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GMC Forum _ Recording _ Best Recording Device For Beginners
Posted by: slash85 Apr 9 2008, 10:08 AM
gday mates....
i been playing guitar for a few years now but im completely new to this recording stuff.............i always get stuck with new riffs licks n solos i create in my head or on my guitar but they go by the way side coz i forget em.......so i wanna put a stop to this n start recording n saving the stuff i create...............i also wanna a device built in so that i can play the riffs for example record em then play em back so i can solo over em..........what do u pros reckon i should get im sick of losing this cool stuff i been creating...cheers for any advice
Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 9 2008, 10:23 AM
Easiest way to keep track of (atleast for me) what you record is to get a good soundcard, some good programs and record to computer.
I use Cubase, but thats quite expensive. There's cheaper software like Reaper that will do the trick.
Posted by: Hisham Apr 9 2008, 10:31 AM
creative sound card and big ram and cpu and HD for the PC . studio programs software like sonar or cubase or the easiest cakewalk pro 9 .and preamp or tonport
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Apr 9 2008, 11:50 AM
I'd go for a Line 6 Toneport and a cheap recording program like Reaper. This is a great way for beginners to start out.
Posted by: Toni Suominen Apr 9 2008, 12:13 PM
If you just wanna save your ideas and riffs, I would definitely recommend this cheap version of toneport:
http://www.thomann.de/fi/line6_toneport_gx.htm
It's got good enough sounds to record your ideas and stuff, and as for the software, I would definitely recommend Reaper, check the free demo from their website 
Posted by: superize Apr 9 2008, 12:19 PM
http://www.thomann.de/fi/line6_toneport_gx.htm
It's got good enough sounds to record your ideas and stuff, and as for the software, I would definitely recommend Reaper, check the free demo from their website
This is what i use and it works great
Posted by: slash85 Apr 9 2008, 12:36 PM
whats this reaper software about...........do u like install it on yur computer and u can record stuff............can u mix stuff on it ..............how does it work??
Posted by: Fran Apr 9 2008, 01:57 PM
I also recommend Toneport + Reaper.
Reaper is a multi-track recording software, that allows you to record and play simultaneous tracks, like a backing + a solo etc.
Reaper is free to try, and easy to use. There are several models of Toneport you can get, cheapest one allos you to plug just 1 instrument at a time, other models allow to plug in instrument + mic, etc.
Check Line6 toneport page, and the review of toneport UX1 at the reviews section at this site:
http://line6.com/toneport/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=9152
Check the recording subforum here at GMC too 
Posted by: MickeM Apr 9 2008, 02:31 PM
Guitarport + Rifftracker or Reaper is OK. I've noticed that with my computer the Guitarport doesn't cut it. It records with low latency but playback when i have 4-5 tracks starts to get messy, at 6 tracks my Sony ACID Pro has response times up to 30 seconds (Reaper is better, only 10 seconds...) - playback goes silent frequently as the Toneport gets too much to do. It's as if the toneport handles the recording while leaving the playback to the internal soundcard (and mine sucks)
When I plugged my POD X3 into the same computer it's flawless.
So I could recommend the X3 which is a sound interface, practice- and live performance device in one. Needs XP ot 2000 on your PC.
Though the Guitarport seem to work well as a sound interface for everyone else so it's probably just my computer.
So if you get your ideas and you're close to a computer at all times when you want to record them a sound interface of any kind (one with amp modulation and effects is nice) + Reaper which you can use for free though they suggest you pay for it.
Posted by: RIP Dime Apr 9 2008, 03:29 PM
Sorry, don't mean to thread-jack, but I was about to ask the same question as Slash, so I think it'd be kinda pointless to make another similar thread.
I'm also looking to start recording riffs, and hopefully songs. Judging from the posts above Reaper is a good choice for beginner software. As for the interface, if I had to choose between the X3 and the Toneport UX2, what would be the better choice? (I have a stock soudcard, I guess it's pretty bad for recording music)
And I'd like to record complete songs, so is there a affordable drum program or something that I could use?
