Recording Questions from a Newb!

[Dalius]

hello guys, please bare with me and try to help me? kthnx!

1) I have my guitar plugged directly into the mono channel of my Edirol PCR-A30 MIDI controller. It records but the sound is EXTREMELY muddy. I am a major newb, can someone let me know how to get a clean guitar sound? Please tell me it's even possible or I'm gonna have to take this back and buy a new controller.

2) does more ram = less latency? i have 512MB right now, i'm thinking of buying another 512...good idea?

 

[noisewreck]

1. You most likely need a DI box, as the guitar output is not line level which is what your Edirol is expecting to see.

2. It won't affect latency. Latency is dependent on the quality of the drivers of your soundcard/audio interfact. However, adding more RAM will put less strain on the CPU overall, it also means that you can have more samples, or larger sample libraries loaded. Overall, it's a VERY good idea.

 

[Dalius]

1. You most likely need a DI box, as the guitar output is not line level which is what your Edirol is expecting to see.

2. It won't affect latency. Latency is dependent on the quality of the drivers of your soundcard/audio interfact. However, adding more RAM will put less strain on the CPU overall, it also means that you can have more samples, or larger sample libraries loaded. Overall, it's a VERY good idea.

thanks for the reply. sorry for being an uber newb but what is a DI box?

 

[tourettes5139]

It stands for Direct Injection or Direct In (I'm not sure which), but in any case, in converts the high-impedence signal from a guitar to a low-impedence signal that the mixer, recorder, or whatever you need to plug into can have a decent signal to work with. Here's an example, albeit an expensive one.

 

[dgatwood]

It stands for Direct Injection or Direct In (I'm not sure which), but in any case, in converts the high-impedence signal from a guitar to a low-impedence signal that the mixer, recorder, or whatever you need to plug into can have a decent signal to work with. Here's an example, albeit an expensive one.

That Edirol has a guitar input with appropriate input impedance. I doubt a DI box will help.

Chances are, if it sounds muddy, it's because of one of the following reasons:

A. You're used to the sound that your amp generates. If at all possible, you should mic the amp.
B. The pickups might just not sound that great....

Try adding an EQ cut somewhere in the bass or lower mids and see if it cleans up the mud. Experiment until you get the sound you're looking for.

That said, if this is an acoustic guitar, you'll be much better off pointing a mic at the guitar, and if this is an electric guitar, you'll be much better off pointing a microphone at an amp....

 

[Dalius]

That Edirol has a guitar input with appropriate input impedance. I doubt a DI box will help.

Chances are, if it sounds muddy, it's because of one of the following reasons:

A. You're used to the sound that your amp generates. If at all possible, you should mic the amp.
B. The pickups might just not sound that great....

Try adding an EQ cut somewhere in the bass or lower mids and see if it cleans up the mud. Experiment until you get the sound you're looking for.

That said, if this is an acoustic guitar, you'll be much better off pointing a mic at the guitar, and if this is an electric guitar, you'll be much better off pointing a microphone at an amp....

Would a pre-amp software help?

 

[dgatwood]

Would a pre-amp software help?

A preamp is hardware, and your audio interface has one built in. I'm not sure about the quality of that preamp, so it's certainly possible that a mixer with better pres might help. That said, I still say mic the amp or the instrument instead of using pickups if you can. If you can't, EQ out some of the lows to clean up the muddiness of the pickups.

 

[tourettes5139]

That Edirol has a guitar input with appropriate input impedance. I doubt a DI box will help.

Ahh, thanks for the info. I just assumed it was a line input that he was using as I've never looked it closely at all.