Lexicon Omega & acoustic electric quitar
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Posted on Nov 23, 2009 11:10 am
AlliCat
Member Since: Nov 23, 2009
I am researching PC recording options for my daughter. She plays an acoustic electric guitar and sings. I'm looking at the Lexicon Omega. Can the acoustic electric guitar be pluged directly into the Omega or do you need some additional pre-amp? Do you have any other recomendations in the same price range?
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Nov 23, 2009 12:14 pm That would work fine :] The acoustic itself should have a preamp too btw, but the Omega has your necessary built in preamps. I can't vouch for the quality of the interface, but it should be pretty good. I've never heard of it before, but it looks like a quality piece of equipment.
Out of curiosity, what model guitar and vocal mic is she using? Also, does she have a recording program? If not then the omega i looked up ($160-180ish US) came with cubase LE which should work fine.
If she doesn't have a recording program, then i'd go with this or one similar to it with the striped down version of cubase or something else.
If she does already have a program, however, there are some audio interfaces out there in a similar price range that have some software i've noticed can really clean up the vocals and guitars.
Nov 23, 2009 12:23 pm Thanks for the reply. She has a Fender guitar. I can't tell you the model. Can't tell you the mike either. She is 16 and just getting started. She is using Audacity at present.
Know anything about Tascam Trackpack? There is a bundle package available with a condenser mike and headphones for about the same price as the omega.
Thk
Nov 23, 2009 12:27 pm Ya may wanna look into Reaper, Kristal Audio Engine or some such other freeware for tracking, that are more aimed at multitracking, Audacity can do it, but is far more effective at editing mixed down tracks.
The reason I say that is because it'd be nice to have hear record guitar in one pass and sing over it on another pass so the guitar doesn't bleed into the vocal mic, in case she wants to retake the guitar, punch out mistakes or something of that nature.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 23, 2009 01:11 pm Lots of people like the Line6 UX2, it can receive 2 tracks at a time, is stable, and gives you extra stuff to work with, like modeling and other do-dads.
This is a USB interface, which is quite capable. I think it'll be cheaper than the OMEGA, though I'm not certain on that. Also, I'd research (on this site at least) to see if people have had issues with the OMEGA. Seems to me that there have been a few issues.
I second the reaper / Kristal / other suggestion. Those will give you multitracking options much better than audacity. I use Reaper, and like it lots.
I also agree with dB's mention, of recording guitar first, then vocals second. Gives you much better control of things.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 23, 2009 06:06 pm I'll second pjk on the Line 6 UX-2. It is much more stable and has a much easier driver install and set up then the Omega. If you search the forums here you will find a dozen or more post's on the Lexicon units not communicating, simply not installing and a small host of other problems. For the few dollars more for the Line 6 unit you would be miles ahead and it will as pjk stated record a mic and the plugged in guitar at the same time without any trouble.
And as dB stated there are a good deal of freeware programs out there that can do a very good job with what she is aiming for. Reaper being the upper crust of them, although it is shareware it is fully functional with no limitation's at all.
Nov 23, 2009 08:24 pm I triple (?) pjk's statement haha. The mic preamp models in there will clean up her vocals quite a bit, and probably the guitar too.
My only concern was that the UX2 doesn't come with any multitracking software. But if these guys say reaper is good, its good.
If the extra 50 bucks is too much, you also could get her the UX1. but she might be annoyed that if she wants to record the guitar and vocals at the same time, the UX1 will only do one thing at a time.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Nov 23, 2009 08:43 pm yeah definatley go a line 6, forget the Omega.
Nov 24, 2009 11:17 am Thanks everyone for the input and advice.
Nov 24, 2009 12:01 pm Haha wow, we totally sound like endorsers for line 6. There's been probably half a dozen posts in just the past month advising others to purchase a UX2. Line 6 really should start paying db for excellent advertisement here :P
Nov 24, 2009 12:03 pm Heck, I endorse Line 6, I love the KB37...which is just a UX2 with a MIDI controller...I love Line 6's stuff.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Nov 24, 2009 12:28 pm If she has a mic and a guitar, then have her experiment with recording the guitar with the microphone instead of plugging the guitar into the interface.
The piezo "under-the-saddle" pickups on most acoustic/electric guitars are pretty terrible sounding. Using a microphone to pick up the sound of an acoustic guitar yields a much more natural result.
If she's so inclined, have her try aiming her microphone at the point where the neck meets the body of the guitar, with the mic about 12" away (if its a dynamic) to 18" away (if its a condensor).
And here's a technique to try in order to fill out a vocal/acoustic song:
- Record one take of the acoustic guitar alone
- Play that track back and have her record another take of acoustic guitar along with it, playing the same thing and taking care to play it as "tight" as possible with the first take.
- Pan the two guitar parts away from each other in the stereo field during mixdown. Try 50%L, 50%R to start. Maybe increase it up to 70% or even 80%L and 80%R. You just probably don't want to hard pan them in this situation (100%L/R).
Hopefully that technique will yield a nice, fuller sounding acoustic guitar sound than simply plugging it in to the sound card.
You can try a similar thing with the vocal part as well. Record more than one take, being careful to sing them as tight as possible. Use panning to spread the takes around the stereo field a little. Only with vocals, you probably want to choose one take as the "lead" and do what you can to keep the other takes from interfering.
Do a bit of research on EQ and compression and you'll be creating higher quality home recordings than you thought possible. Just remember that a little goes a long way when dealing with effects, keep them subtle.
Good luck, and come back often with any questions you might have. Everybody around here is always glad to help to the best of our knowledge.
Nov 25, 2009 08:46 am The biggest (and most fun for her hehe) part about this is just experimenting with whatever resources she has. Like tad said, come back here with any questions you may have. Also tons of great advice there on all the basics :]
Though i will say, some of those pickups do actually sound quite good. :] my cheap(ish) $350 ibanez sounds incredible plugged in, often i prefer it to the mic'd up tone, but it is missing that "real" feel (and gaining something "fake" that i totally love). But because of the different tones opposing strengths, when combined they really shine. But again, its not for everyone. And some guitars do sound pretty hideous plugged in.
Nov 30, 2009 02:58 pm Thanks everyone for all the advice. I havee ordered the Line 6 ux-2. I'll let you know how it goes and I'm sure we'll have many more questions.
