Setting Up to Record At Home
- The American Guitar Academy
- Jul 9
- 6 min read
Being able to record your guitar playing at home is a great skill to have, and allows you to better keep track of your practice, songwriting and to hone your skills in different ways.
This blog post was inspired by a video from the YouTube channel SpectreSoundStudios, run by Canadian sound engineer Glenn Fricker. The video in question is linked below, though it does contain some strong language!
Whilst Fricker’s video is based on a generalized idea of a recording engineer, I instead want to focus on just the guitar, based on my personal experiences. I will discuss some basic equipment and software as well as why you should consider this in the first place.
Remember, this is for a musician at home, and not someone who is a professional in the field already.
Why?
It does not take a lot of effort to be able to record some good sounding tracks at home. Before we look into how, we should first explore the reasoning behind it.
Employability
Having a knowledge of the recording process can help expedite proceedings in the future, if you ever find yourself in a professional recording studio. There is a phenomenon known as ‘red light fever’, which is where you suddenly lose the ability to play at the same standard the second you start being recorded - I definitely had this problem! Being able to lay down your tracks in a timely manner makes things cheaper too!
When shaping your guitar tone with the intention of recording, it is best practice to try and do so in such a way to minimize any work that needs to be done whilst the tracks are being mixed. You should start with a great tone from the outset.
Better Practice
Being able to practice in the conventional manner is all well and good, but it is an unfortunate truth that humans do not hear everything. Recording your practice sessions, or even just keeping a brief log of your progress can help you track your improvements. This also allows you to listen back to your playing, whilst not having to think about the physical aspects, and really focus on what needs to be improved.
Of course, this needs to be balanced with musicianship and the confidence that comes with playing live. As technically proficient as Instagram and ‘bedroom’ guitarists are, as a result of recording and watching their own playing so frequently, they struggle to transfer those skills to the stage.
I have also used my recording set-up to produce backing tracks for myself and for students, based on specific needs rather than relying on something that is generic - another blog post to come on this subject soon!
Songwriting
I often struggle with songwriting, and writing lyrics has never been something I could take seriously. However, I have many snippets of songs, great riffs and arrangements of tunes I have quickly recorded in the moment.
Quite often I have found that I would sit on ideas for months, sometimes years, and then an opportunity would arise where one of those long lost riffs would be perfect. Your mileage may vary, but this is how I use my recording skills with songwriting.
Recommendations
Laptop/Desktop Computer
It goes without saying that you need an appropriate machine to record your music on. It does not have to be the most powerful, up to date model available; any relatively modern computer with USB connectivity will be appropriate.
Due to the divisiveness between Windows and Mac users, I would not recommend a specific model - as long as it works, you’ll be ok!
Audio Interface
In my home studio, I often teach online as well as record music. Therefore I need an audio interface with specific inputs. However, if the electric guitar is the only instrument you are recording live, then a single input interface will suffice.
This offering from Focusrite is probably the best balance of effectiveness and being kind to your wallet. There is an XLR input on the back if needed, but a ¼ inch socket for all other applications, right where you need it.
Software
Software is a cheap (usually), easy answer to many problems we face when recording. There are a few recommendations I will make here, all things that I use myself.
For a DAW (digital audio workstation), I suggest Reaper. It has an extremely generous trial period that is unrestricted, and when the period expires you can still continue to use the software. This will be the control center for your operations, and it comes bundled with a large selection of usable plug-ins.
For virtual instruments, I recommend LABS by Spitfire Audio. Again, this is free but requires you to make an account and install their proprietary loader software - it is all very easy to set up. I personally use the electronic keyboard and string ensemble collections.
One thing that has really saved me on numerous occasions, is using drum programming software. To the train ear, it is obvious when something is programmed. However, EZdrummer2 from Toontrack sounds good enough for my purposes, and allows you some degree of flexibility - they have a higher level of software called Superior Drummer, but as of yet I have not found a purpose for this myself.
Finally, it is worth noting that micing up a guitar amp/cabinet is an art in and of itself. Some amplifiers have a direct out functionality, something done better by modeling software, but you cannot go wrong with some guitar amp software. There are many paid options, but some good free ones too. I recommend Blue Cat Audio for this, although there are many others available.
Extras
Many of us do not have the luxury of always mixing and recording with audio monitors, therefore a good set of headphones is the way to go. You can buy some headphones designed specifically for mixing audio, but you just want something that sounds good and will not fall apart quickly. Remember, you are not going to be mixing to a professional standard straight away.
I use these headphones, and they have lasted me a long time. Replacement cables are easy and cheap to obtain, and they sound great! The AKG K240 headphones can be purchased in many stores and online.
I also recommend purchasing a small MIDI keyboard/controller. They come in various sizes, and as I cannot convincingly play the piano I have opted for a smaller one - the Alesis Q Mini. This allows me to use MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) and control some of the virtual instruments I have installed. I have used this little piece of equipment more than I care to mention!
Final Thoughts
There are seemingly infinite possibilities when setting up to record at home, and everything I have listed above is just a preliminary take based on my own experiences. Watch some video reviews and maybe you could save money where possible by buying second hand. You definitely do not need to splash out all at once, you can build things up slowly as you go - I did not buy my first set of audio monitors until four years ago!
There are two final pieces of advice I would like to share. The first is to make sure that you can sit, or stand, comfortably in the place where you intend to work. It is inevitable that you will get stuck in and lose track of time, much to the detriment of your posture. On that subject, you should always strive to practice the guitar with correct posture - having a chair with fixed arms is a sure way to affect that! A decent chair will do you the world of good.
The second piece of additional advice is to just get stuck in! There are thousands of different options, and we are all susceptible to optional paralysis, also known as the paradox of choice. I could name 20 different guitar amp plug-ins off the top of my head, and that is just scratching the surface - settle for one you like and stick with it. Far too many people spend valuable practice and recording time arguing about which option is the best. We also listen with our eyes, and have started to make judgements based on how our performance looks on the screen - use your ears!
All of the guitar teachers at the American Guitar Academy have extensive experience in either recording, being recorded or helping prepare students for such an occasion. It is worth getting in touch and seeing how any of them can help!
In the meantime, get busy and create something magical.