Thanks
Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Apr 9 2008, 09:49 PM
I think TOneport is well rounded solution for pilot recording, practicing and jamming along. I comes with Ableton Live Lite DAW software, and Gearbox effect modeller with built in tuner and metronome with some trivial drum pattern programming ability.
Posted by: slash85 Apr 9 2008, 11:02 PM
i have absolutely no idea whats goin on here........im lost ........if i was to get this reaper do i need anything else with it like these " soundcards" and "X3's" and "toneports".............or can i just download reaper and away i go...................hey im also wondering too right.........with any of these softwares can u just upload songs from yur computer and cut out say the guitars to the song and jam with the song like a backing?......does reaper do that?
Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 9 2008, 11:16 PM
You need a soundcard to plug the guitar into, and then software like reaper to record what goes into the soundcard.
You most likely allready have a soundcard though, you can use that if you have a "line-in" connection on it. Check on the back of the PC for that.
You cant remove guitartracks from ordinary songs like that. But you can make your own backingtracks in reaper.
Posted by: slash85 Apr 10 2008, 12:16 AM
You most likely allready have a soundcard though, you can use that if you have a "line-in" connection on it. Check on the back of the PC for that.
You cant remove guitartracks from ordinary songs like that. But you can make your own backingtracks in reaper.
mr vold
i just downloaded reaper however im not sure if i have a line in thingy for the soundcard thingy i have no idea what it looks like even......how else can i go about this
Posted by: slash85 Apr 10 2008, 12:25 AM
so i just downloaded reaper right and am havin a bit of a fiddle with it..........say i record a riff right....can i use drum beats n bass lines that reaper has already installed on it to add to my riffs..................so u can kind of create yur own song or somethin and then mix it to make parts louder and what not........am i right in saying this????
Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 10 2008, 12:30 AM
Here's 2 different but typical looks for the average soundcard and the line-in plug:
Either built in on the mainboard it will look like this:
Or if you have a PCI/PCIe card:
There's offcourse dozens and dozens of different soundcards, and each will have a differnet amount of "holes" in the back.
If you have soundcards with mini-jack plugs like this, you will need a mini-jack plug for your jack-cable (the usual guitar cable).
You connect the guitar from a headphone/line-out on your amp and then make sure that the line-in option in your windows-mixer (the icon that looks like a speaker on your traybar) is not disabled.
Posted by: slash85 Apr 10 2008, 12:38 AM
Either built in on the mainboard it will look like this:
Or if you have a PCI/PCIe card:
There's offcourse dozens and dozens of different soundcards, and each will have a differnet amount of "holes" in the back.
If you have soundcards with mini-jack plugs like this, you will need a mini-jack plug for your jack-cable (the usual guitar cable).
You connect the guitar either directly or from a headphone/line-out on your amp and then make sure that the line-in option in your windows-mixer (the icon that looks like a speaker on your traybar) is not disabled.
alright so i have run into some problems already.............for starters i have a laptop and there are none of those line in jacks or anything on it......and i have a marshall jvm 410c head and it doesnt have headphone jacks ....it has line out but its got three little prongs things in it .....so i wont accommodate a guitar cable...................sorry this is probably painful for youse but i just play guitar i have never experimented with all this sort of stuff so cheers for baring with me
Posted by: superize Apr 10 2008, 12:42 AM
The easisest way would be to buy a Toneport gx ar another usb device
Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 10 2008, 12:47 AM
Ah.. i knew i forgot to take a laptop into consideration 
Yes, as superize said, the best option then is a USB toneport.
The toneport has Hi-Z aswell, so you can connect the guitar un-amplified directly to it. And you dont need any conversion plugs on the cable.
