Looking for a cheap but effective way to record leccy guitar using my laptop.

Bill Hicks · 21-07-2009, 8:44 AM

I've been recording some demo's etc using a Boss BR600 but I want to experiment using a software/hardware package that will allow me to plug my electric guitar directly into my laptop and record onto the hard drive.

My laptop is running Vista home premium 32 bit and my soundcard is a bit rubbish, so I will need a solution to that straight away.
It also must have onboard effects and drumloops etc and a interface that will be easy to understand and use.

I've looked at a few reviews of the IK multimedia stealthplug but they are not encouraging!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers.

KhalJimbo · 21-07-2009, 3:34 PM

Best bet is to get a desktop, in my experience Laptops just cant cut the cake when it come to recording, but if you cant get a desktop my advice would be to get something like the Mackie Spike

RockStrongo · 22-07-2009, 10:48 AM

I've just got a Stealthplug and I think it's great. I haven't been off it since I first plugged it in. Apart from the actual plug, it's the amp modelling software I've been impressed by - Amplitude 2 I think it's called - tremendous.

I would like a USB pedal to add to the setup to control the effects though. Any recommendations?

pmc · 22-07-2009, 11:13 AM

Guitar Rig is also very highly regarded.

pmc · 24-07-2009, 9:36 AM

Something I've only just discovered myself is the importance of using ASIO drivers in Vista for this sort of thing. They basically bypass the Vista sound system, and is much, much faster at encoding/decoding things. A decent sound card may well already have them but on-board sound is unlikely too. I installed ASIO4ALL yesterday and now get ZERO latency when playing my guitar into my PC then on via SPDIF to an AV amp and out to speakers. This is just using my mobby's on-board sound. Before, it was impossible without serious latency due to the DAC conversions.

Google ASIO and ASIO4ALL for more info.

the_jinj · 24-07-2009, 1:26 PM

Have a look at these (along with ASIO drivers above)

KRISTAL Audio Engine

REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits

popoyaya · 13-08-2009, 9:35 PM

Lots of free guitar amp simulators here:

Amp Simulator : Free VST Effects : FreeMusicSoftware.org

PJTX100 · 14-08-2009, 7:14 PM

Just want to say thanks for the Kristal link, it's a very straight forward and effective multi track recorder. Works great with an Alesis USB 2.0 mixer.