Question For Guitarists

[darren]

I'm just about getting into recording some guitars to add to the arrangements in my tracks and wanted to ask how to get best quality. Guitar is not my first instrument and I don't have any amps. I have an electro-acoustic and a Gibson Epiphone, and the method I plan on utilising is recording the guitars direct into Logic via my Apogee One. 

 

It would be good to hear from specialist guitarists as to how they record, and maybe answer a couple of questions:

 

Should I record acoustic guitar through a mic, or is it better hooked up directly into Logic?

 

Do any real guitarists use the pedalboard/amp designer plug-ins in Logic.

 

Thanks

[Rudi]

Hi Darren, I dont know much about the gear/software you are using, but  suggest trying a direct line in first and see how you get on.

 

This is the easiest way to get a clean controllable signal.

 

Using a mic is no black art, but it can take a lot of experimentation to get the best results, and the set-up is dependent on so many variables, not least room acoustics. Unless you are lucky, you also might find that you are forever chasing out odd intrusive hisses & rumbles.

 

Sorry, I know nothing about 'logic'. I have never tried using an apogee mic either.

[darren]

Thanks, Bill!

 

I was hoping someone would reply and say use a direct line in. That's what I planned to do but I was reading in a lot of places that people use mics to record their guitar parts, either acoustically or electrically.

 

I guess, due to lack of a decent amp and any pedalboards, I'll have to use a direct line-in for electric guitar. Logic has loads of amp/pedalboard simulations I can add to the signal once it's in.

[john]

*looks for Bill*

Hi Darren

One thing you don't say is what you plan to use the recordings for? That might make a difference to what I would suggest.

Direct Injection (DI) (line) recording has never been as good as it is right now. In addition to effects there are some excellent amp and effect simulators for guitar, for example look at some the Amplitube range of products from IK Multimedia. There are others in the marketplace but their products achieve a great balance of quality and versatility. Some amp sims and guitar effects are free, try checking the free VST suggestions board on Songstuff.

DI is by far the simplest hardware set up, and usually the easiest therefore to record. Apply the effects /amp sim on monitoring, ie don't record the effects and amp sim sound, just the DI guitar. When you record you can monitor the amp sim output with few issues once you master the basics of latency.

Cheers

John

[The S]

*looks for Bill*

Yay, I found Bill Happy! ;-)

OT: Now, I'm more of an acoustic sound loving guy so that probably will explain the following but at least you know. An electric guitar lover would probably recommend you buying a superb amp to go with your guitar and using a mic recording it, but for me, I plug my electric directly, using line in and then the Logic amps. I think it works like a charm and always deliver good and solid sounds! I would never ever do that when recording the acoustic though, but maybe that's me and my preferences. I've never liked the way an acoustic guitar sounds when plugged directly to the source, it's doesn't do any guitar justice. If a guitar has that special specific sound, like most acoustic guitars have for better or worse, it's completely gone and flattened out if you plug it in. I would say, learn and use a mic when recording acoustic guitars. It's not that hard and it really pays off in the long run.

S

Edited August 3, 2014 by The S

[john]

For acoustic I absolutely agree, even when using mic simulators... though you could still try experimenting with a mic recording and then running it through a decent acoustic amp sim. nothing ventured nothing gained. a decent acoustic mic is generally much, much better than the built in electric bugs

[darren]

*looks for Bill*

Hi Darren

One thing you don't say is what you plan to use the recordings for? That might make a difference to what I would suggest.

Direct Injection (DI) (line) recording has never been as good as it is right now. In addition to effects there are some excellent amp and effect simulators for guitar, for example look at some the Amplitube range of products from IK Multimedia. There are others in the marketplace but their products achieve a great balance of quality and versatility. Some amp sims and guitar effects are free, try checking the free VST suggestions board on Songstuff.

