HELP! Can't have amp in apt!

BrettNasty · 03-11-2012, 09:38 PM

Can I plug in and record to my computer and still get the tone. What kind of hardware is required?

Pinkie · 03-11-2012, 09:59 PM

I would like to know that too, my cam sucks at recording I need to get into this century.

android13 · 03-12-2012, 12:50 AM

Come on guys, you should get a decent microphone or two.

renthepen · 03-12-2012, 08:08 AM

My opinion is that a good amp + good mic + good preamp + good software is crucial if you want to have a "real" sound...

... but its totally possible to get a decent tone just by using a pod or other effect processor, or even by simply using a software amp emulator with a DI.

Honestly, I often use GTR, Eleven free and Amplitude to add some texture to my guitar sounds (in parallel to the original tracking) and I almost always record my bass tracks line-in and adjust the sound later.

If you got good ears and real knowledge in mixing, you can record a professional album from your apartment for sure.

campbellj · 03-12-2012, 08:22 AM

Check out a Fender Mustang line of amps. I'm pretty sure they come with software so you can connect it to your computer and record, plus use headphones. They are in the price range of a good software package and you have an amp if you ever decide to take your guitar somewhere else.

joshuatree725 · 03-25-2012, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettNasty

Can I plug in and record to my computer and still get the tone. What kind of hardware is required?

If you can't have an amp in apt, get a Mac and use Garageband for recording. It has tons of different amp modeling built into the software with all the effects you could choose from. No need for separate amp or effect pedals.

IndianScout · 03-25-2012, 04:21 PM

Guitar Rig

Escher · 03-28-2012, 04:36 AM

I can't tell you the number of times I've types this now...

ISO BOX!!!!

It truly is THE solution. I use mine all the time. built correctly, you can do about anything soundwise, even in the middle of the night.

If you aren't familiar with them - look on youtube and google. Its just a box that you put your cabinet and a mic into, then you close it up and it isolates the sound form the room. you can crank your amp and very little if any sound escapes the box...

Plug the mic into your pc interface and you are all set... record a real amp almost silently.

TheDevice · 03-28-2012, 04:53 AM

+1.

I have a boogie 1x12 sealed in a old PA roadcase made of 1/2 ply with 2" hard foam inside, moving blankets draped over it in a closet, close mic'd with a older sm57 offset about 3" off center.

Not totally soundproof of course but I can jam a 100 watter on 5-ish without creating a issue with the neighbors.

Clip below is a tone test with my new 100watt SLO clone using my iso box, forgive the sloppy playing

http://soundcloud.com/theelectronicdevice/slo-clone-tone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Escher

I can't tell you the number of times I've types this now...

ISO BOX!!!!

It truly is THE solution. I use mine all the time. built correctly, you can do about anything soundwise, even in the middle of the night.

If you aren't familiar with them - look on youtube and google. Its just a box that you put your cabinet and a mic into, then you close it up and it isolates the sound form the room. you can crank your amp and very little if any sound escapes the box...

Plug the mic into your pc interface and you are all set... record a real amp almost silently.

2themax · 03-28-2012, 12:12 PM

I just ordered one of these Nady Axehead Headphone amps - arrives today - Amazon $28 shipped. The plus was it's USB rechargeable - it seemed like all the other flavors used batteries.

NADY AxeHead AxeHead

During the week we stay on our boat (saves a long commute) and even though I keep a VOX Mini 3 on board - it's just too loud in the evening and the headphone sound is marginal (also requires dodging the phone cord in a small cabin area). So I thought I'd give this a try - hard to beat for the price.

I'll post an update after trying it out - it's not going be anything like the Guitar Rig - but it's under $30.

Good luck...

2themax · 03-30-2012, 07:50 AM

Update on the Nady Axehead... basically it works and it's mobile. I like the Nady headphone sound better than the VOX Mini-3 - I think the VOX effects create a background noise with phones. But the tone is pretty limited, the casing could be a little tougher but it's not bad for the price.

