In this video, we discuss the best way to record electric guitar at home. It’s part of a new series we are doing on recording guitars. We specifically talk about micing your amp, tracking, routing, and adding effects to your guitars.
Best Way to Record Electric Guitar at Home
In this video, Eric shares his top strategies for recording electric guitar at home so you get great tone, tight performances, and flexibility in your DAW. Instead of focusing on fancy gear, he emphasizes practical methods that help you capture professional‑sounding guitar tracks even with modest equipment. (youtube.com)
Setting Up Your Guitar Signal
What It Is:
Eric explains that the first step in home recording is to get your guitar signal into your interface cleanly — whether you’re using a direct input (DI) method or mic’ing an amp. Recording directly gives you a pure signal you can shape later with amp simulations or re‑amping.
Why It Matters:
Capturing a clean source tone gives you more flexibility later in mixing and re‑amping, and avoids committing to a single amp sound before you’re ready.
Recording Through Your Interface
How It Works:
Eric shows how to plug your guitar straight into your audio interface and record a dry signal into Studio One. This method captures your playing with no coloration, and later you can add tone with software like Ampire or other amp sims.
Key Tips:
- Keep gain staged so the input isn’t clipping
- Use high‑quality cables to reduce noise
- Record multiple takes for flexibility later
This approach ensures a clean, editable performance you can shape in the mix.
Using Amp Simulators After Recording
What It Is:
Instead of tracking through a physical amp, Eric explains how you can use software amp simulators (like Ampire inside Studio One) to dial in your guitar tone after you’ve recorded.
Why It Matters:
Software amp sims give you a wide variety of tones without needing real amplifiers or mics, making it easy to experiment and find the right sound during mixing rather than tracking.
Blending Direct and Mic’d Tones
How It Works:
Eric also suggests combining direct electric guitar recordings with mic’d amp tracks if you have the gear — capturing both the clarity of DI and the character of a real amp.
Why It Helps You:
Blending DI and mic’d tones lets you keep the tightness and definition of the direct signal while adding color and room presence from a real amplifier.
Conclusion
Recording electric guitar at home doesn’t require expensive gear — it’s about capturing a clean performance and shaping the tone later in your DAW. Eric’s walkthrough shows how to record direct signals, use amp simulations for tone, and blend approaches when possible so you get professional results even in a home setup.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/mMqrCovxiJw
Want to take your home recordings to the next level? Download my Free 5-Step Guide to Recording Pro Music from Your Home Studio and start producing high-quality tracks today 