An electric acoustic guitar is a fantastic instrument and easy instrument to use as accompaniment to either the songs you have written or those you wish to cover. Therefore knowing how to record professionally when playing is something that many people, including myself, are interested in. Like many others I had no experience when I first started so I felt it would be a good thing to put down some useful information that, hopefully, will help others:
The electric acoustic guitar, by definition will have a pick up. This could be factory fitted or an after market addition. Either way there will be something that will directly pick up the sound being made via a plug connection. It is also possible to place a microphone on the guitar and connect that into a recording device.
So there are three options - mic up the guitar, use the factory fitted pick-ups or install an after market pick-up.
Once there is a method of getting the signal out of the guitar electronically then a recording interface is required. This is a device designed to take that signal, transform it into a suitable format and then store it. The important thing then becomes the quality of the device being used to record. The higher quality product that you buy then it is likely that the higher quality results you are going to get.
The use of acoustic guitar effects pedals should also be considered. Some great electric acoustic guitar players actually use more effects than some electric guitar players. There are many effects that only enhance the sound of a guitar a little and things like compression pedals will even out the volume between the high and low strings. Reverb will simulate the sound you would get from playing in a large room, while chorus will give the impression that multi-tracking is being used. Any effect can be used directly before the recording device or can be used in the production and engineering of the sound afterwards, and when you probably have more time.
The type of guitar pick-up being used can also affect the sound. There are subtle differences between the brands so if you need to fit an after market one there are a few choices that you can ponder, however if your electric acoustic guitar already has one fitted then you will probably have to make do.
If recording is being done at home then the only restriction on time will be what you have imposed on yourself. If, by chance, you are using a studio then you will want to stick to the allotted time and also make best use of that time as they are very expensive places.
The electric acoustic guitar, by definition will have a pick up. This could be factory fitted or an after market addition. Either way there will be something that will directly pick up the sound being made via a plug connection. It is also possible to place a microphone on the guitar and connect that into a recording device.
So there are three options - mic up the guitar, use the factory fitted pick-ups or install an after market pick-up.
Once there is a method of getting the signal out of the guitar electronically then a recording interface is required. This is a device designed to take that signal, transform it into a suitable format and then store it. The important thing then becomes the quality of the device being used to record. The higher quality product that you buy then it is likely that the higher quality results you are going to get.
The use of acoustic guitar effects pedals should also be considered. Some great electric acoustic guitar players actually use more effects than some electric guitar players. There are many effects that only enhance the sound of a guitar a little and things like compression pedals will even out the volume between the high and low strings. Reverb will simulate the sound you would get from playing in a large room, while chorus will give the impression that multi-tracking is being used. Any effect can be used directly before the recording device or can be used in the production and engineering of the sound afterwards, and when you probably have more time.
The type of guitar pick-up being used can also affect the sound. There are subtle differences between the brands so if you need to fit an after market one there are a few choices that you can ponder, however if your electric acoustic guitar already has one fitted then you will probably have to make do.
If recording is being done at home then the only restriction on time will be what you have imposed on yourself. If, by chance, you are using a studio then you will want to stick to the allotted time and also make best use of that time as they are very expensive places.
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