How to record?

Cheapest-

If you have a "line out" on your amp........

Guitar > amp > computer's sound card.
The only thing you'll need is a 1/4-1/4 cord with a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter.

Best-

Guitar > amp > mixer > computer.
You'll still need the same cord as above plus an addition 1/4-1/4 cord.

Well I tried the cheapest one last night - and I actually got electrocuted by the damn computer! What a shock! :shock: :shock: :shock:

But anyhow, I got sound on my computer, but it was buzzing in the background, and it sounded bad (not the playing, the recording). Is this because my soundcard is low-end or did I do something wrong?

Well I tried the cheapest one last night - and I actually got electrocuted by the darn computer! What a shock! :shock: :shock: :shock:

Were you standing on a rug while moving around? You have to understand that electronic's do NOT like static, or a lot of things for that matter. Have you ever rubbed a balloon on your shirt then, put the balloon near your hair.............instant 80's look. :shock:

As far as the sound into your computer goes, you have to adjust your settings so you don't over-power your sound card, i.e. drive/distortion. What type of music are you trying to record?

Yes, your sound card could be "low end" but, try to work with it and try not to over power it.

Once you've got the music on the computer, are there any good software (preferably freeware) programs that allow you to edit, cut, mix, and layer music ie overlay one recording to another (so i can lay down some chords, and then overlay my solo on top of it)?

Thanks.
Mart.

Audacity

Nice one Tracker!

I look forward to using that soon.

Any other little gems like that, that you could suggest?

Mart :D

Any other little gems like that, that you could suggest?

Mart :D
Go to the freebies section on this site. Nick put all of the most commonly asked for ones in the first thread.

Thanks for all the answers!

Once again you've satisfied my needs at top speed :wink:

BTW:

Would an elguitar sound better then an semiacoustic?

What if you want to record guitar and vocals on a PC? That's t2wo inputs. What do you need then? And I don't have a line out on my amp.

Use the headphones... and you'll have to record the guitar and the vocals seperate.

I've actualy found that I prefer the recorded sound of a mic about 3feet from my amp. I tried about 8 diffrent sound cards played with the line-in settings for all of them. I also did some work to my computer/music room, I put packing blankets along the walls and ceiling. Pretty much got rid of the major echos and was fairly cheap. looks like hell but I'm the only one that sees it.

Once you start getting into mic'ing things, needs really go up.

You need pre-amps, mic stands, mics, and a mixing board at a minimum to do it right.

None of that stuff is all that expensive by itself, but it can add up fast.

If you go that route, you might as well pick up some decent software so you can use the various plugins that are out there (things like adaptive drum machines are really cool!)

Of course, now you'll want a MIDI controller, flat monitors, and pretty soon you'll need a room for it ...

Nice set up there.... yours?

I wish that was my room.....