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Can Your Guitar Ever Sound as Good in Home Recordings?

Guest Post — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:57:52 +0000

Home recording is the way to go for many – perhaps even most – musicians out there. Not just as way to record demos, but even to do the “finished product”. Guest blogger Ben Jacklin helps to answer the question: can your guitar actually sound as good at home as when recorded at a professional recording studio?

“Home Recording” used to be a term that petrified musicians. Not least because it required huge amounts of equipment to even consider. Before computers, it was virtually impossible, but as technology has changed, dabbling in recording is a realistic option for most guitarists, songwriters and even full bands. Can the results ever stand up to a studio recording?

Most home recording setups are a simplified version of a recording studio setup. Instead of going into a studio and having microphones running into preamps, a mixing desk and then to the computer, a home setup will usually be a microphone running to an audio interface and then to your computer. The audio is picked up in a DAW and then edited or ‘mixed’. Some home recordings are even done on USB microphones. 10 years ago, this would have been virtually unthinkable, but companies like Blue mics have actually done a very good job of making the switch to USB. It takes a huge amount of the hassle out of things, and means recording can take place anywhere.

Examples of Home Recording

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago.

Perhaps a seminal moment in the world of DIY musicianship. This album was recorded in a cabin, where Justin Vernon worked on the project in solitude, tracking to an old version of ProTools LE software. Though it has a slightly lo-fi feel, no listener in the world would instantly recognise that this was not recorded in a studio, and the environment in which it was recorded shines through in an album with a definite ‘tone’ running throughout. One of the first examples of home recording breaching the mainstream.

Tame Impala – Currents

A more modern example of home recording is Tame Impala’s ‘Currents”. Lead singer Kevin Parkers home studio is described as more of a storage facility for his equipment, but was turned into the perfect recording space for this well-polished album.

Beck – Odelay

Never one to shy away from innovating, Beck was home recording in the mid 90s. He used the home (and equipment) of electronic producers the dust brothers to record and mix much of his seminal, sample-based album “Odelay”. Incredibly, the primitive computing technology available to him meant that many of the ideas for the album are said to have come to him whilst waiting hours for his projects to save on the computer.

Tips for Home Recording

The short answer to the question of “can your guitar (or vocals) sound as good in home recordings?” is surprisingly a resounding yes. That said, recording studios exist for a reason and are still preferable if you have the time and money. To record at home, some decent equipment and attention to detail are needed.

Recording at home…with the right gear, you can get great results.

Home recordings should consider acoustics. Treating your room with acoustic panels, or even buying a vocal isolation shield or shoving it full of duvets will do a decent job! Use the best microphone/s available to you, and investing in a decent home studio setup can pay off in the future. Even something as minimal as a good condenser microphone and audio interface can do wonders. Finally, brush up on your DAW or music software. There’s no use in getting good home recordings if you have no idea how to mix them, multi-track and present them into a finished song.

We live in a liberating age for guitarists and musicians, and the idea that a song recorded in your mom’s basement can reach the charts should give every DIY musician the inspiration to learn how to record and produce.

Can Your Guitar Ever Sound as Good in Home Recordings? from MyRareGuitars.com

The Essential Guide for Guitar Recording

Guest Post — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 14:29:00 +0000

This “Essential Guide for Guitar Recording” by guest blogger Diego Cardini will show you how to make great recordings, the easy way.

Whether you have just learned a few licks or have been playing for years, many of us are interested in recording our guitars. Not only is it a great way to capture our song ideas, it is a method to hear how you sound so you can figure out where you need improvement or where you can try out something new. Nowadays, it is easier than ever to learn how to record guitar. Just follow these simple tips.

How to Connect Electric Guitar to PC

This is the easiest to record. You don’t need much more than am amp cable, a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch converter, a PC and software. This is how you can do a direct line-in to your computer. There is a lot of great applications out there.

If you have a Mac, then Garageband is a great program particularly for beginners. For PC Users, check out Presonus or some of the other great options listed here. Just like recording in a studio, you will want to make sure the monitor is turned on so you can hear how you sound. Most of these applications also have built-in effects so you really play around with your sound.

Recording Acoustic Guitar with One Mic

To begin with, it helps if you have a good quality acoustic guitar that has a bright, clear sound. These days many acoustic guitars are well designed so all you need is a good amp and you should be able to record very easily.

However, it can be a little bit more difficult if you don’t have an output jack. In this case you are going to need a microphone. If you are a beginner, your computer microphone can do the job just fine, but those looking for a little higher audio fidelity are going to want to use a microphone. Similar to how you would connect an electric guitar to computer, do same with a microphone.

It is all about where you place the mic. You have a lot of different options so experiment to see what works best for you. It really depends on how much money and effort you want to spend. A standard mic placed a couple feet from your guitar can do an okay job, but if you want really good sound then you will want to invest in some tools specifically designed for acoustic recordings.

How to Connect Guitar Amp to Audio Interface

Most people like the way their guitar amps sounds. Even if you have great software, some of the computer effects just don’t produce the sounds we want. These days, most modern amps are more or less designed to be used alongside computers. Some even have USB outlets, while the majority at least have some form an audio-out feature.

Once you are starting to get a little more serious about recording, most people switch to an audio interface. These are small devices designed to improve the sound recording features of your computer. Think of them as audio boosters for your PC. They give you the ability to have multiple line-ins and control the levels at which they are sending their signals. This help you eliminate static, hum and record at much higher quality levels.

Guitar Pedals and Home Recording

Just as people prefer the sound of their own amplifiers, so too do they want to effects from their pedals. You have several options on how you use them. All of the above-mentioned methods of recording (aside from acoustic of course!) are suitable ways for you to use your pedal. For example, you can plug you guitar into your pedal or board and go straight into the computer.

This does an okay job, but if you want to get closer to how you actually sound playing live then you will want to go through amp through its output feature. Adding an audio interface will also help to regulate volume levels and ensure the clearest sound recording possible.

You can also skip the amp and work straight through your pedals and the interface. This is effective if you are looking for the cleanest sound that you can get.

It’s Just that easy!

The majority of musicians these days use their own setup to record at home. It is a great way to get some music up on the Internet as well as just refine your sound. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get used to it, it will be very easy and before you know it, you will be ready to move on to more complicated tasks such as mixing and producing songs.

– by Diego Cardini

About the author: Diego has a passion for music since he was 12 years old. Enjoying jamming and teaching, he runs The Musician Lab, a space to learn and get involved with music for musicians of all levels.

The Essential Guide for Guitar Recording from MyRareGuitars.com