recording rigs

[zeebow]

i really want to get into recording, but so far my experience has been dreadful.

setup:
m audio fast track interface
MacBook pro with garage band
trs and mono guitar cable
Taylor 414ce made on 8/9/10 (coincidentally my wedding date)

my problem is that I can't capture how good my guitar "really" sounds. when I record, thr recording sounds metallic and has no warmth. it also is not very loud. I have to crank the volume on my 414ce to max, treble all the way down, and bass 3/4 up to even get a decent sound.

even then, it sounds awful. my es system is fine. I plug my 414ce into a mic interface and play over my Bose speaker system and it sounds wonderful

I tried both a TRS and a mono guitar cable, no difference. I realized that the m audio 1/4 in is prob mono anyway, but this process has been so annoying that I don't want to buy a trs to xlr cable.

so I hear that the combo of an interface with a condenser mic pointed at thr 12th fret is the way to go.

I would like to see what setups you guys use, and please provide a sound lip

that way, when my 914ce with cedar top comes in next month, I can provide some sound samples

thx in advance

[InsideOut]

Microphones.  Don't bother plugging your ES into a recording interface.  You will probably want two for your guitar.  I am sure someone on a Garageband forum would get you where you want to go faster than anything I could tell you, but microphones will give you that sound you hear easier than any pickup system.

If there is a recording studio where you live, you will probably find it easier to just pay them for studio time in off hours for them.  Unless you really want to learn the art of recording, letting someone else do it for you who already knows is the way to go.  You can also post an ad on craigslist and someone will step forward to help you out for a little extra income.  Just ask to listen to something they have done in the past and you will know if they are any good.

Good luck!

[Rick Shepherd]

Trying to get a good sound by plugging your guitar in will most likely result in disappointment.  There are a multitude of choices for microphones that should get decent results.  Remember, your recording space will also play a big part in your results, so educate yourself on room treatments.  Then, just play around with different microphone positions and you will start to get a feel for what sounds best.  Good luck!

[Justiceandmercy]

I have an maudio fast track as well and the last time i recorded i used a mic and also plugged my guitar into the second input so I recorded both at the same time... it took a bit of setting up and getting the right levels by myself but once it was in I really like how it sounded together layered on top of each other

[zeebow]

I have an maudio fast track as well and the last time i recorded i used a mic and also plugged my guitar into the second input so I recorded both at the same time... it took a bit of setting up and getting the right levels by myself but once it was in I really like how it sounded together layered on top of each other

did the fast track cause each input to be mono ? that's what it did for me

so the mic input gets played on the left speaker and the pickup gets played on the right

thr only way I could get stereo sound was to use only one input at a time

[Justiceandmercy]

I have an maudio fast track as well and the last time i recorded i used a mic and also plugged my guitar into the second input so I recorded both at the same time... it took a bit of setting up and getting the right levels by myself but once it was in I really like how it sounded together layered on top of each other

did the fast track cause each input to be mono ? that's what it did for me

so the mic input gets played on the left speaker and the pickup gets played on the right

thr only way I could get stereo sound was to use only one input at a time

actually for whatever reason I couldn't get both channels to record at the same time so since I was just doing some rhythm tracks for a song I did one with the mic then i played on top of it plugged in

[zeebow]

I have an maudio fast track as well and the last time i recorded i used a mic and also plugged my guitar into the second input so I recorded both at the same time... it took a bit of setting up and getting the right levels by myself but once it was in I really like how it sounded together layered on top of each other

did the fast track cause each input to be mono ? that's what it did for me

so the mic input gets played on the left speaker and the pickup gets played on the right

thr only way I could get stereo sound was to use only one input at a time

actually for whatever reason I couldn't get both channels to record at the same time so since I was just doing some rhythm tracks for a song I did one with the mic then i played on top of it plugged in

to record both input channels at the same time, select the "stereo" input switch in garageband.

[varpa]

I've had similar experiences recording my Taylor - a microphone gives a much better recording than the ES system.   I would advise against recording 2 dissimilar recording sources into a stereo track.   I'd record 2 mono tracks  so then you can adjust each independently (if want to adjust individual volumes, add equalization, reverb, etc). 

[jpmist]

i really want to get into recording, but so far my experience has been dreadful.

setup:
m audio fast track interface
MacBook pro with garage band
trs and mono guitar cable
Taylor 414ce made on 8/9/10 (coincidentally my wedding date)

my problem is that I can't capture how good my guitar "really" sounds. when I record, thr recording sounds metallic and has no warmth. it also is not very loud. I have to crank the volume on my 414ce to max, treble all the way down, and bass 3/4 up to even get a decent sound.

It's a bag o' hurt something figuring out how to record and for me it's been a work in progress, but I also use Garageband and have gotten a few tracks out of it that I'm proud of.

I use a Line 6 box which is probably similar to yours, and as others have mentioned it's much better to use mics as opposed plugging in an acoustic pickup. I started with a pair of Behringer condensor mics that were very inexpensive that I got off Amazon. (<$50!) Traditionally you aim one a the 12th fret and the other where-ever you like that sounds good to you. To use condensors, you need to have something called "phantom power" available from your M-box else the mics won't deliver a signal.

Garageband is a wonderful program, but like with everything else, the more you stuff you throw in, the worse it ends up sounding. Line 6 has a front end program that simulates umpteen different amps and effects, but I just use a plain PA amp with a little reverb and just a little compression. In the Garageband program itself, I use no effects at all except recently I've learned the importance of EQ. They have a real-time graphic EQ effect where you can tweak what's too strong and too light.

Another trick to fatten your sound a bit is to copy and paste a track so you have two of them and then move one track so that it plays just slightly behind the other, then pan one left and the other right.

I have a long way to go learning to record, but here's one I thought turned out well:  http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9282514

[S MS Picker]

I agree w/InsideOut. That guy in the booth is there for a reason.Most will let you help in the final mix- down.I like 3 mics :1 about 6-8 in from 12, 1 a couple feet fro the sound hole, and 1 behind my right ear.
Steve

[Duke]

I'm pretty simple with my recordings. Sit down on the couch. Turn on my Zoom H2n. Start playing.

I clean up and EQ in Garageband. I've found some nice settings for tweaking the ambiance of the room.