Recording through line-out?

[elenore19]

So I was playing my guitar tonight with my headphones hooked up to my amp and the question dawned on me. "Why wouldn't I record through this line-out on my amp? It sounds like good quality to me" So there you have it. What are the pros and cons of recording with the line-out of the amp? And then why choose to record with a mic to recording with the line-out. Thanks for the help


-Elliot

 

[Scotty]

You can record the line out. But you won't be recording the sound of the entire amp, which consists of a cabinet and speakers in addition to the electronic bits. Recording actual sound rather than line-level audio gives you the opportunity to capture all of the nuances of live sound.

Also, you need to know the level and impedence of your line output. Professional recording equipment uses +4dBm signals while consumer and semi-pro gear uses a -10dBV signal. It's a bit confusing but the product manuals will list the levels in the specifications.

 

[elenore19]

You can record the line out. But you won't be recording the sound of the entire amp, which consists of a cabinet and speakers in addition to the electronic bits. Recording actual sound rather than line-level audio gives you the opportunity to capture all of the nuances of live sound.

Also, you need to know the level and impedence of your line output. Professional recording equipment uses +4dBm signals while consumer and semi-pro gear uses a -10dBV signal. It's a bit confusing but the product manuals will list the levels in the specifications.

Alright, I'm not in tune with all the stats and such. What would be the difference between the level and impedence? like what are the level and impedence? Thanks


-Elliot

 

[solo.guitar]

I've tried recording direct with an amp with disappointing results.

It just doesn't sound the same, sounds real 'digital' and not much like an amp. Lots of fuzz with even a little distortion on the amp.

I also heard you can really fuck up your interface if you try hooking up an amp to it, or even mess up your amp's transformer.

I think the best advice is just don't do it. Mic the amp.

Although my amp only has a headphones-out, not a line-out or digital out, so maybe that's why my results were so terrible.

 

[elenore19]

I've tried recording direct with an amp with disappointing results.

It just doesn't sound the same, sounds real 'digital' and not much like an amp. Lots of fuzz with even a little distortion on the amp.

I also heard you can really fuck up your interface if you try hooking up an amp to it, or even mess up your amp's transformer.

I think the best advice is just don't do it. Mic the amp.

Although my amp only has a headphones-out, not a line-out or digital out, so maybe that's why my results were so terrible.

Ahhh, alright. I think I might try it, I really hope it doesn't fuck up my gear.

 

[travelin travis]

Ahhh, alright. I think I might try it, I really hope it doesn't fuck up my gear.

if it works for you, use it. it's never worked for me but i'm not you.

I've tried recording direct with an amp with disappointing results.

It just doesn't sound the same, sounds real 'digital' and not much like an amp. Lots of fuzz with even a little distortion on the amp.

I also heard you can really fuck up your interface if you try hooking up an amp to it, or even mess up your amp's transformer.

I think the best advice is just don't do it. Mic the amp.

Although my amp only has a headphones-out, not a line-out or digital out, so maybe that's why my results were so terrible.

you'll mess something up if you're a dipshit and connect a power amp out to a input.

 

[Scotty]

Don't worry about pugging a headphone out to a line input - you won't hurt anything. What you don't want to do is connect a power amplifier output (i.e., "main out" or "speaker out") to another piece of gear. That's when you'll smell something and see smoke. But you're not doing that.

Anyway, headphone outs are different from line outs. It's an impedence thing. Headphone outs have to drive a couple of small, low-impedence speakers (and usually have a separate volume control). Line outs have to drive a high impedence preamp input. If you mix the two, you'll probably get shitty sound.

To add to the misery, there is the issue of pro vs semi-pro line levels and balanced vs. unbalanced signals. The manual for the recorder/mixer will say whether or not the inputs are balanced. Plugging an unbalanced output into a balanced input is generally OK -- but not vice versa.

 

[clinton]

I think the best way to answer your question is for you to do a quick test.

Record a piece through the Line-Out and then record the same piece with a mic placed about 1" to 2" away from the front grille of the speaker. Then take a listen to the results....They WILL be different I assure you.
Also... If you are using Distortion then the only way to get a ballsy tone is to mic the amp up BUT if you are just using the clean channel then you may find that recording from the line out is better (especially if you have a crappy amp....cause the speakers on the cheaper amps will actually hurt your clean sound)

Hope this helps

 

[gcapel]

i use to think you couldn't use this method and get quality tracking. I have had limited success. I have never had any luck with using the line out of a stand alone guitar amp. However I have had good results with my digitech GSP 2101. I've also of heard great success on the mesa tri-axis.

I don't know what type of amp your using. But if it sounds good for your signature sound go with it, it's all about perception.

 

[Keiffer]

I've tried recording direct with an amp with disappointing results.

It just doesn't sound the same, sounds real 'digital' and not much like an amp. Lots of fuzz with even a little distortion on the amp.

I also heard you can really fuck up your interface if you try hooking up an amp to it, or even mess up your amp's transformer.

I think the best advice is just don't do it. Mic the amp.

Although my amp only has a headphones-out, not a line-out or digital out, so maybe that's why my results were so terrible.

your fizzy line-out result is not due to the Headphone Out interface. that's what an Amp Out sounds like.

if you're going to take a line out, then you'll need the next step which is a cab simulator or a convolution reverb using cab impulses.

See this thread => Cab Impulse Thread

 

[RAK]

You're not actually talking about a line out though right? You're talking about using your amps "Headphone Output." Stricly speaking, this is different from a Line Output.

Basically what Scotty said.

 

[Keiffer]

the Headphone Out should interface a Line In Okay.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I have never liked the sound of an electric guitar recorded direct: too much of the sound comes from the amp. I have occasionally recorded straight into the board, but I route the guitar signal through a distortion box or wah to give it some character.

 

[elenore19]

You're not actually talking about a line out though right? You're talking about using your amps "Headphone Output." Stricly speaking, this is different from a Line Output.

Basically what Scotty said.

On my amp it says line out/headphones I think. It definitely says line out and I listen to the amp through my headphones through it, so yeah.


-Elliot

 

[ggunn]

On my amp it says line out/headphones I think. It definitely says line out and I listen to the amp through my headphones through it, so yeah.


-Elliot

There's not much diff between a line out and a headphone out, dB-wise. A board with a trim pot can easily compensate if need be.

 

[rockabilly1955]

I have a little fender amp and use the headphone out to my presonus firebox line input to get some decent home recordings. Havent had any problems yet, and if anything, the amp serves as a good "preamp" on my interface input that doesnt have a instrument preamp. I just add effects and amp simulation if needed in my DAW