Posted by: slash85 Apr 10 2008, 12:47 AM
so the tone port acts like the sound card or somethin............do u hook the toneport up to yur amp or do u just hook yur guitar into the toneport and then link the toneport to the computer
Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 10 2008, 12:52 AM
This is a toneport:
There is a USB plug on the backside of it that goes into the USB port of the PC/laptop. Then you connect the guitar to a input on the front.
You dont need your amp for this.
Posted by: slash85 Apr 10 2008, 01:12 AM
There is a USB plug on the backside of it that goes into the USB port of the PC/laptop. Then you connect the guitar to a input on the front.
You dont need your amp for this.
right mate ill get one of them but the cheaper version mentioned above in the previous threads........so i got a few more questions if yur willing to answer
1. when i use this toneport and start recording......will sound play through the speakers of the laptop whilst i have the reaper software on....or do u just hear the sound of an electric guitar being strummed .
2.with reaper.....say i record a riff....how do u insert a bassline or drumbeat over it.........do u have to somehow record them aswell or does reaper have them built in or do u have to import them from somewhere else
Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 10 2008, 01:33 AM
I dont have a toneport or reaper myself, so better to let someone with more experience using them answering those questions.
But you will get sound through your speakers, with or without reaper running.
Posted by: superize Apr 10 2008, 01:40 AM
1. when i use this toneport and start recording......will sound play through the speakers of the laptop whilst i have the reaper software on....or do u just hear the sound of an electric guitar being strummed .
2.with reaper.....say i record a riff....how do u insert a bassline or drumbeat over it.........do u have to somehow record them aswell or does reaper have them built in or do u have to import them from somewhere else
With the toneport you get a program called gearbox where you can choose different sounds....
To get sound from the tonport you need to cennect speaker or headphones t listened to the sounds....
And with reaper you have to insert the base and drumbeat seperatly and record the guitar over that
Posted by: slash85 Apr 10 2008, 01:47 AM
To get sound from the tonport you need to cennect speaker or headphones t listened to the sounds....
And with reaper you have to insert the base and drumbeat seperatly and record the guitar over that
so where do u actually get the bass ine and drum beats from though
Posted by: Antipolitik Apr 10 2008, 02:00 AM
Hi,
I used a POD XT Live some month ago, but man, I was tweaking those knobs more than I hit the strings on my guitar.
If you want a good metal guitar sound that's not expensive you buy a Digitech DF-7 which got both amp and mixer out.
You can buy an external soundcard with builtin preamp for recording. It shouldn't get too expensive.
The DF-7 has 7 different sounds. Check it out, even better, play it.
No need to mic anything, just sit all night when family is sleeping and create riffs. Perfect! 
Guitar -> DF-7 -> Preamp (soundcard) -> Cubase
You could always buy an older version of Cubase, no need to have the most recent version when recording guitars.
I can recommend the following software if you are gonna make complete songs:
http://elitepicturehost.com/viewpic.php?code=6093af979b725d14574fff7ea6eedc9d
Wavearts (http://www.wavearts.com/PowerSuite5.html)
A Trackplug on a stereo group channel in Cubase is superb. Route your 2 L/R panned or 4 guitar tracks to this group
and use EQ, 2 compressor, noise gate, gain to tweak the sound. A really nice plugin. Use a compressor to tame the guitars, one to add attack or flatten out uneven volume on the recorded tracks. Lots of "presets" are ready to be tweaked.
http://elitepicturehost.com/viewpic.php?code=10c96985a4ac8708ba582365514711c3
Izotope Ozone
For mastering your tracks there is only one thing you need. Izotope Ozone. It also got many good presets but one tip is too tweak everything from scratch and not use the ready presets. It's impossible for those preset to know what you recorded so better to use your ears and go step by step. (Don't have Ozone activated when recording. It causes delays to the signal.) It's always good to have a reference track in Cubase. You are easily fooled by your own ears especially if you are playing in headphones. If you are making a let's say Disturbed kind of song. Have a track with them on a track and mute, unmute and compare while mastering.
http://elitepicturehost.com/viewpic.php?code=a3ddf828c0134f5ae106647f2797c2a7
Addictive drums
IMHO the best drum sound for the money. Great stuff.
