To record my electric guitar on my PC using audacity

[AndrewM]

Hello there.

I was just wondering what I would need to do this? I have a guitar and a 15 watt amp, and plenty of cords to connect the two together.

If its not possible to record my amp, would it still be posible to add sound effects like gain?

Many of the songs I have wrote in the past have a distorted guitar playing over a "clean" guitar track, so its very important

[kozikowski]

If its not possible to record my amp, would it still be posible to add sound effects like gain?

Audacity doesn't do anything in real time past record, play, and some timer jobs, so to do anything special requires actual recording.

You left the recording job a little open. Direct connections to the computer from the pickup are possible but they don't have the sound of the speaker, amp and a cabinet. Recording the amp directly gives you the guitar and amp effects, but not the speaker and cabinet. Recording a microphone gives you everything, but is a little rough to do and also forces you to record the room reverb, echo, dogs barking and cellphone ringing.

So bring us up. All those are different.

Koz

[AndrewM]

I see. I think a portable microphone might be the best option for me, since I am at least somewhat familiar with how to record using one.

To date I have been using the webcam mike that came with the PC and it has been no good. Too many problems.

Thanks very much for the advice.

[kozikowski]

Too many problems.

Don't leave us hanging. Such as...?

Koz

[AndrewM]

Sorry for the late response.

The main problem I was experiencing was a nasty buzzing sound when I attempted to record a distorted guitar sound over a clean guitar sound.

I assumed it was because the webcam mike that came with the PC isnt really built to handle that kind of task.

[kozikowski]

Oh, right. Yes a webcam is not going to be able to cleanly record a full volume guitar system. Many other cheaper microphone systems are not going to be able to handle this, either. The grownups all use much more expensive Dynamic/Moving Coil microphones, in-line attenuators, and adjustable sound mixers.

You may be able to make do with what you have by separating the amp cabinet from the microphone. If you double the distance, the volume goes down by the square, not just half. That may get you over the edge.

There is another thing that Windows does that may be creating problems. Windows likes to do conferencing and on-line audio connections and sometimes those settings can create distortion in live recordings.

I was about to point to the instructions for that, but it may be time for the Sunday Night Web Page Maintenance. Good time to go to bed.

Koz

[Robert J. H.]

[...]
If you double the distance, the volume goes down by the square, not just half. That may get you over the edge.

That's not exactly true. Volume is a humanly perceived value, thus it is in this case rather "level". If you record 1 m away from the source and have 60 dB spl, then it will drop to 54 dB in 2 m distance and to 48 dB at 4 m.
A decrease of 6 dB means half of the sound pressure level (which is proportional to the mic's voltage). Here is a calculator along with the 1/r and 1/r^2 law descriptions:
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator ... stance.htm
Have a happy 2013!

[AndrewM]

Thanks, does anyone have any suggestions about what I would need to get at least an audible recording when I try to combine tracks? (no luck so far with the webcam mike)

Ive had a bit of experience in the past with using a portable microphone to record, but the problem is Im not sure what kind I would need for a PC.

[AndrewM]

You may be able to make do with what you have by separating the amp cabinet from the microphone. If you double the distance, the volume goes down by the square, not just half. That may get you over the edge.

Thats interesting.

You mean the inverse square law that applies to physical properties such as gravity and light? That never occured to me, and sounds like a useful thing to remember. Would air friction factor in as well?

[kozikowski]

Thats interesting.

Maybe not so interesting. I got an argument about that assumption.
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 23#p201854

Koz