Recording guitar for idiots

[gordiji]

I want to record some guitar with a view to posting some clips.I want to record what comes out of the speaker at a reasonable volume as i hear it.Livemike ing or whatever it's called.
Now i'm a $%&#tard with things techy or computers, so is there a black box(usb style) that can be plugged between
a mic and computer so one can record without finding and installing software? Or is there an mp3 player with a mic
port socket available so one can jam and record direct.Backing for me is a yamaha keyboard so well poitioned mic
could hopefully record both guitar & backing.I want to be simple as i prefer to play my guitar rather than learn the art of recording
Thanks to anyone who could be bothered replying.
P.sHunter i liked your santaneresque thing, good tone and enviable recording. HtH i like your marshall with abraxis.I remember prowler and saw maiden when they released this album, $%&# maybe i'm older than tim!

[HTH AMPS]

if you have a digital camera with a video function, you could use that - its all I use for video clips.

[gordiji]

wow, a reply! i thought i might be stretching it with this post. still i've been looking at a boss br 900 , its an eight track recorder that can bang out a cd.400 quid ,incredible but i'm sure it would fry my brains sussing it out.
I wan't to post something with my  IT loaded strat as when i bought these beauts i thought they where under represented on the demo page.

[38thBeatle]

You could look at field recorders- easy as can be to use. Mine ( a Tascam GT-R1) just has an on button then a red button to prime ready to record, a recording level setter type thingy( sorry to use technical terms  :lol:)  and once you have the level push the red button and you are recording. To download on your computer you use one of those camera type cables with the tiny usb type plug in the machine and a proper usb socket the other end-the computer "finds" the device and you can copy and paste the files to your desk top. You can record in wav files or MP3. About £270.00 I think. There are other field recorders ,much cheaper -Zoom H4 is pretty damn good.The recording quality is great and if you want quick easy and good recording you can't do better.

[MDV]

If you intend to record to computer at all, you need a DAW.

Digital Audio Workstation

An infiite-track tape machine and mixing desk for PC, basically.

Get reaper. Its free, for a while at least (and indefinitely if youre cheap).

Then there are LOADS of free amp VSTs. They're dead easy to use. All you need then hardware wise is a soundcard/interface/whatever that has a *high z* (or "Hi-z") input to plug your guitar in.

[Supernaught]

You cant go wroong with a Line 6 POD of some description either.    Ive used them for years and really rate them.

The original POD 2.0 is still available for cheap, the X3 is better, or theres their dedicated recording stuff http://uk.line6.com/products/recording/

[MDV]

I used pods for years and really hate them.

I'd avoid the line 6 stuff, frankly. Theres much better for less.

Fun fact - modellers dont have their own sound (except arguably ones with valves in or other real tone generating circuitry). They're just small computers that run amp sim software. Its the software that creates the sound.

The line 6 toneport VSTs sound much the same as the pods for this reason.

There are better VSTs in software only form than the patches on a pod or toneport. Revalver comes to mind.

Youre better off skipping the middleman and just running a VST. Line your guitar into a suitable (hi-z equiped) interface, install the VST or stick it in a folder if its just a dll or 2, have your DAW (cubase, reaper, sonar etc) look in that folder to find VSTs, load the VST as an effect in a track, set that tracks input to the one you have your guitar plugged into, tweak input level and VST settings to taste and youre good to go.

[Supernaught]

Now i'm a $%&#tard with things techy or computers, so is there a black box(usb style) that can be plugged between
a mic and computer so one can record without finding and installing software?

If it werent for this MDV, Id agree with you :)

[MDV]

Mayhaps. But its really not hard.

But since the OP is prepared to use mics, then the black box should, imo, be an EMU or Edirol or Presonus or equivelent interface - anything with mic pres.

You still cant, and I mean CANT record to a PC without choosing, installing and configuring a DAW.

[Monsterhulk]

+1 for H4 ... reasonable price for that quality ... and it is 4 track ... at least you can import the recorded stuff to the PC via USB cable and you do not need a DAW or any micpreampboostedusbsoundcard monsters ... just amp and the recorder ...  :harp:

[Supernaught]

You still cant, and I mean CANT record to a PC without choosing, installing and configuring a DAW.

Well, technically you could get something into the line-in, then hit record on Audacity.   Whether you view that as a DAW or not is up to you.   Id probably settle on a "yes" vote, but its close.

[gordiji]

38th, interesting thought and after 2 nights googling i'm intersested in the olympus ls 10 and the tascam dr 1 for sheer simplicity and maybe to bridge the gap from my manual analogue world to the scary cyber world.Simplicity is beautiful ,look at tim's pickups and valve amps. i remember 10 years ago reading reviews saying modeling amps equaled real ones(valve). they don't .
MDV thanks for your suggestions, it's good to familiarize myself with new terminology but for the moment it's beyond me.I'd prefer spending my free time guitaring
also not a fan of line 6 though they have their place in the market and do some goo value stuff.
think it's a field recorder