Recording Advice Wanted (macbook Pro)

Hello guys,

Introduction
My name is Sammy (22). Most of you won't know me, apart from Kris, but I've been a subscriber (member) of GMC in the past. Shortly after I bought my first electric guitar (Gibson Les Paul Standard) and a bit later (after saving enough money again) my first amp (Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 122). We're speaking about a period of 1 year and a half ago here , almost 2 years (in july it'll be 2 years)

I had to concentrate on my studies at university (Master in Social Work) which took alot of time and energy, which made it hard for me to combine it with a lovely girlfriend (we're together for almost 5 years now), studies, social contact with my friends and family and : learning how to play guitar. I had to choose what was most urgent for me to focus on. I choose for my studies and girlfriend, but I kept the dream alive in my head to really learn how to play seriously.

Today, it's more clear where my life is going (the love for my girlfriend is still growing bigger every day and it seems I'm studying things that I really like) and there's also time for my passion which I had to put in the fridge for some time: learning how to play electric guitar! I've bee following GMC all the time and I must say the activity on the forum and the website in general is a stimulating factor for me. Especially the many interesting instructors, the virtual bands, the collaborations, etc.

I'm one of those guys that always wants to go for it 100% and in the past that wasn't possible for playing the guitar. If I do something, I want to do it right and I keep on trying. That's what I'm going to do now too. I see this as a fresh start. In total I maybe played guitar for about a month, so this is practically a fresh first start But enough looking into the past, let's talk about the future. That's where you guys come into the picture !

I want to be able to record different guitar parts, so I can keep track of my progress. I'm convinced that recording my own play with offer chances to improve. Because when you listen to yourself, you hear the mistakes. And mistakes are there to correct, so you can improve. I also want to share my progress with others and give and receive feedback. Conclusion: I want to learn, give and receive.

Recording questions


I want to be able to make recordings in two specific situations/settings because I feel this boosts me in learning how to play. It motivates me and makes me want to pick up the guitar. I need to:

- Record guitar parts (later maybe vocals, but not at this stage) with only a macbook pro, software and an audio-interface (if that's what I need) including the necessary cables (RECORD WITHOUT MARSHALL AMP)

- Record the sound from my Marshall amp (with microphone I guess) so I capture as much as possible of the 'real' sound the tubes produce, after which I want to use software to edit the recordings

I read most topics on the forum about what to buy and was thinking about TonePort UX 2, PODXT or any 'good' audio-interface under $440 / €300 to use in combination with the standard Shure microphone to record electric guitars if I want to capture the sound directly from my amp.

I'd like to hear from the instructors what they would recommend. Especially because I want to make a smart buy, as my Marshall and guitar did already cost alot for me as a student and I think for everyone (you know the prices so )

Keeping in mind the fact I want to record both at home (where my Marshall amp is) during the weekends and at the university home (room) during the week, I would prefer a recording solution that enables me doing both with the same hardware/software. Reading various threads on this and other forums, I more or less picked up the idea that following setup might be what I need:


Software + Macbook Pro + Audio-interface (USB or Firewire) + Amp (to record the sound from my amp)
Software + MacBook Pro + e.g. TonePort UX 2 + guitar
Software + MacBook Pro + TonePort UX 2 + Sure microphone + Amp (to record the sound from my amp)

What Audio-interfaces would you recommend?
Would I be able to do what I want to do with good recording quality?

One other thing that's important for me:

Is there maybe a way to connect my Marshall TSL 122 somehow to my computer using cables? Because I was told it has quiet some possibilities to connect effects (pedals) and to keep control over effects etc, so maybe there are also possibilities with this amp to record somehow, possibilities that are up to now unknown to me? If so, I'd really like to hear.

Basically, I need to be able to record At home, I can work with a microphone and my amp, but during the week when I'm not at home, I still want to be able to record guitar parts and exercise like hell if you know what I mean. Just with my macbook pro, the needed software and or audio-interfaces or other hardware that's needed. Why? Because I feel that the fact that I couldn't take my amp back home and the other way around every time and couldn't practice playing with actual sound (recording) to examine (There's practically zero tolerance concerning 'noise' in this building at the university, because there are 400 students who want to study or sleep) I needed a laptop for my studies and with my guitar ambitions in mind I bought a MacBook Pro with Garageband. I also read good things about Reaper, Cubase, Logic Studio, Logic Express etc which I'm willing to buy. I want a good software package, it can be a bit too complicated in the beginning, I would prefer that over choosing something with not enough features when I will need them after a while Won't be tomorrow, but I'd rather be prepared for those times

Thank for reading my post, I tried to be precise And more important, I'm really looking forward to learn all those nice video lessons and maybe after some months contribute in a virtual band or collaboration. I think that would boost my learning process alot.

Cheers!

Quick-Start Course DVD

Hi,

I just started playing guitar.
Bought my first electric guitar (no amp yet) and I'm practicing 'unplugged' along with the DVD Quick-Start Course.

