Thread: M-Audio Fast Track, acoustic guitar direct in, and Garageband

Taking your guitar direct can have both advantages and disadvantages. When you go into an amplifier, a tube amplifier, the tubes provide soft overload limiting. Recording at direct, you don't get that. As a result, you really have to optimize your recording levels better. Noise should not be an issue taking a direct. However, proper gain staging even from the output of the volume control of your guitar (if this is an electric?) still has to be observed. I would say if you are using an electric guitar, crank its level all the way up. On your interface, you should have a button labeled " pad ". You should depress that button if you are suffering overload on the front end of your computer audio interface. Yes, because it is padding down the input sensitivity, you have to crank up more gain on the interface. Through headphones, you will likely hear some hiss. But without that button depressed, you are overloading the first stage preamp of the interface. There is no perfect only corrections. This noise can be effectively dealt with within software if you find it objectionable. But are you talking hailstorm or, a pleasant spring shower?

Of course another logical suggestion would be to utilize a stomp box that can offer compression and/or limiting and then going into your audio interface. Unfortunately, gain staging is confusing for a lot of people. Rule of has frequently dictated that two thirds of the way up is what is generally referred to as unity gain. This means that you are utilizing adequate amplification while allowing for greater headroom or, more amplification if necessary.

If your interface does not have a pad switch, you'll just have to turn the level down on your electric guitar. It's that simple. There really aren't any other workarounds other than an amplifier with a microphone on it. However, if you are in an apartment, you really can't utilize an amplifier. So stomp boxes and other effects pedals need to be utilized between your guitar and your audio interface for better control of your recording levels.

Up the down staircase
Mx. Remy Ann David

Thanks Remy. Unfortunately my interface doesn't have a "pad" switch. It has a direct monitor switch and a phantom power switch on the back for mics. As for the stomp box, do you have any recommendations there for something inexpensive but effective? A friend of mine who is in to recording suggested that I try to mic the guitar, and use the pick up at the same time. So I'm probably going to try that approach and see how it goes. I do have an acoustic amp and I have a semi-decent tube mic. The only issue with the tube mic is that it has such a warm sound that the guitar tends to sound a bit boomy when I record with it. I'd be hard pressed to afford more gear right now, so I'm trying to get by with what I got. That's the usual story with us broke musicians though right?

I have a Takamine with direct/in capability with the built in pickup, so I'm familiar with some of your 'issues'. Experiment. Move your tube mic around. Try it at various distances and close locations - eg. ... close to the sound hole gives a lot of boom. Putting the mic back of the bridge gives a different sound than miking near the fret board. Experiment with adding direct/in sound, but don't expect a lot of satisfaction with the Fishman. While it can add some punch, it's mostly for live sound reinforcement.

Is the Martin the featured instrument on the song?

What model is it?

Why are you going direct instead of mic'ing the guitar?

What other instruments are in the song? i.e., vocals, bass, accompanying guitars, drums, etc.

Originally Posted by CoyoteTrax

Is the Martin the featured instrument on the song?

What model is it?

Why are you going direct instead of mic'ing the guitar?

What other instruments are in the song? i.e., vocals, bass, accompanying guitars, drums, etc.

Some good questions here. I hate the sound of onboard electronics but depending on where the guitar sits in the track, it may be negligible. It's really hard to get the quack out of a transducer. Even contact (bottle cap) type pickups can sound better than undersaddle transducers IMHO. If you have the time and patience, try micing. It's worth it. It'll save you a whole lot of eqing after the fact.

Another question i forgot to ask is:

what kind of music are you producing?

Originally Posted by CoyoteTrax

Another question i forgot to ask is:

what kind of music are you producing?

The acoustic guitar is a Martin 000CXE which is a small body guitar. The music would primarily feature acoustic guitar and vocals. Very basic and simple.

I see that the Fast Track has a mic input as well as an instrument input. Try recording the guitar DI and with a microphone at the same time, each to a separate track in your DAW. Then blend the 2 tracks to get the sound you're looking for in software.

Oh, one more thing. Does the guitar take a battery to pre-amp the pickup? If so, try putting a fresh one in and see if that improves things.