Recording, line out or mic up.

[Nicholasim]

Hi guys, just wondering when you record your guitar into the computer, how do you guys do it?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the methods used?

For me I use either the line out from my amp (if my amp has one and provided it doesn't freaking mute my amp when connected, it's irritating why some amps do that, I don't get it. Headphone out and line out is so different) or I just go from guitar to multieffects direct into computer, which has served me well so far.

Advantages - very simple setup, not much $$$ required to buy mic, buy interface etc.

Disadvantages - sound produced is not the "authentic" sound produced by the amplifier.

So share your methods and thoughts!

 

[zesn]

It's not really a line out as they advertised then, they should call it headphones instead.
Line out from amp sounds retarded imo.
It's either you mic up a amp using an audio interface(AI) and a digital audio workstation(DAW)
or you plug your guitar into your computer also by an AI and use a amp simulator.

Multieffects direct to computer can sound not bad, most of the time better than using an amp simulator.

Nothing beats a good mic recording a good ol' amplifier, probably an axe FX would beat it hahha.

 

[Nicholasim]

Hey! Thanks for the tip. Guess I gotta starts saving up for a mic and interface huh.

As for the amp line out, it isn't THAT bad la. Most of my recordings are done from guitar to multiefx to computer direct. They sound pretty good I think, quite a lot of Ppl ask me on my YouTube channel what I'm using to record and most were shocked when I told them it's just an ax3000g direct into the computer. However I tried using a line out from a KUSTOM amp for one video and it sounded good as well. But the line out on my Marshall mini stack was pure crap.

 

[Vax]

A simple SM57 dead over the centre of the cone suffices for home recording needs, with a simple interface that has a decent preamp (by decent I mean not noisy, gives enough gain for the mic, has phantom power just in case you decide to get a condenser). I like to mic up my amp with two mics: an SM57 and an AT-2035 condenser either further away but directed at the amp to capture the room (kinda implies you set your room up for recording amps), or behind it to capture the "air" of the amp.

Advantages: Big sound without having to crank the amp to unbearable levels, versatility in choosing the "mic tone" with the same recording, able to blend and mix differently with the same recording.

Disadvantages: Needs a lot more setup time, requires more gear (two mics with a stereo-ready interface), more time needed to mix.

I still use my Tech21 SansAmp GT-2 very often just for the convenience though.