As a complete beginner, I am facing some problems YOU might have overcome by now, so that's why I've made this topic.
I'm sure there are alot of players over here who could give me - and other beginnners - advice.

The problems I'm facing at the moment:
[list]
1. Fingerstyle: Example chord progression
2. Scratching and strumming
[list]

Fingerstyle: As a beginner, I personally have the feeling that the example chord progression is too hard for me. Actually, the DVD quickly starts with fingerpicking. It's not the fingerpicking itself that causes me problems, but the fact that chords are involved as well as different patterns.

As a beginner, I've only just practiced two days on the guitar. I've learned the A, E, C, D, Am, Dm, F, G chords. I still have to train them much harder to be able to immediately grab the correct chord, but now I know the finger positioning for those chords...

What happens is that I launch the DVD with alot of enthousiasm but get stuck quiet fast. For the fingerstyle, the picking with the right hand goes well (not as fast as on the dvd, but that's a matter of training) but the left hand is not good at the moment. The result is that I can't really train the patterns Kris provided in the Fingestyle chapter, because I feel I need more practice on the chords first.

My question for all of you is: Can you give beginners like me advice to break down such an exercise in little bits so I first practice part A, then B, then C to be finally able to play the exercise?

Wouldn't it be better for me to train the most used chords first? And to train fingerstyle eg on a scale, using two fingers at first to train fingerpicking and then three etc? Instead of immediately starting off with AND fingerpicking AND chords AND chord changes AND patterns?

If you're motivated, there's nothing as irritating as being stuck at the start, knowing that there's alot of nice stuff on the DVD you should really train hard.

@ Kris: What's your goal regarding the fingerstyle exercises? What do you want us - beginners - to learn by trying out those patterns etc?

Scratching:

In the example where you explain what scratching is about, you say you use a A major chord and the tab looks like this:

E| 5 x
B| 5 x
G| 6 x
D| 7 x etc
A| 7 x
E| 5 x

The A major I learnt looks like this:


Now, I think the exercises are to hard for a total beginner. The stretch seems to hurt my wrist. It would be better for me to train the same thing (fingerstyle) with an easier chord. These exercises seem to hard for me at the moment. And not because the picking itself is so hard, but just because there's too much other stuff involved that you have to know or look up yourself to put it together.

I'm one of those guys that wants to play everything perfect. When I would skip the fingerstyle, I would feel bad. It feels like giving up and that's just not me. So I'm looking at the fingerstyle and everytime i try it my fingers, hands and brain says: it's to hard for a beginner. I want to play all the exercises, without skipping any. Just the full DVD, knowing that I've managed to play them all.

To be absolutely honest, for me the Quick-Start Course is still hard. Too hard at the moment. I feel like I'm stuck with Fingerstyle, not really knowing why it's important to really get good at it. It must be important for a reason, or you wouldn't have included it in the DVD. I can see why Chords are important, why strumming is important etc, but with fingerstyle

I just have to feeling that I should let the DVD rest a bit and first train chords, strumming, strumming patterns, changing chords smoothly before actually start with the Quick Start DVD.

Is there anyone who has the same feeling or did the DVD totally get you on track ?

I'm convinced that the DVD covers alot of interesting items for beginners, but as I see it, it's to complex for me.

So that's why I wonder is the Quick-Start Course is a good way to really START just right away. I have the feeling I need more basic skills to be able to play the fingerstyle and scratching. The scratching itself isn't hard (once again) but for ME the chord used causes problems. I'm not sure about correct fingering for the chord etc.

This thread is in no way a negative review for the DVD. On the contrary, I'm really positive about the contents of the DVD. The question is, does it suit me at the stage I'm currently in?

Your thoughts are welcome guys

Hello Boys N' Girls

Hi,

I'm Sammy, 21 years old and living in Belgium.
I just bought my first guitar. It's a lovely Gibson Les Paul Standard Cayenne. She sounds superb, has a nice attack and has the looks I've dreamt off.

Because I had other things going on in my life that didn't allow me to pick up a guitar and start practicing seriously, I had to delay my guitar adventure.
Now the time is right and I'm very motivated to improve gradually and raise my guitarskills. :wink:

I've purchased both Freelicks.net DVD's. I have to say that there's alot covered on those DVD's that I need :wink: So thank you again Kris.

There's so much ahead of me. Once I got my amp I'll be able to start practicing seriously. I'm going to test some amps in a few stores, most likely a Marshall DSL401, TSL601, Line6 Spider II 30w, Vox AC30 and some others.

I have no guitar experience at all, so for me it's quite a challenge to start playing guitar at age 21.

My goal is: improve my guitartechnique and practicing chords, picking, vibrato, bends hammerons and pulloffs so I can start looking at the freelicks licks. For that, I need to work on the basics first.

Favourite music: ZZTOP, Guns N' Roses, Slash, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, Slash's Snakepit, Yngwie, Vai and much more.

Kind regards,

Sammy