Audio Recording

Distorted guitar is one of the most important recording production instruments for rock music. Wide genre will use distorted guitar in the production process, for example in pop, alternative, grunge, punk, etc. Because of this popularity, this short guide has been written to illustrate this important processes.

This is written for someone who will use personal computer (preferably Windows), a recording software (any software will do) and a decent recording sound card plus mixer in recording guitar tracks. This will illustrate only direct line input recording process of recording distorted guitars. In this method, guitar is connected to a distortion pedal and then the pedal output is then connected to mixer. Finally the mixer output is then connected to the sound card line input. See illustration below:

Other ways to record electric guitar is by using Guitar amplifiers. In this method, a microphone is used to capture the sound output of guitar amplifier which is then connected to a mixer and finally to the sound card.

The purpose of distortion pedal is to provide the desired distorted sound effects of the electric guitar sound. This may vary according to the recording producer preferences. The output of the distortion pedal is weak and the mixer will provide some amplification and cleansing of the distorted guitar sound signals. If mixer is not used, the guitar sound output will be very weak and noisy, which is not recommended.

Below are the steps employed in order to successfully record a distorted guitar into your personal computer:

Step 1: Tune your guitar. It is highly recommended to use a digital tuner for accuracy.
Step 2: Once the guitar has been tune, consult with your recording producer to finalize the desired output of the distortion pedal. Different settings of the distortion pedal produces widely different distorted sound. So it is useful if settings are finalized first before recording it to your computer in order to save time. Do not connect this yet to your computer, instead use your personal guitar amplifier to monitor the sound.

The guitarist should finalize the settings as per consultation with the producer.

Step 3: Once they have finally decided on the final sound of the distorted guitar. It can now be recorded to your computer. First switch on your mixer and connect the distortion pedal output to your mixer line input. Then connect the mixer output to your sound card input. Using your recording software, do a test whether the captured guitar sound is clean.

Step 4: Once the test recording has been setup, do a final take by hitting your software recording button.