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- Recording Guitar Garageband Ipad
- Record Acoustic Guitar Garageband Ipad
- How To Record Acoustic Guitar On Garageband Ipad
This post is going to take you step by step through the process of how to record acoustic guitar and vocals at the same time with just one mic. The idea here is to capture the authenticity of your performance. Of course you might get a more perfect rendition of the song if you record multiple tracks. But that may be at the cost of spontaneity. You play and sing at the same time, so why not record what you do? This guide will also be useful for recording acoustic guitar and vocals for YouTube.
In this 9 chapter guide we discuss everything related to using an acoustic and electric guitar with GarageBand, for both amp modeling, effects processing and recording. Aug 12, 2014 Record Acoustic Instruments. If you sing or play piano, acoustic guitar, violin, or any other acoustic instrument, adding yourself to a recording isn’t difficult. You can either use the built-in mic on the iPad or iPhone or purchase a better-sounding option that connects to your device.
Furthermore, you may not have a huge budget to record guitar and vocals simultaneously, and so this is a nice, inexpensive low-budget option. There is no doubt you get better results with multiple microphones, BUT that is more expensive, and certainly much more complicated. Here you will learn how to record acoustic guitar and vocals on a computer, iPad or smartphone using simple recording software like Audacity or Garageband. And the good news is you can easily do this on a small budget.
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The Best Recording Equipment for Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Option 1: Condenser Microphone + Audio Interface
The best microphone for recording vocals and acoustic guitar is a large diaphragm condenser microphone with cardioid pickup pattern. Bpm analyzer open source software. This type of microphone will be able to capture the nuance of your live performance. To record the guitar and vocals on your computer you will also need an audio interface. There are 2 key features the audio interface will require: an XLR Mic input with built-in preamp, and phantom power*. So make sure any interface you choose has both of these. Good examples of entry level interfaces include the Focusrite Scarlett Solo or the Presonus iTwo Audio Interface.
You will also need an XLR microphone cable and a good pair of closed-back studio headphones so that you can monitor your performance. Finally, to position the mic correctly, you will need a microphone stand with boom arm for easy adjustment.
If you are buying both the microphone and interface from scratch, then consider buying an all-in-one studio package (like the one pictured above) which comes with the interface, microphone, XLR cable and headphones plus recording software all in one box. This is a cost effective way of getting together all the recording equipment you will need. In fact these packs have been designed for recording and acoustic singer songwriter. Both the interfaces mentioned above are available in studio packs.
Option 1 summary of equipment required: Large diaphragm condenser mic; audio interface; XLR microphone cable; studio headphones; microphone stand
Option 2: Portable Digital Recorder
A portable digital recorder such as the Zoom H4N Pro really is a one-stop solution to record your guitar and vocals. With high quality built-in stereo microphones, you can literally just position the recorder and press record. This upwardly mobile bit of kit will also allow you to use your own microphones. It has two XLR inputs with excellent pre-amps. Plus it provides phantom power if you want to use a condenser mic. AND even better, you can use it as an audio interface too.
To record your guitar and vocals it will work best if you have a microphone stand. You will also need a little adapter as it is designed to fix onto a tripod. Or, if you own a camera tripod, why not just use that?
Option 2 summary of equipment required: Digital Recorder with built-in microphones (such as the H4N Pro) and optionally a microphone stand and tripod-mic stand adapter, OR camera tripod.
Option 3: USB Condenser Microphone
If you are on a tight budget, then buying all the separate components listed above might be too much. So instead you could invest in one good quality large diaphragm USB condenser microphone. This is a microphone that you can plug directly into your computer or, with the right adapter, an iPad, iPhone or android. A USB mic has a built-in interface, and also uses the USB power so nothing else is required to record. Go for the best quality you can, and preferably a USB mic with headphone port too.
Recording Guitar Garageband Ipad
Click here to directly compare all the best-selling USB mics available. You can listen to them all, and watch videos. And below are 4 of the best USB microphones to record guitar and vocals simultaneously in Garageband or similar software. All these have a headphone output too.
Purity software download. Moreover, PURITY comes with over 1,300 ready-to-use sound presets that are most popular in each era of the electronic music. PURITY is based on well-sampled PCM wave data including a lot of sound of hardware workstations, sound modules, drum machines, vintage analog synths and even modern digital synths.
Rode NT-USB
Blue Yeti Pro USB/XLR Dual Format Mic
Option 2 summary of equipment required: USB Microphone; Studio Headphones (optional); Microphone Stand.
The Best Software For Recording and Mixing Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Choosing the best recording software will depend on your recording experience. If you buy an audio interface then it will usually come with some basic recording software that will be more than adequate for recording your guitar and vocals. As you are not trying to record multiple tracks, but one good take of your performance, then simple recording software such as AudacityRecord Acoustic Guitar Garageband Ipad
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So in this case, the best recording software package is the one you have available. You will be able to record using your mic+interface or usb mic in ANY recording software once you have the hardware set up correctly. (Just read the step-by-step guide that comes with your hardware, or look at the Manufacturer’s page online for set-up advice)
Optimal Microphone Placement To Record Guitar and Vocals
The secret to a nicely balanced guitar and vocal recording with one mic is to get the height and distance of the microphone just right. This is why you will need a microphone stand to get the best results.- Make sure you have the microphone the correct way around. The cardioid pickup pattern means that only the front of the mic will be picking up a signal so make sure the front of the mic is pointing towards you.
- Do not place the microphone too near to the guitar (too low) or your mouth (too high). Aim for a mid-point between the two. The ‘best’ placement will vary subtly depending on whether your guitar is being strummed loudly, or if you have a more delicate finger-picking style. So you will have to experiment a little.
