My name is Brett from Prague, in the Czech Republic and I am going to provide some insight into a subject that is of interest to many people that are in a band, and that want to start home recording - How to record and electric guitar or bass through an amplifier.
There are some basic things that you need for this, and some extras that I will get into later. But for basics, what you need are the following:
1. An electric guitar and/or bass guitar
2. An amplifier fitting to your instrument (guitar or bass)
3. A quality microphone (condenser or dynamic)
5. An audio interface device
5. A computer with recording software or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
6. Various cables based on your set up (TS, XLR or similar)
Now the basic set up is going to involve what I would call two series connections. First will be be as follows:
You ------>your guitar ---->your instrument cable ---->your guitar amplifier
The second series will look like this:
Your microphone ---->your XLR cable---->your audio interface---->your pc with DAW
Now this is the basic setup and I believe almost anyone could figure out that the way to actually record is to have the microphone pick up the guitar amplifier sound, which feeds into the DAW. However, as most guitar and bass players are obsessed with their tone, tweaking it and perfecting it continuously by changing even the slightest thing, this is also true in recording. It is not only the actual equipment that you use to play the music that matters - it is also the equipment that you use to record. On top of that, just like your tone changes depending on the acoustics of the room that you are in, so does the recording. In fact there are several factors that contribute to the final sound you ultimately produce in the recording. The type of microphone (condenser or dynamic), the placement of the microphone - even an inch or two can make a very noticeable difference, the cables that are used, both type and length, the room that you record in, and even the position of absolutely everything inside that room all contribute to the final product.
First lets quickly discuss the cables. TS cables are the most standard cables everyone is familiar with when it comes to playing guitar and bass, and are actually alternatively called instrument cables. The problem with these cables is that they are very prone to noise, which can interfere with the quality of your recording if not managed properly. Length is a huge factor in this situation and so it is highly recommended to use the shorted cable possible. XLR cables, on the other hand, have built in noise cancelling feature due to the three connecting pins in its design. So in connecting your microphone, you shouldn't have any noise issues as long as the XLR connection is on both ends.
Now with microphones, you have many designs and models to choose from with a wide range in quality and price. There are at least a few types of microphones, but most popular for recording guitar and bass are definitely the condenser and dynamic types. Dynamic microphones are the most commonly known ones as these are the microphones almost everyone has on stage in their hands while singing. It utilizes a magnet and coil to create the transfer from sound waves to an audio signal. They generally have a very specific frequency response and so you can assume that each model is going to sound and react different to the sounds you put through it. Condenser microphones, on the other hand, use a capacitor design inside. Two plates with voltage between them make up the capacitor, one of which is a very light material and acts as the diaphragm. This diaphragm vibrates from the sound waves that hit it and creates the audio signal. The frequency response of condenser microphones is much flatter and generally picks up all frequencies detectable by the human ear.
The next thing you need to do is set up the microphone to pick up the sound from the amplifier. Depending on the type of microphone and the sounds that is generated, you may want to play with the placement of the microphone. Dynamic microphones are most frequently pushed right up to the grill of the speaker box and pointed directly at the centre of the speaker cone. However, even moving it a few inches will bring a huge difference in the frequencies it picks up. The closer to the centre it is, the brighter it will be. The further towards the edge, the softer it will be and the more lower frequencies you will hear. Likewise, condenser mics are often placed a bit further away to pick up the full ambiance of the room. However, there are no set rules on where you should put which type of microphone and you can experiment with your set up as much as you want to get the sound you really want to hear in the recording. Once you have found your own personal sweet spot, and have things set up, it is ready to record!
Just a few notes on microphone choice:
For those that are on a tight budget, you will want to search for the most versatile and highest quality microphone possible for your home recording. Most likely it would make sense to buy the best condenser microphone within your budget because of that wide range of frequencies it can pick up at an even level. This will make it possible not only to record your guitar or bass, but also for recording vocals and other types of instruments like strings, horns or even drums. For those with a less limited budget, multiple microphones can be an interesting option as you can use dynamics for a more direct sound and a condenser backed away from the amp to pick up accompanying acoustics that are produced. There are as many possibilities as you can imagine.
Once you have the sound waves firmly planted in your computer, then another round of fun begins, but lets leave that for another time.
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