How to Record Guitar in a Studio Control Room

One of the more convenient aspects of a recording studio is the ability to separate the guitarist from the loud amplifier. Not only is it loud and cumbersome, but can blur communication between the artist and engineer. Of course, the old way is often preferred--but it's nice to have other options.



I'll show you one of the easiest methods for recording your guitar in the control room with the amp in another.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microphone/TRS Mulitplier (snake)
• Patch Bay
• Guitar amp
• Guitar
• 1/4-inch cables

1. Set up a combo amplifier in the tracking room. Place it in an area that you have deemed suitable for the sound you wish to achieve.

2. Take a 1/4-inch guitar cable and plug into the guitar amp's input.
   
   Take the other end of the cable and plug it into any available "Cue Return" on your microphone snake. Most microphone snakes will provide a few 1/4-inch inputs cues as well.

3. Now return to the control room and patch a standard guitar cable into the corresponding Cue Send on the patch bay.
   
   Plug the other end of the cable into the guitar.

4. Assuming you have already set up a new session in your recording DAW you can now enable the track for recording.

5. Lower your studio monitors to a low volume to ensure that once the guitar is strummed it won't blow them.
   
   Now have the guitarist play a little on the guitar. If you can hear it then all is well and you're ready to record.

[Kilogramm]

on 7/14/2008 This is a great how to, you're the man when it comes to music tutorials