I'm trying to do what I suspect is a commonly useful activity - record my own backing tracks on my computer. There appear to be a multitude of ways to do this and I'd like to get some advise on the best way to proceed before I start buying cables.

I play a Stratocaster into either a SuperSonic 112 or a Twin Amp. This gives me four options for a sound source:
1 - direct output from the guitar.
2 - preamp out from either amp.
3 - XLR out from the Twin.
4 - effects loop out from either amp.

I want to feed this into my computer which could be USB or 1/8" sound card input.

From what I've been reading there appear to be a lot of things to consider. The output from the tube amp could be to high and may need to be filtered through an equalizer or could be too low and need to go through an external pre-amp. Going straight from the guitar loses all the benefits of sound shaping the amps could provide. Possibility of frying something by plugging things together that aren't compatible. Sound quality may vary significantly based on the solution implemented.

Apologies if this has already been answered somewhere but if it was I wasn't able to locate it.

TASCAM US-122L. USB interface with stereo ¼" and XLR inputs and outputs and audio levelling and it comes with a "Lite" version of CuBase recording software for about a hundred bucks give or take. You will need to conect some kind speakers to the output of the interface device. The computer's internal audio can't be used as an output from the interface.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Get riff tracker and a usb interface and record into a modeling software. With a digital setup you can do a lot like add drum tracks, play with effects, edit the sound easily, and not have to record at stage volume. Modeling technology has come a long way from the old line6 pods but its still isn't the same. I do all my recording in this method. You can get guitar port/rifftracker from line6 for 200$ and this I a amazing bit of easy to use good sounding kit. It may take some time to find your voice. You can also check out amplitude, guitarig, elevenrack, revalver.

I bought an inexpensive mixer (Tascam M-164) for $99 at Musiciansfriend.

I plug the mixer directly into the sound card via a stereo cable that goes from RCA jacks to the 1/8" plug.

I use free Audacity recording software that you can download. I'm pretty happy with this setup, not bad for not knowing what I'm doing . Here are a couple samples.

http://www.box.net/shared/s50ljsm8zq
http://www.box.net/shared/hc08fkc23v

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I record in a manner that I've been told is incorrect, but it works ok for me. I mic my amp and run it direct into my computer. I know that's not the way to get great sound quality, but it's worked ok for me. I mix down with GoldWave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acxTdpfhNN8

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First off thanks everyone for the numerous responses. I looked at the recommended mixer and while it looks nice I think it's over kill for what I'm trying to do. I just want to record some simple backing tracks I can play lead over. They don't need to be commercial quality or anything like that.

I found one product that looks promising - it's a 1/4" guitar lead to a USB connector. It doesn't get any of the benefit of going through my amp for sound shaping but it is very simple.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ALEGTRLINK

I'm still hopeful the simplest of the potential solutions may work. It seems reasonable to me that I should be able to feed the pre-amp out from the back of the amp to the line-in connector on my sound card. The owners manual even says you can use the pre-amp out to go to recording equipment. The only concern is whether the voltage is a match or if something will fry when I connect them. Can anyone offer any insight?

Try that one first, it's known for severe latency issues.

I'd suggest downloading Audacity (free) and running a mic (as Tim mentioned) into your PC. Not pristine but it works and would be more than adequate for your application.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

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i would suggest the Boss BR micro multitrack.
i have one and got way more than i expected this little machine to do.
cant believe the high quality this thing has in such a small package too.
fits in your shirt pocket and way to easy in a guitar case.

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63supro
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