DI is by far the simplest hardware set up, and usually the easiest therefore to record. Apply the effects /amp sim on monitoring, ie don't record the effects and amp sim sound, just the DI guitar. When you record you can monitor the amp sim output with few issues once you master the basics of latency.

Cheers

John

 

Where the hell did I get Bill from...lol??? 

 

Thanks Rudi, John and The S!

 

John - I'm trying to figure out how to get some guitars into my arrangements. I mainly come up with the chord progression/ composition on the keys and envisage some electric guitar on a number of these tracks.

 

I'm glad you've both endorsed using plug-ins as I didn't want to go out and buy a complete guitar rig (nor can I afford to if I wanted). Hadn't thought about recording dry and adding effects later tho, so will give that a go.

 

The S

 

Yay, I found Bill Happy! ;-)

OT: Now, I'm more of an acoustic sound loving guy so that probably will explain the following but at least you know. An electric guitar lover would probably recommend you buying a superb amp to go with your guitar and using a mic recording it, but for me, I plug my electric directly, using line in and then the Logic amps. I think it works like a charm and always deliver good and solid sounds! I would never ever do that when recording the acoustic though, but maybe that's me and my preferences. I've never liked the way an acoustic guitar sounds when plugged directly to the source, it's doesn't do any guitar justice. If a guitar has that special specific sound, like most acoustic guitars have for better or worse, it's completely gone and flattened out if you plug it in. I would say, learn and use a mic when recording acoustic guitars. It's not that hard and it really pays off in the long run.

S

 

It makes sense to record acoustic this way. Would I be better with a condenser or dynamic mic?

[Mark Danger]

Line in is really not a bad way to go at all.  Guitar Rig is great, for example, though I find it gets finicky with too many instances running simultaneously.  Record it a few times in a few ways while playing when the panning and you can get some very nice, full tones.

 

I've had good luck recording acoustic guitars with a direct line and microphone at the same time. If you have to choose on or the other, using a microphone is the only way to go.

[The S]

Would I be better with a condenser or dynamic mic?

I…don't know. I have a great mic, but I got it primarily for vocals and I figured, if it's great for vocals it'll be good enough for guitar, and it is. It's a Miktek CV4 condenser mic. Which type of mic produce the best result however, condenser or dynamic, for recording acoustic guitar, I have no clue! Hopefully someone more tech savvy see this and answer your question. Sorry!

[Rudi]

Darren,

 

A condenser mic is best.

I have used stage mics but they are built for abuse, not care & fidelity.

 

Rudi (AKA Unwise Bill)

[darren]

Thanks everyone. Think I'll work on getting some acoustic tracks down, experimenting with the mic and see how I go!

[GocartMoz]

Definately don't want to go direct with an acoustic.  With all of the bells and whistles and simulated amp sounds in Logic, going direct with electric is preferred imo.  On the other hand, the sound of an acoustic direct pales in comparison to a properly mic'd acoustic.  You will have to play around with the mic location to get the sound you prefer, but I place the mic at the height of the sound hole angled towards the neck end of the sound hole.  I sit with the acoustic about 1 to 2 feet away, perhaps farther if I am strumming and get a sound I am pretty happy with.  Of course alot depends on the acoustic you are using as far as tone goes.  I generally stay away from the preset acoustic sounds in logic as i like the pure acoustic tone of my Martin. I might add a bit of chorus and reverb but generally it is a pure acoustic sound from the guitar and mic.  I am playing a Martin D28 and mic it with a $100 Samson condenser mic and am very happy with the sound.  Best of luck.

[Space]

I wrote out a pretty long response to a similar question here if you want to read: http://forums.songstuff.com/topic/38547-recording-your-guitar-work/

 

That said, I am of the camp to always mic electric or acoustic if its going to be for a keep track. If you don't have an electric guitar amp, those plug-ins mentioned can fake it pretty well, just like a nice taylor expression system on an acoustic. At the end of the day though, its never as good as miced. Just my opinion though, your mileage may vary