Hardware

In this section, I will show you the external tools that I use in my home studio. I will try to focus

on the most important things,

Basically, we need five external things to record our

- The electric guitar

- Instrument Cable

- Audio interface

- Computer

- Headphones or Studio monitors.

HARDWARE


things, related with the lessons seen during the Berklee course.

Basically, we need five external things to record our electric guitar

Headphones or Studio monitors.


related with the lessons seen during the Berklee course.

The electric guitar

I use this model of guitar; Ltd deluxe EC1000;

If you know something about the topic, you

has essambel active pickups (EMG) a famous picks factory

This type of pick is perfect for play metal, hard rock or similar because, these pickups offer a

great and powerfull distorsion, at the same

couplings or disgusting noises.

However, the most important thing that you should to remember about this kind of guitar is

the signal, specifically the signal of the pickups.

The active picks has to be consid

offer a higher signal respect to the passive. We will discuss about it later, on the procces

section.

Ltd deluxe EC1000;

If you know something about the topic, you can see that this particular guitar (Esp

has essambel active pickups (EMG) a famous picks factory

for play metal, hard rock or similar because, these pickups offer a

great and powerfull distorsion, at the same time that offer a very clear sound without

or disgusting noises.


specifically the signal of the pickups.

The active picks has to be considered to set the levels in our sound interface,


that this particular guitar (Esp model)

for play metal, hard rock or similar because, these pickups offer a

that offer a very clear sound without


interface, these pickups


The instrument cable

At second place, we need a jack cable, also called quarter inch cable, instrument cable or TS

cable.

We must remember that for recording in the studio, it is better to use cables as short as

possible with this type, ,because really is susceptible to noise.

Remember:

- Jack cable

- Quarter inch cable As short as possible Reduce noise

- TS cable

The sound interface

On the other way, we have the audio interface. One of the most important parts of the home

studio.

I use a M-Audio model 410 with a firewire connection, which allow us to record several

instruments at once with fewer problems.

It is a model similar to the soundcard of the coursera class. The motu interface.

1. MIC/INST INPUTS– Unbalanced Instrument and Mic level inputs. These Neutrik hybrid

connectors will accept a standard three-pin XLR plug or a 1/4” TS connector.

2. MIC/LINE SELECTOR – This switch toggles the unit between Mic/Inst inputs and the rear

panel Line Inputs. In the OUT position, Mic/Inst inputs are selected and active, and the Line

Inputs are defeated; in the IN position, Line Inputs are selected and active, and the Mic/Ins

Inputs are defeated.

3. PAD – inserts a 20dB pad into the input circuit, lowering the input level. Use this PAD

when the input level of your analog signal is too hot – as indicated by illumination of the

CLIP LED – even with the INPUT GAIN LEVEL at or near minimum.

4. INPUT GAIN LEVEL – This potentiometer controls the input level of its associated analog

Mic/Instrument/Line input.

5. SIGNAL LED – When lit, this LED indicates the presence of an audio signal at the associated

Mic/Inst input.

6. CLIP LED – When lit, this LED indicates too hot an input signal at the associated Mic/Inst

input. The LED will light when the signal is 3dB below the clipping point.

7. OUTPUT SIGNAL METERS – This dual four-segment LED meter indicates the signal level of

the outputs as selected in the FireWire 410’s control panel.

8. LEVEL CONTROLLER – This continuous rotary encoder regulates the signal level of the

buses as selected in the FireWire 410’s control panel.

9. HEADPHONE OUTPUTS – Each of these output jacks accepts a standard 1/4” stereo TRS

headphone connector.

10. HEADPHONE LEVEL CONTROLS – Each of these potentiometers controls the output level

of its associated headphone output.

11. S/PDIF IN AND OUT LEDS – The S/PDIF IN LED will glow steadily to indicate the presence

of a valid S/PDIF signal at the selected S/PDIF

input. The S/PDIF IN LED will flash to indicate the presence of a valid S/PDIF signal at the

incorrect S/PDIF input.

The S/PDIF OUT LED will glow steadily to indicate the presence of a valid S/PDIF signal at

either S/PDIF output.

12. MIDI THRU SWITCH – When this switch is in the IN position, the FireWire 410’s MIDI IN and

MIDI OUT ports function in bypass mode;

13. POWER SWITCH AND LED – Turns the FireWire 410 on and off.

15. POWER SUPPLY CONNECTOR

16. MIDI IN AND MIDI OUT CONNECTORS– MIDI input and output on standard 5-pin DIN

connectors.

17. FIREWIRE CONNECTORS – Dual FireWire (IEEE-1394) inputs allow you to connect one to

your computer and another to an external device.

18. S/PDIF COAXIAL IN AND OUT CONNECTORS – S/PDIF digital input and output on

coaxial RCA connectors.

19. S/PDIF TOSLINK IN AND OUT CONNECTORS – S/PDIF digital input and output on

optical TOSLink connectors.

20. LINE OUTPUTS 1 – 8 – These are unbalanced analog outputs on standard 1/4” TS

connectors at 10dB line level. These outputs will support standard two-channel stereo, as well

as surround modes up to 7.1.

21. LINE INPUTS 1 AND 2 – These are unbalanced analog inputs on standard 1/4” TS

connectors at –10dB line level. They are parallel to the front-panel analog inputs, and are

functional only when the front panel mic/line switch is in the “in” position.

Definitelly, the structure is very similar to the soundcard viewed in coursera class.

It's a really good card to work ,easy to handle, very stable, reduces extremely the latency... I

feel very confortable with it.

The Computer

At four place we need a computer or work station in order to, record, produce, and edit the

signal of our guitar. It is important when choosing an

kind of connections have your computer.

Not all the computers have a firewire imput. Anyway there are many interfaces that work

with USB connection.

In my case, I use a laptop, because I usually travel

best choice for me. Keep in mind your needs.


signal of our guitar. It is important when choosing an audio interface, to keep in mind what

kind of connections have your computer.


In my case, I use a laptop, because I usually travel and record on different places, This is the

Keep in mind your needs.


audio interface, to keep in mind what


and record on different places, This is the

The Studio monitors

Finally, we need Studio monitors or headphones to listen the guitar during and after the

recording.

There are a lot of models of speakers, keeping in mind your economic possibilities, the size of

your room, or other details.

Remember that there is a big difference between a studio monitors and the other home/or

HiFi speakers . The studio monitors offer a flat response and clear sound, they are specially

made to the studio work.

The high-definition or home speakers are used for video-games, movies , listening to music,

or other roles. They are different concepts.

Same happens with headphones.

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