I can't believe we've waited so long for a device like this. In this video I'm
gonna share some home studio recommendations for guitarists. This is
not only gear that I've tested and love, but some gear recommendations from my
guitarist viewers. In fact, if you're just getting started I've even shared
their favorite electric and acoustic guitars. Let's take things step by step.
The computer, audio interface, mics, plugins... and I've got the amazing
Positive Grid Spark AMP right here. the most fun I've had with the guitar in
ages. And watch till the end because I'm gonna share some free plugins you can
download today to get started. This is not a sponsored video but if you use any
of the links in the description it helps out this channel. Thank you! If you're new
around here, I'm Sanjay C. I have tons of videos about music production and
home studio recording on my channel. Consider subscribing if you haven't
already. I always get straight to the point in my videos and reviews. First of
all if you don't have a guitar yet, I polled my viewers for their
recommendations. The electric guitar most recommended by far is the PRS SE
Standard 24. The second most recommended electric guitar is the Fender Player
Stratocaster. The most recommended acoustic guitars are the Taylor GS Mini
and the Yamaha APX and FG series. I'll add links to these guitars in the video
description. Oh and one of the most recommended AMP
modeler and effects devices from my viewers is the Kemper Profiler Stage. Yes
it's expensive, but people just swear by it for studio and live performance. If
your budgets lower, don't worry I've got some plugins that may suit you
better for the studio. And thanks to everyone who shared their experience and
recommendations on this gear. All right! You've got your guitar, now what? Well you
need to prepare your computer for recording. If you've got an i5 with
8 gigabytes (GB) of RAM, you're off to a good start. If you want to buy a new
computer I've recommended a few that are great for music production you can watch
that video here. Next, you'll need software, a digital audio workstation to
record your guitar on to your computer, a DAW will help you record multiple
tracks in a song... you've got lots of choices I use
Ableton Live, but don't rush to buy one yet. Depending on what audio interface
you get you'll probably get a free one, scaled-down version, included. And you can
use that for a while. However for guitarists there are some
popular DAW's. If you're using Mac GarageBand is an excellent place to
start and it's free and you can easily upgrade to using Logic Pro when you're
ready. There are AMP simulators and effects included for guitarists and best
of all I love their virtual drummer. Just set it to start drumming and play along.
It's a great way to get your ideas down quickly without knowing how to program
drums. On Windows there are so many good DAWs as well. Reaper is inexpensive and
is used by many guitarists. Studio One by Presonus is also an excellent choice
with its Empire plug-in. So now I know you're ready to try some virtual AMPs
and effects I'll get to that later in the video. For now we need to add one
more thing to our setup. An audio interface. There are lots of audio
interfaces for $100 and they'll cover the basic features. Plug in your guitar
connect to your computer choose the channel and you're ready to record.
Pretty easy. Or plug your guitar into your effects pedals and then straight
into the audio interface. So what's your guitar pedal chain? Comment below to
share your setup. By the way if you want to know how to connect all this gear and
start playing, I've created a video showing you exactly how to connect
everything in your studio - you can watch that here. But wait! There are some
specialized guitar interfaces too. IK Multimedia makes guitar centric audio
interfaces all the way from $99 for their iRig HD to the AXE I/O interfaces
which start at $249, and they really step up the
features for guitarists. I'm gonna also cover the Positive Grid Spark. I'll talk
about that later in the video, so don't miss it. For now,
let's talk about the IK multimedia AXE I/O Solo. I love that they've included the
AMP output here. If you've already got an AMP that you love you'll hear your AMP
while you send your signal straight into your computer or tablet. The AXE
interface also features an XLR input for a microphone
so you can mic your acoustic guitar as well or even your AMP. The AXE I/O features
a fully discreet input circuit with Pure and JFET input stages so you can hear
your guitar Pure or with a tube-like sound as well with one switch. And you
can dial in the perfect setting with this knob.
You also get AmpliTube for deluxe software with it. 140 models of cabs,
pedals, mics, and more for your guitar and bass. Now if you want to check out
interfaces at $100 I list the best out there in a video here. Now you may prefer
recording the sound of your AMP or recording an acoustic guitar.
If you want to mic your AMP or your acoustic guitar I highly recommend a
condenser microphone. You can use condenser microphones which I prefer
because I love them for vocals as well. I recently tested the AKG P120 which
should work really well for you. If you want to listen to other guitar
recordings with the top mics out there you can check out my top recommended
mics in a video here. Okay! We've got our electric and acoustic guitars recording
in our DAW. Now the really fun part starts. You can use plugins to change the
sound of your guitar.
Listen to these options. So many.
If you want something free to begin with, you can download AmpliTube, free, by
IK Multimedia. You get 24 pieces of gear and they sound great. I'll share
other recommended freebies and plugins later in the video. Hey if you're finding
this information useful hit the LIKE button and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE. If
you have any questions leave them in the comments below. So what if you just want
to play with a bunch of effects? Maybe practicing your riffs? Let's talk about
the Positive Grid Spark. This little AMP works with an app on your phone to add
effects and AMP simulations to your sound without having any of your pedals
around. Let's listen to a few presets.
(Sanjay C demo's with a guitar)
I think this is a great travel AMP for guitarists. Just one unit for so many
sounds. Take your laptop with you and you can record straight from this AMP to
your computer using a USB cable. It sounds amazing and the app is so easy to
use, just connected by bluetooth - wireless! And when you start using the practice
tracks, it just elevates this thing to a whole new level! Choose from different
styles and you've got a backup drummer, bass guitar, and now you just play along.
The drums and your guitar play right through the speaker here. It even shows
you the chords while playing. I can't believe we've waited so long for a
device like this. I started playing with this and didn't put it down for hours. So
what if you've got some extra money to spend? Well you could upgrade the audio
interface to something like the Universal Audio Twin Series. The UAD
interfaces have some special features allowing you to load your AMPs in their
interface and not use your CPU power and this reduces latency. Universal Audio has
a bunch of AMPs and effects modelled after some of the most sought-after gear out there.
They sound excellent and the company's reputation is excellent as
well. If you're serious about expanding your studio recording capabilities in
the future this is the long-term choice for you. If your budget allows it, you
should check it out. What about speakers or studio monitors?
My suggestion is to buy what you can afford. For around $200 the Presonus Eris
4.5's are so good and they're great for mixing your song too. I've recorded and
mixed with these and just loved them. Larger speakers will give you more
bottom end bass and as you go up in price you might find some better clarity
and sound separation. But start with something you can afford first. In fact, a
good set of headphones may be right for you at the moment. I have a list of the
best studio headphones on my channel as well. You can watch that video here.
Finally another freebie! Native Instruments actually has a free version
of the Guitar Rig plugin. It's called Guitar Rig Player. You get an AMP and
cabinet and effects. Then, when you're ready, you can upgrade to the full
version later.
One of my viewers also recommended the free GTune VST a great guitar tuner for
your computer. There are lots of other plugins out there and I'll list a few of
my favorites in the description. I hope this video has helped you choose some
great guitar gear for your studio. If you have questions about any of the gear I
mentioned in this video, leave it in the comments below.
Keep Making The Music YOU Love
and watch one of these videos next ;)