Bottom line is it's an inexpensive way to practice with headphones. If I was in an apartment and couldn't make noise I'd be looking for other options - something virtual like OP's suggested where you could dial in a decent sound or find a smaller amp and build an ISO cabinet (checked out a couple of you-tubes and they really look like a good idea). But... I don't think your going to silence a 100w Marshall at 7 in a small apartment with an ISO.

So there lot's of options...

Good luck

2themax · 04-03-2012, 01:54 PM

Nady fell apart yesterday, on it's way back to Amazon - skip it... real low quality construction.

middy · 04-04-2012, 03:56 PM

I've had the Hughes and Kettner Cream Machine & Blues Master for years and they are great for all tube low watt home jamming. The cream machine is a one 1 watt amp and the Blues master is a 5 watt amp. They sound really good and will give you all the creamy tubeyness you could ask for at low volume. They are also fantastic for recording into a DAW. I use the cream machine thru git rig 4 using only a bit of gate and the psychedelay and it kills. The blues master is really great for getting a warm glassy clean tube sound and using git rig effects as well. Built in redbox classic if needed. Class A and they are full on not starved plate. They can also be configured to act like a BK butler tube driver in front of an amp pedal style. Very underrated secret weapons.

dudu · 04-04-2012, 04:00 PM

Look for an amp with power scaling. Then place a DI box between the head and the
cabinet. Then run that line level signal to your computer and apply cabinet simulations
to it.

If your amp has an FX-loop, you have a quicker option: take the signal from FX-send
into your computer (it's line level).

Start here:
Recording good guitar sounds at home | dudu.ro
OwnHammer.com - Home
Red Wire Impulse Responses | High quality guitar speaker cabinet IRs for use with convolution plugins

Kalz · 04-04-2012, 09:57 PM

when people are around the house i plug headphones into my amp. It's not super high end headphones but it gets the job done to practice

BuzzHaze · 04-12-2012, 06:05 PM

I have one of these and it works very well. Lots of I/O and very versatile.

Digitech GNX3000 Workstation - YouTube

AngelReyes · 04-12-2012, 08:33 PM

You guys are better off with a Fender Mustang 1,2,3 amp

03-11-2012, 09:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
BrettNasty Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Mississippi Posts: 38 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	HELP! Can't have amp in apt! Can I plug in and record to my computer and still get the tone. What kind of hardware is required?

03-11-2012, 09:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pinkie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,013 Thanks: 129 Thanked 32 Times in 11 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! I would like to know that too, my cam sucks at recording I need to get into this century.

03-12-2012, 08:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
renthepen Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 438 Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 2 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! My opinion is that a good amp + good mic + good preamp + good software is crucial if you want to have a "real" sound... ... but its totally possible to get a decent tone just by using a pod or other effect processor, or even by simply using a software amp emulator with a DI. Honestly, I often use GTR, Eleven free and Amplitude to add some texture to my guitar sounds (in parallel to the original tracking) and I almost always record my bass tracks line-in and adjust the sound later. If you got good ears and real knowledge in mixing, you can record a professional album from your apartment for sure. Joeydego likes this.

03-12-2012, 08:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
campbellj Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 1,298 Thanks: 11 Thanked 40 Times in 9 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! Check out a Fender Mustang line of amps. I'm pretty sure they come with software so you can connect it to your computer and record, plus use headphones. They are in the price range of a good software package and you have an amp if you ever decide to take your guitar somewhere else. 22Frets likes this.

03-25-2012, 04:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
IndianScout Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Dakota Posts: 2,029 Thanks: 43 Thanked 80 Times in 41 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! Guitar Rig Joeydego likes this.

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03-28-2012, 04:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
Escher Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 524 Thanks: 4 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! I can't tell you the number of times I've types this now... ISO BOX!!!! It truly is THE solution. I use mine all the time. built correctly, you can do about anything soundwise, even in the middle of the night. If you aren't familiar with them - look on youtube and google. Its just a box that you put your cabinet and a mic into, then you close it up and it isolates the sound form the room. you can crank your amp and very little if any sound escapes the box... Plug the mic into your pc interface and you are all set... record a real amp almost silently. Thumpalumpacus and TheDevice like this.

