What is the best way in your opinion to record guitars with budget equipment and still get an *alright* sound. I use a computer mic and audacity and I simply layer and lower the gain to get that "I'm in the room with you" feel to the guitar. What about you? Any tips. Also I am thinking about getting a Pocket POD. What is your opinion of them?

REAPER is fuck loads better than Audacity. It has a 30 day free-trial.

I am probably going to sound like a n00b, but does the program you record really affect the sound?

For higher end software ( Reaper included ), the sound is basically the same. However, Audacity actually does negatively affect the sound. Reaper is a MUCH better choice.



Avoid the Line 6 gear. It is not good. All Line 6 technology is based on either the POD or the Vetta, both of which are VERY old technology compared to whats out there now.

The best way to get good cheap recording is to get a decent Firewire or USB interface, and plug direct in there. Then use these free plugins: ReaGate ( to kill noise when not playing ) into BTE Tubescreamer Secret ( to boost the amp, settings: Drive 0 Tone 10 Level 10 ), into either Nick Crow's Wagner Sharp MkII, 8505, 7170, or LePou's SoloC. Finally, add Voxengo Boogex and a cabinet impulse of your choice ( Catharsis Awesometime Fredman impulses are some of the best out there ).

The only thing you pay for is the interface, everything else is free. If you want effects, such as delay, flanger, chorus, phaser, etc.. Kjaerhus Audio makes a great set of free plugins called the Classic series that work perfectly for this application.

You can get some SERIOUSLY good tone with this set up. It's almost good enough for me to ditch outboard guitar gear entirely.

This gets posted often enough that I'm just going to copy/paste the above paragraphs into the Recording thread and paste them in the new threads as well...

I'm also new to recording but when I do record ever so often I use a Line 6 tone port (which I think know their called Line 6 Pod's) Great and easy. I used this in combination with a pirated version Of Sony Acid studio 6. I actually recorded this guitar track with this setup if you would like to hear it.

www.myspace.com/petersappanos

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=250003

Heres what I'm talking about. This also has a XLR port if you want to mic an amp,vocals or drums possibly. I know this isn't that cheap but If you just torrent a recording software (like acid studio 6) and get a keygen for that software, the POD and a mic is all you need.

I don't know exactly how low your budget is, but I bought a used firepod for 200$ use a pirated version of magix samplitude (I am not sure about Audacity negatively affecting the sound, but I know all you pay for in expensive recording softwares is more efficient usability. All it is is organization of the sound.) I use stillwell audio plugins, I think they're like fifty bucks. A set of 150$ CAD drum mics and an sm57. So total my setup other than the computer Costs about 500$ with everything and this is what I came up with.

http://www.myspace.com/thevala

This material is mastered though, unmastered it would be somewhere in between the first two tracks and the next couple on there.