I know these things costs money but if you are really serious about recording it's worth it.
One more thing about recording riff ideas. If it sounds pretty good on a mono track you are doing something right.
If it sounds really good on a mono track it'll be a killer riff when you record it on the other channel. Pan them hard left and right. I suppose you knew that but maybe there is a n00b like me out there reading this!
If you record 4 tracks it often sound good if you don't play chords on every track but single notes on 2 tracks instead. Try it out. Sometimes it works miracles. It can also sound nice if record 2 tracks with very little distortion to get more bounce and attack.
I am working nightshift and I am bored tonight that's why this post got so damn long. Sorry. Hahaha.
Hopefully there is something useful to someone in "there".
Goodnight people!
Posted by: slash85 Apr 10 2008, 02:08 AM
cheers for the input champ......i have absolutley no idea about recording anything so all this is news to me .......with all the tweakings and the pannings and stuff i have no idea either......i just plug me guitar in an away i go so its gona take me a lot of time to understand all this....mate i can barely get the best sound out of me amp let alone anything else lol ...but ill look into anything pretty much it all helps in the long run
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Apr 14 2008, 12:29 AM
Toneport ux1 and ux2 are for me best buy and most straightforward
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Apr 14 2008, 12:39 AM
I agree with Bogdan. If you use 2 mics and 2 guitars go for UX2 if you use 1 mic and one guitar go for UX1.
Posted by: RIP Dime Apr 24 2008, 09:06 AM
When I plugged my POD X3 into the same computer it's flawless.
I was re-reading this thread because I'm going to buy some recording stuff friday, I had decided to get the toneport ux2 but then I read this comment that I missed when I looked the first time.
MickeM was this the GuitarPort that you had this problem with, or a Toneport? I'll probably be recording quite a few tracks is the reason I ask.
I have the money to buy the X3 but I don't really want to spend that much money if something cheaper will do.
Posted by: kyldeee Apr 24 2008, 09:09 AM
Korg Pandora It rules 
Posted by: Gerardo Siere Jun 25 2008, 04:32 PM
I have a Zoom h4 and it is amazing, you can record with out a computer, or use it as a microfone (it becomes your sound card.), for recording in the pc, if you are not using vsti, try adobe audition 1.5, that thing wont take almost any ram at all and it works really fast, remember also to download asio drivers for better latency, google asioforall.
Posted by: Guitar1969 Jul 10 2008, 10:33 PM
All of these are great but they are software/computer based. I am a techie, and while I have used them in the past(Traction, Cubase LE etc), last year I bought myself a stand alone digital recorder , Boss BR-600. There are some different models based upon your budget and needs, but it is so much simpler to use than a software based system, and more hands on rather than pointing and clicking on a computer. The one I got has built-in drums, built in models and effects(For Guitar, Bass, vocals).
It is so simple, that when I get a guitar idea, I just plug in my guitar into a normal 1/4" input and can lay down the track within seconds - really has opened up my creativity(Not a hassle to set up) when I have a song idea I want to develop later - It also has built-in condensor mics for vocals, and can run off batteries in one self contained unit. Also has more advanced features with adding mixers, external mics, and using software based systems if you want to go that route. The effects are awesomw - uses Rolands COSM modeling/effects processor that is used in the Cube amps, etc
Obviously they cost a bit more $200+, but if you are going to have to upgrade your computer equipment/ software to record anyways, you might find this all in one unit a better fit.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 10 2008, 11:46 PM
Nevertheless computer approach is far more flexible, and in don't need to be complicated at all. The thins that Boss device has is mobility, and all in one package. Peformances are on a low level for some semi-pro work, but then again the cost is lower than PC/DAW/VSTs/APS too.
Posted by: Koopid Jul 11 2008, 06:53 AM
oops, wrong post
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