- Aim for a distance of 12 – 18 inches from you. (30 – 45 cm). Any nearer will be too close to pick up that balanced signal you are looking for.
- Check the meter in your recording software while you rehearse. Aim for a signal varying between 50-75% of the max. The MOST HORRIBLE sound when you record digitally is clipping. This means you are pushing the level too hard. If you are used to playing live with analog equipment, then pushing the levels is not so bad. But when you record on your computer, do leave a bit of headroom.
- Once you are set up, you can record yourself as many times as you like. If there is the odd error, then you can punch in corrections. You can also use your recording software to add a little reverb and EQ.
- Will a pop filter and/or shockmount help you to record better tracks?
- Once you have mastered recording a single take, should you think about trying to record multi-tracks of vocals and guitar, maybe against a click track?
- Maybe invest in a second mic, and experiment with placement to record the guitar and vocals on separate tracks while still playing live ….
- If you buy an audio interface, and you have an electro-acoustic guitar, then at the same time as recording through the mic, you can also, on a separate track, record the output of the guitar, so try that too.
Good luck!
*phantom power – is the power source required for condenser microphones. Most professional audio interfaces have a phantom power switch. Make sure the one you buy has this.
More then ever, it has become easier to lay down your song ideas while on the move. With GarageBand for iPad, we are also closer then ever to having a full professional recording studio in a very thin
More then ever, it has become easier to lay down your song ideas while on the move. With GarageBand for iPad, we are also closer then ever to having a full professional recording studio in a very thin package. And at a price of $4.99, who can complain? For those who are just starting out, here's a first tutorial on recording guitar to get you and your iPad rocking.
Setup and Equipment needed
First off before even starting the application, you should get the hardware you need to enable you to record your guitar to your iPad. There are two basic input types you need to consider:
- Guitar Input for Electric Guitar and Bass (IK Multimedia iRig, Apogee Jam, AmpKit Link)
- Mic Input for acoustic guitar (IK Multimedia iRig Mic, Blue Yeti Pro -- requires Apple's Camera Connection Kit)
How To Record Acoustic Guitar On Garageband Ipad
L to R: IK Multimedia's iRig, Blue Yeti Mic, Apple's Camera Connection Kit
Guitar Amp
Launch GarageBand for iPad and plug your guitar into the iRig. On the left of the screen is a ' 1/4' jack' button which lets you add a noise gate. Handy for those distorted tones. Next to it is the guitarist's best friend: the Tuner.. no excuses for a flat g-string!
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In the middle, you can select from different amp combinations and even save settings of your own. You can also swipe the amps to keep the same preset settings and try these settings on different amps.
On the far right is the 'pedals' section. Here you can add up to 4 pedals, change their effects level and remove pedals. To get back to the amp section, tap the 'Amp' icon on the right of the screen. One nice thing about GB for iPad is that you can change the amps settings after you've recorded your part and even create your own presets for future recordings.
Audio Recorder
If you want to record acoustic guitar, you can use the iPad's built in microphone but I would recommend looking at Blue Microphone's 'Yeti Pro' or Apogee's upcoming 'Mic' to add a professional sheen to your recordings. When you first open Audio Recorder it gives you a VU meter to check your audio input levels. A noise gate is also available by tapping on the '1/4' plug' icon.
Once you record a take, you can then add processing to the sound from a preset selection that include effects and voice transformers. The effects also give you sliders for compression, reverb, chorus, etc. depending on the effect you choose.
Recording Tips!
First and foremost.. PRACTICE! GB on the iPad does not allow editing like GB on a Mac and you don't get features like Flex Time, multiple takes, pitch correction, etc. Also, you will have to play the parts at the tempo of the song unlike those who slow a song down, record their part, and speed it up after. While some would look at this as a detriment, I look at it as positive growth for musical skills and it ultimately gives you a better understanding of your song. After all, becoming a better musician is a life long process and not a means to an end.
After recording an electric guitar you have plenty of options to affect the tone as the amps have EQ and FX pedals to compress, etc. If you want to record feedback on the electric guitar, you will need to connect the output to your speakers and boost the main volume. But.. be careful as each amp/guitar has it's own characteristics for feedback and some are just plain uncontrollable ear-piercing squeals. Layering guitars also has the usual big sound but also eats up tracks so planning is crucial.
Also, when planning your song parts, take into account that GB for iPad does things in 'sections' and only up to 10 sections. While this may not seem like a big deal, you will want to figure out the parts/sections of your song beforehand. For example, song intro, verse 1, pre-chorus, verse 2 with added guitar, pre-chorus with organ, Chorus, verse 3 with less instruments, bridge, intro, Chorus, Chorus 2, End, etc. You can put the 'Sections' into 'Automatic' mode which gives you whatever amount of bars you want i.e. Record intro and verse 1 together.
When recording an acoustic guitar or instrument, be sure to try different takes with your USB microphone or iPad mic on different spots and distances from the guitar. Mic placement is very critical to get a decent sound. For example, placing a mic close to the sound hole of the guitar can add unwanted bass frequencies. Although with the iPad mic I found this to be the best spot.
Also, there are No EQ Frequency bands to allow you to fix things after recording. For a brighter tone, consider newer strings or a harder pick. If using the iPad's mic, make sure your room is as quiet as possible, because it'll pick up every little sound as the signal to noise ratio is not great. Another trick is to use the Guitar Amp settings for EQ control. I found the most natural to be the Clean Combo setting with the gain off. As you increase the gain, it adds some crunch to the tone. This way you can EQ somewhat and even add some nice compression and chorus. Even playing with the Noise Gate setting gave some interesting results. Metal Acoustic! Experimentation is key.
Stay tuned for more GarageBand for iPad tips and tutorials on recording synths, pianos, etc. and vocals!