03-28-2012, 12:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
2themax Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: On the Bay, MD Posts: 439 Thanks: 11 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! I just ordered one of these Nady Axehead Headphone amps - arrives today - Amazon $28 shipped. The plus was it's USB rechargeable - it seemed like all the other flavors used batteries. NADY AxeHead AxeHead During the week we stay on our boat (saves a long commute) and even though I keep a VOX Mini 3 on board - it's just too loud in the evening and the headphone sound is marginal (also requires dodging the phone cord in a small cabin area). So I thought I'd give this a try - hard to beat for the price. I'll post an update after trying it out - it's not going be anything like the Guitar Rig - but it's under $30. Good luck... BrettNasty likes this. __________________ Sometimes... "He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr

03-30-2012, 07:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
2themax Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: On the Bay, MD Posts: 439 Thanks: 11 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! Update on the Nady Axehead... basically it works and it's mobile. I like the Nady headphone sound better than the VOX Mini-3 - I think the VOX effects create a background noise with phones. But the tone is pretty limited, the casing could be a little tougher but it's not bad for the price. Bottom line is it's an inexpensive way to practice with headphones. If I was in an apartment and couldn't make noise I'd be looking for other options - something virtual like OP's suggested where you could dial in a decent sound or find a smaller amp and build an ISO cabinet (checked out a couple of you-tubes and they really look like a good idea). But... I don't think your going to silence a 100w Marshall at 7 in a small apartment with an ISO. So there lot's of options... Good luck __________________ Sometimes... "He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr

04-03-2012, 01:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
2themax Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: On the Bay, MD Posts: 439 Thanks: 11 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! Nady fell apart yesterday, on it's way back to Amazon - skip it... real low quality construction. __________________ Sometimes... "He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr

04-04-2012, 03:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
middy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 203 Thanks: 7 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! I've had the Hughes and Kettner Cream Machine & Blues Master for years and they are great for all tube low watt home jamming. The cream machine is a one 1 watt amp and the Blues master is a 5 watt amp. They sound really good and will give you all the creamy tubeyness you could ask for at low volume. They are also fantastic for recording into a DAW. I use the cream machine thru git rig 4 using only a bit of gate and the psychedelay and it kills. The blues master is really great for getting a warm glassy clean tube sound and using git rig effects as well. Built in redbox classic if needed. Class A and they are full on not starved plate. They can also be configured to act like a BK butler tube driver in front of an amp pedal style. Very underrated secret weapons. BrettNasty likes this.

04-04-2012, 04:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
dudu Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,621 Thanks: 109 Thanked 133 Times in 56 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! Look for an amp with power scaling. Then place a DI box between the head and the cabinet. Then run that line level signal to your computer and apply cabinet simulations to it. If your amp has an FX-loop, you have a quicker option: take the signal from FX-send into your computer (it's line level). Start here: Recording good guitar sounds at home \| dudu.ro OwnHammer.com - Home Red Wire Impulse Responses \| High quality guitar speaker cabinet IRs for use with convolution plugins BrettNasty likes this. __________________ Hop on my SoundCloud

04-04-2012, 09:57 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kalz Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Chicago, Il Posts: 1,399 Thanks: 11 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! when people are around the house i plug headphones into my amp. It's not super high end headphones but it gets the job done to practice BrettNasty likes this. __________________ Gibson '76 LP Custom- "Charlotte" Gibson '06 LP Standard - "Jenny" Fender '98 Strat - "Rachel" Fender '11 Tele - "Sasha" PRS '91 CE-24 - "Rita" Aria '60's Diamond - "Sophia" 2010 Gretsch 5122 - "Delilah" VOX AC30C2 GFT-90 -> Mosfet 2 -> EHX Small Stone -> DD-20 -> Neunaber Wet

04-12-2012, 08:33 PM	#17 (permalink)
AngelReyes Banned Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 278 Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	Re: HELP! Can't have amp in apt! You guys are better off with a Fender Mustang 1,2,3 amp

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