Recording Guitar

Core Idea

Recording electric guitar is about capturing the sound of an amp in a room, or capturing the direct signal for later processing. Unlike acoustic guitar, electric guitar tone comes from the combination of the guitar, the amp, the pedals, the microphone, and the room. Changing any one of those changes the sound significantly.

The most common method is placing a microphone in front of a guitar speaker cabinet. The microphone choice and placement affect the tone more than any EQ plugin ever could. Moving the mic an inch can change the sound from bright and clear to dark and muddy.

Direct input recording is the alternative. The guitar plugs straight into the audio interface or a DI box. The signal can then be processed with amp modeler software or sent to a reamp box to go through a real amp later. DI recording is quiet, flexible, and works well for home studios with noise constraints.

Videos

How It Works

The classic electric guitar recording setup is a dynamic microphone, usually a Shure SM57, placed close to the speaker grill of a guitar amp. The mic picks up the sound of the speaker moving air. The position matters. Pointing the mic at the center of the speaker cone, also called the dust cap, sounds bright and aggressive. Moving the mic toward the edge of the speaker where the cone meets the surround sounds darker and smoother.

Amp settings are as important as mic placement. A good guitar tone starts at the amp. Too much bass makes the sound flubby and hard to place in a mix. Too much treble makes it harsh. Too much gain kills the note definition. Start with the amp set clean or with a moderate amount of gain. Dial in the tone while listening to the microphone signal, not the sound coming off the amp in the room.

Direct input recording skips the amp and microphone entirely. The guitar plugs into a hi Z input on the audio interface or a DI box. The recorded signal is clean and unprocessed. Amp modeling software like amp sims in Logic Pro, Neural DSP, Amplitube, or Guitar Rig can then add amp and cabinet simulation. DI recording is silent, works at any volume, and allows changing the amp sound after the performance is already recorded.

Many engineers use multiple microphones on the same cabinet. A common combination is a dynamic mic like an SM57 close to the speaker for bite and punch, paired with a ribbon or condenser mic further back for room sound and body. Phase cancellation becomes an issue with multiple mics. Check the phase relationship and flip the polarity on one mic if the low end sounds weak.

Reamping combines the best of both methods. The guitarist records a clean DI track first. That DI track is then sent out of the interface, into a reamp box, into a real guitar amp, and recorded back into the DAW with a microphone. The guitarist can try different amps, pedals, and mic positions without needing the player to perform again.

Summary

Recording electric guitar can be done with a microphone on an amp or through direct input. Mic placement and amp settings shape the tone more than any plugin. DI recording and amp modeling offer flexibility and quiet operation.

A good guitar recording starts with a good guitar tone from the amp or modeler. If the sound coming out of the speakers is bad, no microphone or plugin will fix it. Listen to the tone before recording and dial it in until it sounds right.

Practical Steps

• Set up the amp and dial in a tone that sounds good in the room. Start with the gain lower than you think it needs.
• Place a dynamic microphone like an SM57 a few inches from the speaker grill, pointed slightly off center from the dust cap.
• Plug the microphone into the audio interface and set the gain so the loudest notes peak around minus 6 decibels.
• Listen to the microphone signal on headphones while moving the mic in small increments. Center sounds bright. Edge sounds dark.
• Record a test take and listen back on monitors. Adjust amp EQ or mic position based on what you hear.
• For direct input recording, plug the guitar into a hi Z input on the interface with a standard instrument cable.
• Create a new track in the DAW and set the input to the DI channel. Record a clean take.
• Load an amp simulator plugin on the DI track and audition different amp and cabinet models.
• Add a second microphone further from the amp for room sound if you want a bigger, more natural tone.
• Check phase between multiple mics by flipping the polarity on one channel and listening for more low end.

Common Mistakes

• Using too much gain. Heavily overdriven tones often sound muddy and lack definition in a full mix.
• Placing the microphone dead center on the speaker cone and getting an overly bright, fizzy sound.
• Setting the amp tone while standing in the room, then being surprised when the mic picks up something different.
• Recording DI without a proper hi Z input and losing high end clarity because of impedance mismatch.
• Forgetting to check phase when using two microphones and wondering why the recording sounds thin.
• Dialing in the amp tone in solo without hearing how it sits with the bass and drums.
• Recording with old strings. Fresh strings sound brighter and stay in tune better.
• Using too much bass on the amp. Low end builds up quickly in a mix and masks other instruments.
• Not checking tuning between takes. Electric guitars drift, especially with aggressive playing.
• Assuming the amp modeler will sound good with default settings. Treat modelers like real amps and dial them in carefully.

Resources

• Use These Recording Techniques for Perfect Guitar Tone Every Time
• RECORDING GUITARS AT HOME (your mixer will love)
• Andrew Scheps on Recording Guitars
• HOW TO USE AN AMP SIM!