Recording Equipment (Pre-Amps)

[Scali]

Ah I see what you mean... you are currently not plugging your guitar directly into the computer (which you could, if your PC has a microphone input, that probably works okay). You are using an actual mic.
That is probably not how the 'electric' setting was intended. I assume the 'electric' setting is the same type of digital preamp modeling as also available through plugins like Guitar Rig, Amplitube, and stuff like Pod Farm which Line6 includes with their audio interfaces (the word 'preamp' isn't really the right term for it, which is where all the confusion comes from).

You see, I thought you were plugging the guitar directly into the computer already, but it just didn't sound right (and who would expected built-in effects to sound anywhere near as good as aftermarket ones?).

I would suggest plugging the guitar directly into the computer, rather than using a mic. A mic will pick up far too much noise, so the preamp simulation can never really work. Aside from that, the sound of a mic'ed guitar is way different from what you'd get with guitar pickups, which is what amp modeling software is designed for.
If you can't plug the guitar into the PC (either physically impossible, or it doesn't sound good because of impedance/output level mismatches), then you'll need an audio interface. In which case we'd get to Line6 or Zoom stuff... or similar. They also bundle their own modeling software, which is of excellent quality, probably much better than whatever is in Garage Band.

[MobBarley]

I just bought a pod x3 live too.. I gotta say, I'm kinda regretting it since the pod farm software is so much less expensive.

Still, though, there's the foot buttons.

[Scali]

Yea, well, they don't call it 'Live' for nothing
I mean, Pod Farm is nice when recording, but I don't exactly see myself hauling a computer onstage for a performance

[76Strat]

Garage band modelling is terrible... I suggest something to plug the guitar direct in & model it... I wont argue about the qaulity of a to d & d to a convertors here... For your purpose of a couple layered tracks w/e is in your choice of devices will be fine...

[stratman50th]

I've wanted to record for a while now, but haven't purchased what I've needed because I'm poor, and I can't decide what to do.
I'm torn between buying a MAC because everybody says Garage Band is good, and a PC with something like Audacity.
I wanted to be able to record out of the box which is why I was really leaning toward the MAC. Now reading about this, it looks like I still need to have a pre-amp, which I would need if I got a PC.
My goal was to get "me" from a mic'ed amp, without any coloration from something in between. Is that not possible now days? I'm a recording idiot, so these threads are of great interest to me.
So you all are saying that no matter what type of computing platform I buy, I'll still need something in between?
RatedZ is the first Garage Band guy I know of and it doesn't sound like that's the answer.

[76Strat]

Garage band works fine and the built in effects & eqs are pretty good however there amp modelling is very subpar... If you want to mic your current amp i suggest an m-box and an sm57 thats about all you will need to properly mic your amp for a few tracks its got a decent a to d convertor decent features for a reasonable price...

[76Strat]

As for platform pc is great for a budget and audacity is free plus most good interfaces come with some kinda daw itb... Id say unless you plan on getteing deep into recording a pc will work fine & will cost far less...

[Measles]

I have recorded before using my line 6 TonePort. I had a cable going from the headphone out on the unit into my computers mic input. The result was better than I expected.

http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/JMeasles/

On my profile there, the track labeled Dimensional Being was done using the TonePort. I recorded guitar and bass with it. FL Studio + EZDrummer for the drums. The lead stuff is just improv.

[Scali]

I don't think you can compare Garage Band with Audacity. Audacity is a very basic sound recording app, Garage Band is far more advanced.
However, a lot of gear comes with software included. For example, my Zoom G9.2tt came with a free copy of Cubase LE. I still use it, because it's good enough for me. I can use VST plugins, I can combine MIDI and digital audio tracks, and I can use it to generate the final mix as an mp3 (okay, I had to buy the full version of the mp3 encoder, but it was very cheap... alternatively you could export to wav and use a free mp3 encoder like lame to convert it manually).

[MobBarley]

My opinion is.. that instead of going with a dedicated pre-amp, you may want to try a nice EQ. They really sculp your tone. Plus, they can amplify your overall signal too (just about all of them)... dedicated preamps that are worth a buck have tubes in them, to "soft clip"... that's more a matter of getting a nice distortion sound, though, than just amplification.

[RatedZ]

Originally Posted by Scali

Ah I see what you mean... you are currently not plugging your guitar directly into the computer (which you could, if your PC has a microphone input, that probably works okay). You are using an actual mic.
That is probably not how the 'electric' setting was intended. I assume the 'electric' setting is the same type of digital preamp modeling as also available through plugins like Guitar Rig, Amplitube, and stuff like Pod Farm which Line6 includes with their audio interfaces (the word 'preamp' isn't really the right term for it, which is where all the confusion comes from).

You see, I thought you were plugging the guitar directly into the computer already, but it just didn't sound right (and who would expected built-in effects to sound anywhere near as good as aftermarket ones?).

I would suggest plugging the guitar directly into the computer, rather than using a mic. A mic will pick up far too much noise, so the preamp simulation can never really work. Aside from that, the sound of a mic'ed guitar is way different from what you'd get with guitar pickups, which is what amp modeling software is designed for.
If you can't plug the guitar into the PC (either physically impossible, or it doesn't sound good because of impedance/output level mismatches), then you'll need an audio interface. In which case we'd get to Line6 or Zoom stuff... or similar. They also bundle their own modeling software, which is of excellent quality, probably much better than whatever is in Garage Band.

I think you sort of "missed," but not totally.

The computer has a built-in microphone. I'm not using an actual microphone. In order to do the recording on either setting (acoustic and electric), it's done the same way; standing in front of the computer and playing. The only difference between the two is that when using the "electric" setting, you get options to choose between which types of sound effects you want to use (amp, pedals, etc.).

As for the computer having a "microphone input," I'm not sure. Besides a few USB ports, headphone jack, firewire jack, and cd/dvd "slot," I'm not seeing much.

[MobBarley]

OHHH.. you're playing into the computers built in microphone???

Dang, man. NOW I see what's going on. I didn't wanna say much about pre-amps cuz I don't actually have any experience with'um.

[Scali]

Yea, I figured it was probably a built-in microphone (which is why I thought it might be physically impossible to plug the guitar into the microphone input, it might not have one).
But still, it's an actual microphone, not a guitar pickup.

[MobBarley]

Eh, a USB sound card can be had rather cheap... dunno whatchya gunna do with a pre-amp anyway (unless it's a software pre-amp)

http://www.google.com/products/catal...711&sa=title#p

[RatedZ]

Originally Posted by MobBarley

OHHH.. you're playing into the computers built in microphone???

Dang, man. NOW I see what's going on. I didn't wanna say much about pre-amps cuz I don't actually have any experience with'um.

YES! Hard time explainin'! LOL!

Originally Posted by Scali

Yea, I figured it was probably a built-in microphone (which is why I thought it might be physically impossible to plug the guitar into the microphone input, it might not have one).
But still, it's an actual microphone, not a guitar pickup.

Right, so I could use something like a UX1 or UX2 and this will solve my sound issues, right?

Originally Posted by MobBarley

Eh, a USB sound card can be had rather cheap... dunno whatchya gunna do with a pre-amp anyway (unless it's a software pre-amp)

http://www.google.com/products/catal...711&sa=title#p

I have no clue how that's going to solve my sound issues. Does this mean I won't need to buy something like a UX2 or other pre-amp device?