What are the first essential steps......

[Riff Addict]

When about to record guitar over a backing track. What are let's say the first essential steps to getting the guitar track(s) sounding like they should before the final mix and export to mp3? What filters or effects should I use? How much?

I have GuitarPort/Cakewalk GT 2.0. I'm still an amateur and my recordings always sound rough and thin/ or noisy. My mixes never sound quite right. I don't understand half of the features or what some effects or tools do in that program.

All I know how to do is 1. set the level in the channel so not to peak, then I 2. record the track with GP tone, usually dry and mix that track's level again to where its not in the red. 3. I might add a bit of delay or chorus and thats all. I don't understand much about compression settings, limiting, normalizing or anything else for that matter. For example, if I need compression, how much? What is a normal knob setting?

I've read the tutorial pages over and over but its information overload and its worded for those who are already experienced with recording.

Thanks.

[Thrasher]

i know exactly what you mean, i also find guides posted on the internet about compression/limiting and post mastering techniques to be very confusing and i would greatly appreciate someone shedding some light on this subject

[Warped]

Hey Fellas.......I'm no expert by any means but hears a link to a website that has literally a ton of info on the home recording studio subject.
www.tweakheadz.com

[Riff Addict]

Originally Posted by Warped

Hey Fellas.......I'm no expert by any means but hears a link to a website that has literally a ton of info on the home recording studio subject.
www.tweakheadz.com

Thanks but thats alot to sift through and most of the explanations are too advanced to understand. I wish someone would list maybe 5 or more things they do to each track before mixing.

[bloodroot]

regardless if you are recording DI to your PC/MAC or with a small Tascam portastudio - the same applies - get the levels as high as possible without distortion. Use some riffs that will be on the song,or chord progressions, and watch the levels. Avoid reverb, instead use the sends on your program to add some compression and delay(just a tad). Reverb washes away the original sound quality from the track. After you record and it sounds "cool" to you, create a duplicate or "clone" of the track and apply to the sound. This will create a phase effect that fattens up the sound without losing quality. You can also do other things with the 2nd track with a little imagination.

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