Author Topic: time to record (Read 5393 times)

CJ · « **on:** July 09, 2007, 02:22:12 AM »

well, i haven't been here in quite a while. i'm beginning to put together some type of recording setup. i bought a mixer, a shure pg57, and i was going to use an old tape deck recorder that my dad had, but its broken. all because of one rubber band. anyway, i could record straight to the computer, but more importantly i'd like to have the capability of recording something, and then playing it back through my amp so i can play over it.

so basically i'm looking for suggestions on how to do this. i'm assuming i can't do it with my laptop, because there's no output on computers...that i know of. i don't want to buy a digital recorder or anything because they're too expensive. i want to find some way i can do this with either what i already have, or for very cheap.

Mutlu · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2007, 06:23:15 AM »

I may suggest an external sound card which you can connect it to your laptop thru a USB cable. (An "Audiophile" from Maudio for example). The price must be around $ 100. There are inputs and outputs that you can use for recording and play back.

CJ · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2007, 12:00:31 AM »

yeah, looking for some cheaper alternatives here...

is there a way i could use the headphone jack on the computer as an output?

then i could just bring it back to the mixer like i wanted to...

_tom_ · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2007, 12:05:08 AM »

I use the headphone jack on my laptop as an output. I will get an interface/exteral soundcard eventually, but for now, this works fine. I have a very basic recording setup - sm57 which is plugged into the mic input of my laptop, then record in Audacity, and mix/add fx in Reaper (both are free).

CJ · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2007, 12:22:51 AM »

so could i essentially record to my laptop and play back through my amp at the same time?

Oli · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2007, 12:37:29 AM »

You don't play back though the amp- you monitor everything with the headphones (through the headphones socket on the computer). The recording microphone goes to the 'mic in', and you're away :)

CJ · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2007, 12:45:17 AM »

Quote from: Oli

You don't play back though the amp- you monitor everything with the headphones (through the headphones socket on the computer). The recording microphone goes to the 'mic in', and you're away :)

no the whole point was that i wanted to record and then play back through my amp so i could play back over what i recorded.

Oli · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2007, 12:59:52 AM »

Yes, you record each take onto a separate track, that way you play along to what you recorded prior whilst listening to yourself at the same time (all through the headphones). You don't plug your computer into your amp to play anything back.

CJ · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2007, 03:13:08 AM »

i guess you're misunderstanding what i'm saying, or i said it wrong. i want to play it back through my amp basically just so i can jam along with myself. i could play it back through my headphones, but thats no fun. i've also got a drum machine so i basically just want to start a jam session by myself. i figured if i could get all of that playing out of my amp, i could just re-record everything on a single track too.

but the main thing i want is playback through my amp for fun, and recording is an afterthought.

hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2007, 05:39:49 AM »

I would do the playback through some kind of hifi system, as the guitar amp would only play back a narrow frequency band. This is assuming you'd use some kind of drums etc.

Why not do the playback on your hifi and then play along on your guitar amp?

Another alternative would be a boss rc-20 or similar device that lets you play with yourself easily.

CJ · « **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2007, 01:03:30 AM »

hmm... i figured the amp would give me the best sound back. i'm guessing by hifi you mean like a cd player stereo system or whatever. mine's cr@p, maybe i can steal my parents'. anyway, i figured it'd be easier going to the amp so i could record two guitar parts without having to technically multi-track. also, how would i even get the guitar on the stereo? i guess i'd send to computer, then use the speaker out... but is there an input on stereo systems? or would i just use the speakers...?

Metal-Assmoney · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2007, 04:19:49 AM »

PRESONUS FIREBOX OR FIREPOD. PERIOD.

i run my own little recording studio and use these things and they work like a charm. trust me on this. i have tried and tried to get the best studio quality shite i can.

Ted · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2007, 12:10:22 PM »

Dude - get a looper! Boss RC-2 is cheaper than the bigger RC-20 Hunter suggested.

I have one and you record a riff, it loops it and you play over the looped riff until your heart desires and you can over-dub and over-dub and over-dub...you get the picture. It also has metronome and quite a few drum patterns which is handy.

CJ · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2007, 04:07:12 AM »

Quote from: Ted

Dude - get a looper! Boss RC-2 is cheaper than the bigger RC-20 Hunter suggested.

I have one and you record a riff, it loops it and you play over the looped riff until your heart desires and you can over-dub and over-dub and over-dub...you get the picture. It also has metronome and quite a few drum patterns which is handy.

so perfect, yet so out of my price range. it'd probably be worth it, but i'd rather spend no money and get something that works just as well.

how much does a new soundcard cost for a laptop? what i've done today is record to audacity, and then use my extra cab as a monitor, but the problem is my soundcard is so weak i guess the sound is only just above a talking level.

Blueminerva · « **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2007, 01:50:37 PM »

I use a line6 toneport UX2, but you can get the UX1 or there's now an even smaller one I think. It's got proper outputs to send to a PA/monitor or you can plug it through your amp. The UX2 was £130, I think you can get the UX1 for about £75 or look on ebay, but it sounds like that'll do what you want.