How To Record Electric Guitar With an Audio Interface

Step by Step Guide on how to record electric guitar with an audio interface.

I cover the 3 main methods of recording electric guitar through an audio interface as well as provide information on the following:

- Step by step setup for each method
- Digital Audio Workstations (DAW's)
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🎸 THE GEAR I USE 🎸

► ELECTRIC GUITAR: Fender Stratocaster MIM 2015 (now player series)
► ELECTRIC GUITAR: Epiphone Les Paul Standard 2020 - Dark Cherry Burst

[MicahBuzanMUSIC]

Direct audio interface recording is pretty convenient when living in an apartment or with room mates. Thanks for making this!

[gertikatro]

This is one of the best "how to" videos out there when it comes to audio interfaces. 👏 I don't know why it doesn't have more likes and views!

[sdbeatsmore]

Tip: When plugging a guitar into the scarlett turn the gain knob right down to zero, then press the inst. button located below the gain knob. The scarlett will automatically set the correct gain level so no clipping occurs. If using a DAW you should be aiming for -12db approx. regardless of using a amp sim etc...

[jimmysbadatguitar]

Great video! The reason I searched this is because I wanted to record "Waiting on the World" after I learned all the little licks between chords and looped it to play the solo over. At 4:11 I thought my looper pedal was having a mind of its own for a quick second haha. What a coincidence. Great video and song choice!

[kamilchosta]

Drawbacks
1. Directly into audio interface: You have to use VSTs - some are quite expensive (some are free though) and CPU heavy. you need to load IRs (cab sims) for it to sound good)
2. Rec out amp -> Audio Interface: check out specs on your amp or amp you are about to buy - often the signal is mono and/or equipped with rubbish cab sim. Hence, your recordings will be inferior (compared to studio-grade stuff) - in the video he used Katana that has IR to simulate sound on speaker, signal is stereo though (so any ping pong delays etc will be recorded accordingly).
3. Recording cab speaker by mic: It's often loud solution. You pick up your room noise. You need to have mic and its quite problematic.

[lucyframe]

After trying for years with guitar sounds DI in Logic, Pro Tools and Ableton I must say, if you really want something that sounds authentic, you need to mic up an amp and whack that into your audio interface or mixing desk. There's no way around it for me, yeah if you want a quick riff here and there for funk, hiphop, pop ect then you can get away with vsts and Helix Native for example, but quality stuff is from a good mic and a decent amp. Thanks for the video really loved it!

[djwiggles]

can you just plug the guitar directly into the focusrite with one cable without an amp or anything in the middle?

[bjornhaakestad]

i just bought a audio interface yesterday and didn’t know how to use it so i came here and i just realised that i didn’t need it bc you showed your spark amp which is the amp i have. time to return this thing lol

[_william]

Thanks for the video! Just started learning how to work with audio interface and your vid is so helpful!

[yougazer]

This is by far the easiest video around to understand how it works.

[DenisMorissetteJFK]

My goodness... In just one minute of this video, I've learned two things I should have known so long ago. I feel ridiculous for not knowing them before. Thank you.

[Rude]

Thanks for being yourself and not the obnoxious gdamn YouTuber cringe fest creeps incredibly phony, it is greatly appreciated

[bryanlewis]

Thank you for making such a clean straightforward tutorial. I had watched lots of other videos and this was far and away the best I felt like I knew exactly what I needed to do thanks to you.

[bradleyhajost]

MUCH THANKS for your helpful advice! Cheers

[guitarman]

Brilliant piece of tuition, thank you, i now understand, i need things to be explained simply and this is the first youtube video that Ive understoodr...Subscribed

[SebTheFrenchGuy]

The perfect video for me. It answers all the questions i have.
Thank you very much.

[michaeljoshua]

appreciate you beyond words; this is the perfect breakdown!

[charleswind]

Here’s a good drinking game, take a drink every time he says “ audio interface”.

[nixternal]

For Linux, setting it up is just like Mac. I had the Solo, think I got it in 2019 (have to check Amazon orders). It worked good, but I was hoping I could use my computer more like an amp however I connected it to a Windows machine & all hell broke loose. After installing the driver every time I would shut the computer down it would freeze & then go in to that stupid Windows repair loop garbage. I plugged it in my Linux box & had no problems of course, however I just used Audacity and didn't know about the entire VST world, so I wasn't happy with my experience so I returned it. Kicking myself as I haven't purchased another interface and keep telling myself I will. Especially since Reaper will work with Linux and I don't have to ruin a perfectly good computer by installing Windows on it. I see those new M-Audio ones out for dirt cheap, so I'll watch a few interviews before I decide to go with it or the Evo 4. What I really want to use it for is transcribing more than anything.

[the_earth_mystic]

thank you this was super helpful...excited to start my electric guitar journey in my 30s :)