recording without a full studio for really cheap

in this instructable I am going to show you how to record stuff from your guitar in excellent quality, without a studio, and for really cheap. This is my first instructable, so any suggestions on how to make it better are much appreciated. the initials on my guitar are based off of this project here:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Guitar_Tattoo/

This is what my setup looked like once I had everything ready.

Step 1: Stuff you need

here is what you will need:

Audacity
2 guitar cables
one amp
one guitar with electronics
a computer
one of these things (it changes the size of the end of the cable to the size of a headphone)
electricity (duh)
double stuffed Oreos (optional but highly recommended)

optional:

usb mic
one of thoes things

********************************

Audacity is a free audio recording/editing program that is free. Here is a link to it if you don't already have it:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

you should also get the LAME mp3 encoder which is here:

http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/
what this does is it allows you to export what you've made as an mp3

Comments

[darkclaw42]

 I bet its somewhere already in here, but couldn't you use the line-in? It would provide a much better sound quality. Nice instructable by the way. :) Thumbsup.

[General Lee 450]

You can use a sound card input to record it, but not the onboard sound input. Onboard has no pre-amp, but a sound card does.
I like the audacity Beta best for these projects.
Good Ible !

[mkkrushmt]

yes, you could use the line in.

[jrg3ni0us]

What's the technical term for "one of these things because I can't just walk into an electronics store and ask fo that/

[mkkrushmt]

something along the lines of male quarter inch to female eighth inch.

[mtx1000d]

That's a good program for splitting tracks, but poor for mixing. Take a look at SoundForge studio or Adobe, they offer a lot more options.

[LargePaperCup]

i just get the ksssshhhhhssshhh sound with both my mic. and my guitars

[LargePaperCup]

my audacity just has the mouse and keyboard preferences

[mkkrushmt]

hrmmm... thats odd, maybe yu have the wrong version...

[LargePaperCup]

its the newist one

[zvillesurfer]

i have a digitech rp250 (you know one of those effects processors) and it has usb out. i plug it into the computer and get flawless recordings. it was relatively cheap compared to other recording setups. i think it was about $150. although if youre really into recording, you can get an interface. my friend has a tascam interface that was also $150 and he can plug in mics and instruments and record two tracks at once. but i do like this setup you have. its perfect for beginners because all it doesnt require anything your average guitarist doesnt have.

[mkkrushmt]

yeah, recording two tracks at once would be a huge plus, as i like to do things with other guitarists and whatnot in real time as opposed to having to overdub. the whole beginner recording thing was kind of what i was going for because this way you dont have to go to too much trouble and spend too much money to record a song or idea or whatever else. -Alec

[Zackiffer]

I found that you can also just plug in a distortion peddle in place of an amp. :D

[mkkrushmt]

hrmmm, good idea. im thinking of making a distortion pedal from one of these instructables, but i cant read a schematic so im kind of at a loss. the reason you go through the amp is so there is a power scource, and a pedal uses batteries (i think...) so that is definately a good idea.

[Caveman477]

I have the exact same setup, but i need to get that adapter thing for the amp-to-pc connection, right now I'm hanging a mic in front of my amp, is the sound quality noticeably greater when you hook it up to the computer rather than a mic's quality would be?

[mkkrushmt]

i do that too sometimes, depending on the sound i want. i was thinking about adding a USB mic section. i think i will if i can find time. what kind of mic you have in combination with your amp settings will determine the overall quality. if your mic is the kind that plugs in with a piece that looks like a headphone jack, you may want to consider getting a usb mic. i use one just like the one from guitar hero. also, if you want distortion, don't crank it and cause for clipping with a clean sound on your amp, instead ajust your mic settings so it records clean, and the distortion is from either a pedal or the settings on the amp. basically, when getting effects through a usb mic, i find its best to record it straight through the mic with the tone you desire being played straight from your amp. your other alternative is to get the adapter for the computer like i said in my instructable. im pretty sure that you can get them at radio shack for fairly cheap. the sound quality is a little bit better (download the demonstration track if you want to hear it) but it's more difficult to get the desired tone. basically it all comes down to the tone you want and how you can go about getting it. if you can get the tone you like and are happy with the quality of the sound, than stick with your mic setup, otherwise going straight into the pc from your amp is a solution that will ultimately give you higher quality. -Alec

[van johnson112]

You have to be careful how much you turn up the amp. The output from the amp is not line level and you could blow your sound card with a powered source.

[mkkrushmt]

yup, your absolutely right. I'll put a warning in one of the steps.

[Father Christmas]

yeah. When using Audacity, you can just export it as an MP3. You don't need the other program.

[mkkrushmt]

yes you do, it gives you the option, but it will ask you to go find it. audacity wont directly export mp3 because of copyright issues and whatnot

[Father Christmas]

i have never once had an issue with it. maybe a different version, or a ghost program running.

[mkkrushmt]

huh, weird... your probably right :)

[instructables_user_4783]

Great Instructable. It works great. Thank You

[mkkrushmt]

your welcome

[JTS999]

were did you get the cable?

[mkkrushmt]

one of the cables i found in my basement, the other one i bought at my local guitar store (the cool blue ended one). the blue one is made by a company called gig lines and is 15 feet

[EVHphan]

the mp3 coder or whtevr it is isit free as well

[mkkrushmt]

yes, it is free