and quite distorted when you hit the strings harder - and even with higher and lower levels of preamp distortion, you can get greater dynamic/dramatic range out of a tube amp that a solid state (in my experience) - ie. you can vary the volume more by the way you hit the strings - hard or softly.

Have a look around the 'net and this BBS and you'll find a wealth of information on the topic - it's much discussed.

I know little about Marshalls, but had a look on their website to see what I could find and I can only assume it's not a current model - my strong assumption is that it's a solid state however.

Cheers

 

[ggunn]

How can I tell if my amp is a transistor or tube? It's a Marshall G3OR CD and it says 80watts on the back.

Here's one on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/MARSHALL-G30R-CD...itemZ7377766493QQcategoryZ38075QQcmdZViewItem

It's a 30 watt solid state (transistor) amp. The "80 watts" probably refers to how much power it uses from the wall.

 

[apl]

I've a Digitech RP50 for a lot of my stuff. It's only $60, and I run it direct into my laptop.

Check out the Yamaha 10/2 MG, great little mixes with nice pres, only $100.