I've recorded a song I've been working on...its sort of a combo of new age
and flamenco...the guitar does all the talking no vocals. But I can't seem to get the expressive tone out of the electric classical guitar I used...when I play the song live it sounds the way I want but I'm loosing something in the recording process. It's a dual pickup Yamaha. The only effect I added was a touch of reverb. It just has a dull sound. Since I am far from being an engineer..just a musician trying to learn the art of home recording I ask the more experienced for opinions tips etc....please don't ask for a sample as I'm embarressed with the outcome.
I've tryed playing an identical track but the guitar work is a bit technical for getting that purfect...

One other note on a differrent topic....hummm on 1/4in inputs guitar or keyboards...xlr's with a mike no humming.
Humming stops when I grab the patch cord at the ground Have tryed 2 patch cords?...Checked for ac cables none near but I do have a wack of
home entertainment gear 8 feet away....I'm using a lap top and it still humms(low level) even if running on battery with no ac connection.
Any thoughts appreciated...hope you are all having a good summer!!!
Steve

How are you recording the guitar?

Are you plugging the guitar straight into the computer?

If so, you'll need a DI box (direct inject). The humming comes from the mismatched impedence levels of the guitar and the recording input.

Otherwise, it could be the wiring of the guitar. I have had to re-wire my guitars because of improper grounding. check out http://www.guitarnuts.com to help with that.

If you're miking an amp, try multiple microphones and different placements and check out the instrument miking threads here.

Quote:

I'm recording the guitar through a a\d converter as all the other instriments. I've used my output from my keyboard to record drum and synth tracks I also get a low level hum with that mind you I'm using the same 2 patch cords. I've heard single coil pickups can cause this but all of my guitars and the keyboard output (other than midi) still hum. I think I'll have the a/d converter tested first and then go from there I'll keep posting info untill resolved. Not miking the guitar...I tend to breathe heavy on leads:) Direct input of the guitar as I mentioned through the a/d converter Tascam us122..the guitar is a yamaha classical with 2 pickups one in the bridge and a boom mike in the base of the box. I'll check the link on re-wire guitars. I do have several decent mikes...A C1 that I could try...but again..background noise from me might be an issue...thanks

ok, if you're using the guitar inputs on the tascam, that eliminates the need for the DI box I mentioned. And since the keyboard hums as much as the guitar, it's probably not the guitar wiring, so that just leaves the cables and the Tascam to be the source of the problem. You could still use a DI box to convert the instrument/line level signal from your guitar and keys into a mic signal. You said your mic inputs worked fine right? You can find DIs that retail around $25-30 online. Good luck

Can I ask what DI's are?... The term doesn't ring a bell with me.?

I do have a recently aquired Yamaha mg12 mixing console..havn't used it yet..not sure if or how I acn use it to try to lose the humm?...Or I just need to hold one end of the patch cord ground to illiminate it;)

Yes XLR mike inputs are fine..balanced...no humm

I am using the headphone out as an input for audio recording, I seem to get to do more on the keyboard than when connected via midi...which also has it's advantages. Just wondering what you think?
Steve
ps: what does it take to loose the wannabe label?..

uncle_jerr wrote:

ok, if you're using the guitar inputs on the tascam, that eliminates the need for the DI box I mentioned. And since the keyboard hums as much as the guitar, it's probably not the guitar wiring, so that just leaves the cables and the Tascam to be the source of the problem. You could still use a DI box to convert the instrument/line level signal from your guitar and keys into a mic signal. You said your mic inputs worked fine right? You can find DIs that retail around $25-30 online. Good luck

Ok direct injection...got it now...phoned my music supplyer and $45 for a passive DI box may just do the job!! Won't that be easy...
Steve

the labels are based on number of posts

I think you get "Tea Maker" after 20 then "Keen" at what--50? I don't remember. Then "Assistant Engineer" and so on

AC?

http://www.studiorecordingengineer.com/ftopicp-4711.html#4711
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Recording Studio Suntans

Something that I've been trying out lately with guitar trracks is to copy the recorded track to a second track then pan one most of the way left and one most of the way right. Then shift one of them a few ticks ahead. Gives a fuller sound that seems to jump out of the mix a little more.
I'm assuming here that you're using a multi-track sequencing program of some kind.

actually, that will cause phasing.
Try duplicating, panning, then using diferent EQ on each track differently. or different short reverbs. or any effect for that matter.