I am wondering how I can record my guitar onto my computer and compose music. I am in the process of getting a drum machine and I think I will be using Audacity to mix the guitar and drums into a song.
The problem is, I'm not sure how to record my guitar onto the computer the best way possible. I was thinking of buying a cable that can go from my amp into the computer and then the computer can pick up and record the sound with Audacity? If so, can anyone give me a nice link to a site that can sell this sort of cable.
I don't want a cable that goes from guitar to the computer because I want it to sound exactly how it sounds from my amp. I'm not planning on adding effects to it that I don't own.
ID:182381
 Jul 22 2008, 12:40 pm
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The only thing that my amp has as far as I can see is 2 AUX IN. One being red while the other being yellow. You think there's a cable that plugs into them into my computer?
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Those are for input to your amp; some people hook up a CD player or something similar to play backing tracks. You should at the very least have a headphone jack, and that will work for output. Like I said, you can always pick up a microphone and just mic the amp.
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I found the radio shack adapter:
http://www.onheadphones.com/product-reviews/ cables-and-stuff/radio-shack-adapter-review.html. Now all I would need is a regular guitar cable to go from the headphones jack on my amp into the adapter and into my sound jack on my pc? | |
Pretty much.
I'd also recommend grabbing a few other jacks too- I've experimented with recorded my guitar on my PC too, and having a few of those splitters (er, the things that send one cable into two :P), joiners (er, two female jacks for connecting cables) and the rest are incredibly useful when you want to try a specific set up. When you have ample different jacks and cables to play with you can try some really exotic setups- guitar to amp to computer, iPod and guitar to amp to computer, or my personal favourite: guitar to computer, processed in real time with your own code, to amp. :p | |
I have another question.
After recording my guitar, it comes out very heavy and staticy. I'm guessing this is because it goes into the computer too loud? But my question is would a compressor pedal help with the background noises and perhaps the static that my guitar records with now? | |
DisturbedSixx wrote:
I have another question. You could probably use that or try using some software such as Audacity which has an option to reduce background noise. George Gough | |
Are you plugging it into your mic jack or line-in? If you are plugging it into the mic jack, then you are going to have problems.
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Where would I find the line-in on my computer? And what does it look like?
[EDIT] I have found out that line-in is colorcoded in light blue and I found that on my pc and plugged it in. But now, when I record, it doesn't record anything. | |
You have to set your recording program to use that instead of the mic. The standard way to do that(in windows) is open the sound panel(doubleclicking on the volume icon), go to Options>Properties>Adjust Volume for>Recording>OK. Now move the check box to Line In.
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In the Sound Panel, I have the Playback and Recording Tabs. In playback, my speakers are the only thing plugged in and working. In the record tab, I only have the Line-in, which says it is working. And it has a check on it, as does the speakers.
Maybe I've messed up somewhere. Here is my setup. I have the amp, the guitar is plugged into the input on the amp, then I have another cable plugged into the headphones jack on the amp and that goes into an adapter from a 1/4" to a 1/8" and that 1/8" goes into the light blue colored line-in jack on the back on my computer. I have the volume set to 100 and it is the one recording device I have working. I have my sound drivers updated. And I've checked to make sure sound comes out of the amp and it does. What could be the problem? | |
It should work, but I have a feeling the Sound Panel you have is a driver supplied sound panel, which might be getting in the way. If you are using Audacity for recording, there are ways to change what it pulls the input from too, so I would try that.
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I have a feeling that the sound isn't even getting to my computer. Next to the line-in and the speaker, I have a little bar. When I play music, the bar next to the speakers goes up and down to the music. And when I try playing something, the bar next to line-in doesn't move.
What else do you think I could do? | |
Make sure the Line In isn't muted. Besides that, I don't know, but the Line In is the correct place to plug the cord because your amp is putting power in the line, so putting it in the mic slot would cause both ends to be sending electricity.
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Well Vista decided to let the line-in work. I just got one more question. Will the line-in make the quality sound exactly the way it does from my amp?
And thank you for the continues assistance. | |
I use the USB Lightsnake.
 with Amplitube 2 software. And ASIO4ALL in order to reduce the delay of the software. <s>I tried most of the things you're discussing in this thread, and most of them end up half-ended results, like a static-y signal on the PC and whatnot. Also, if you go GUITAR => AMP => PC SOUNDCARD, you're probably going to blow up your soundcard after a couple times. Don't do AMP => PC, just GUITAR => PC.</s> (misinforation) Amplitube 2 has so many presets you can make your guitar sound like any guitar. I mean the results are awesome: http://www.youtube.com/v/U44pf7j1EE0&hl=en&fs=1 No, that's not me. I cannot play the guitar, I just play with it and feel stupid. ~Kujila | |
As far as what I'm doing now, I've decided on buying a mic and recording my guitar that way.
This is the mic I'm trying to raise money for: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ Sennheiser-E609-Silver-Dynamic-Guitar-Microphone?sku=276668& src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0 I'll just record my amp with it and hopefully get my desired sound. But thanks for the reply, I just don't want to use presets. I'd like to record the sound that I can actually achieve in real life. | |
Kujila wrote:
Also, if you go GUITAR => AMP => PC SOUNDCARD, you're probably going to blow up your soundcard after a couple times. Don't do AMP => PC, just GUITAR => PC. That's not true at all. I've even run the outputs from my head that are used to power my cab into my soundcards and I've never had a problem. | |
Most amps have quarter inch output (which is the same as a guitar, by the way) to plug right into that. If not, I suggest you pick up a decent instrument mic (The Shure SM57 for example).
If you want to go cheap and inexpensive, go to Radioshack and buy a simple Quarter Inch to Eighth Inch adapter. This will plug right into the mic port on your computer and you can directly record.