recording guitar to a computer

[PusCookie]

Hello everyone. I wish you all the best of luck in the future.

I would like someone to enlighten me as to what the best way is to record an electric guitar to a computer without mic-ing an amp.

I have an Ibanez Rg-570 guitar, Digitech Rp-12 multi effects stereo board running into a Digitech S-200 multi effects rackmounted unit. I have an amp but cant make much noise.
I have a cheap soundcard($40) that I am looking to upgrade if i figure out how to do this.

Do i need a direct box? what are the best ones if so?
what does a direct box this do?

what else do i need?
what should i do?

ANY help is appreciated!
Thanks is advance;)

[Levinson Blade]

you req a soundcard with a line in like a soundblaster live
just run a line from your digitech into the line in on the card and all will be fine
you may also want to get yourself some software for recording multi tracks like Cakewalk or similar do a search for recording software you may find some freeware or shareware if you are on a budget

[PusCookie]

Thanks for the reply.

When I tried going directly from the line out of my processor\preamp and into the line in of my soundcard the signal sounded very dead.......both clean and electric sound dead upon recording.

Mabey its my speakers\eq settings...... but i think there is more to it than that.

Can anyone help me?

[Coffee]

I've often thought about producing wav files on my PC as well, but I'd have a different approach. First I should say that I have a Tascam Porta II which is adequate when fed through a traynor mono pa/mixer. My advantage is that I can make stereo recordings through this setup. My thoughts in recording wav files however (and converting them to mp3, if you know how let me know) would be to record to the Tascam and then use RCA to twin mini cable into the back of the PC. This way I'm sure to get a processed but unamplified line out.

The dead sound may be because of poor processing on your mixer board. Make sure you're using eq and reverb or your sound will be very flat as all you'd be getting is your pickup signal. The other thing you might try is running the guitar to the effects, then to the mixing board, (if you can do that) so the line out you're sending to the computer isn't overpowering your sound card. I'm not convinced the sound card is your primary problem. Certainly you will find someone selling them that will tell you it is.

[Slash]

Ok Pus here's the deal man...

Dont get any xtra stuff (h/w) for the recording. Ive been recording guitar samples from my gutar (thru a processor) for mod/midi work etc. and have been very happy abt quality and other stuff.
ive noticed some stuff that helps in getting what u want out of this setup. Perhaps some of this info may help.
1) Turn the guitar volume up high(full) control the vol from the unit itself.
2) try the mic input. Though not everybody will like this but hey it works for me. also adjust the mic gain to high in yr software mixer.
3) Set the recording mode to mic in the software mixer.

Please elaborate what u mean by *dead sound* and possibly i could help further.

Nikhil

[Warhorse]

run the line out of ure digitech and into the mic input on your monitor download a free recording studio such as Quartz Audio Master and record using that.

[jdjuice]

I have a similar question as the original,
I just want to be able to record stuff from my amp to my computer, and quality isn't much of an issue. My little vox pathfinder has an audio out, and i was wondering if there is some magical cord that fits in that regular guitar cord-sized plug that might fit into the mic in on my soundcard. That should work, right? Thanx.

[i like strats]

you can do that but you'll need a reducer(or what-ever thier called) you can get them a raidio-shack it changes the 1/4" jack to a 1/8" then you can plug it into your sound card. (if your running window's) you can use the sound recorder in the acceseries menu, but that program will only allow you to record in 60 second intervals. So I suggest you download a program from one of those free download sites like www.downloads.com (if there is a program there that allows you to record). I do not belive you need an amp to let you play through the computer, but I'm sure you can use one. i'm pretty sure you can just plug the cord directly from the guitar into the line-in slot or the mic slot. (make sure the line-in or mic is not muted or turned down to low in the audio's property's dialog box). I used to play through my computer when i didn' have an amp around.

[jdjuice]

thank you very much. I guess i could just plug the guitar directly into the computer, but i also want the gain and other stuff that the amp makes. I, too, am happy with my strat, although they seem to be quite the unpopular instrument on these here message boards. thanks again