Any guitar players w/recording software?

**brother bob** · 12-28-2011, 07:03 PM

Any guitar players w/recording software - mainly Cakewalk - who can give me some help?

Am very green at playing but have tons of ideas and am trying to use Cakewalk and am having problems hearing my guitar...

Any help would be appreciated.

**CynadoAlley** · 12-28-2011, 07:28 PM

Fellow guitar player here. Not really familiar with the Cakewalk software, so unfortunately I can't really help you out on that end. But I've been a real believer in Audacity. Free to download, and still has plenty of features to make your music with.
Sorry that it doesn't help with your Cakewalk problem, but nonetheless maybe someone reading is looking for a good choice to record with..

**brother bob** · 12-28-2011, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by CynadoAlley

Fellow guitar player here. Not really familiar with the Cakewalk software, so unfortunately I can't really help you out on that end. But I've been a real believer in Audacity. Free to download, and still has plenty of features to make your music with.
Sorry that it doesn't help with your Cakewalk problem, but nonetheless maybe someone reading is looking for a good choice to record with..

Thanks CynadoAlley!

Have been a novice player for a very very long time and have just recently found an urge to put things done - with a little prodding from my younger brother. Anyway, any little bit helps. I will check out Audacity as well.

brother bob

**CynadoAlley** · 12-28-2011, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by brother bob

Thanks CynadoAlley!

Have been a novice player for a very very long time and have just recently found an urge to put things done - with a little prodding from my younger brother. Anyway, any little bit helps. I will check out Audacity as well.

brother bob

Anytime, always nice to help a fellow guitar player out! Good luck with the recording, its fun to finally sit and listen to what you've played instead of always hearing it while playing. Then when you add on to the original track and can really take off.

**brother bob** · 12-28-2011, 08:21 PM

thanks again.

what kind of guitar/guitars do you play? what style of music do you prefer?

**HILLCYD** · 12-28-2011, 08:39 PM

I use this Ableton - Live 8

Mainly because it came with my Line 6 guitar interface for free. Works well, not very intuitive however.

**Go2Guy** · 12-28-2011, 08:58 PM

I've been using multi-track recording software for years and have been very frustrated.
Cakewalk, Acid Music, and Creative are the ones I tried and usually have the same problem; the tutorials suck and they all come over-loaded with gobs of features I don't want to use, but trying to read through a manual just to get something simple has been confusion.

The main problem I have is the playback - when I am laying down tracks 2,3 or 4 it is often difficult to hear, through the headphones, track 1, or the previous track recorded. I have to turn my guitar input down really low just to hear the overdub.

Sorry this doesn't help the OP, but perhaps this might help if someone can provide some tips, or a guide for a tutorial.

And if I have to, I'll get a Mac and use their Garage Band (comes with Apple systems), but I hear a lot of people rave about it.

**brother bob** · 12-28-2011, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

I've been using multi-track recording software for years and have been very frustrated.
Cakewalk, Acid Music, and Creative are the ones I tried and usually have the same problem; the tutorials suck and they all come over-loaded with gobs of features I don't want to use, but trying to read through a manual just to get something simple has been confusion.

The main problem I have is the playback - when I am laying down tracks 2,3 or 4 it is often difficult to hear, through the headphones, track 1, or the previous track recorded. I have to turn my guitar input down really low just to hear the overdub.

Sorry this doesn't help the OP, but perhaps this might help if someone can provide some tips, or a guide for a tutorial.

And if I have to, I'll get a Mac and use their Garage Band (comes with Apple systems), but I hear a lot of people rave about it.

The only problem I have at this time is hearing the playback. I can see everything move but no playback. I haven't played with it in a while but am going to get back into it soon...vacation coming up.

**Go2Guy** · 12-28-2011, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by brother bob

The only problem I have at this time is hearing the playback. I can see everything move but no playback. .

The output on those recording software leaves a lot to be desired; very hard to hear your playback.

**CynadoAlley** · 12-28-2011, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by brother bob

thanks again.

what kind of guitar/guitars do you play? what style of music do you prefer?

I play a semi hollow body Ibenez (spelling?) electric, and a Dean acoustic. Really like my acoustic, my electric leaves something to be desired.

**brother bob** · 12-28-2011, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by CynadoAlley

I play a semi hollow body Ibenez (spelling?) electric, and a Dean acoustic. Really like my acoustic, my electric leaves something to be desired.

cool. I have two acoustic (a 1973 Hondo and a late 70's Yamaha - both my mothers') and three electrics (a mid 80's Fender Strat, a Les Paul knock off called Scott, and a cheap dept. store Spectrum) all the electrics were under $100 but they all play well and stay in tune.

My Scott has better action than my Strat and I find myself playing more on that one than any of the others. The Spectrum I picked up for under $10 and am experimenting with the pickups to see what kind of sound I can get out of it...lol

The Hondo is not playable anymore because it was not taken care of very well when my mother passed on and basically warped.

**Johnny8** · 12-28-2011, 09:25 PM

I've done a pretty good amount of recording, and have used several different programs. Never Cakewalk though.

If you can't hear anything but can see the sound bars moving, your most likely problem is that you don't have your playback device configured properly. With most recording programs, they don't always default to your speakers because different interfaces are often used for playback instead, and it may be sending the playback sound to your recording interface.

To configure the playback device, you'll probably have to go to "preferences" (probably in the "edit" tab). Then, you should be able to select the playback device that you want, like your computer's speakers.

If that doesn't work, post again and I'll see if I can help.

Out of curiosity, what are you using for a recording interface?

**Go2Guy** · 12-28-2011, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Johnny8

To configure the playback device, you'll probably have to go to "preferences" (probably in the "edit" tab). Then, you should be able to select the playback device that you want, like your computer's speakers.

If that doesn't work, post again and I'll see if I can help.

Out of curiosity, what are you using for a recording interface?

Not the OP, but thanks for your input. Is your playback loud enough to hear in your headphones while you lay down the 2nd track with your guitar and amp?

BTW. I use Creative interface. I have a really cool front-load input panel that fits in one of the bays typically used for DVD etc. that came with the soundboard and allows me to plug directly into the front of the computer

**whirlybirds** · 12-28-2011, 09:42 PM

Never used Cakewalk, but have used many different programs. Best advice I can give you is look on youtube to see if they have any tutorials on there.

**whirlybirds** · 12-28-2011, 09:43 PM

How are you recording your guitar on your computer? Through a mixer? A mic up to your amp? Are you recording an acoustic with just a mic up to the sound hole?