Hello, this is one of those off topic ish questions. I have just backed-off from a load of stuff on google that looks complicated.

I need one thing and would like one more.

Since making the leap from rythm to lead, I need to record some basic strumming for my guitar practice at home because I struggle to keep up with the tempo on some tracks. So I would like to slow them down while I learn them. I usually play along by plugging the iPod into the amp so both guitar and iPod come through the amp. Basic, but works for simple practice.

I'll give you some examples so that you know what I'm on about; I've been working on the guitar solo in the middle of the Beatles track called 'something' and their track called 'I feel fine'. Also Sweet Home Alabama. All three a little bit too fast for my novice fingers.

Then, just to throw an extra into the list. I'd like to be able to record the strummy bit with the solo over the top so that I can take it to my lesson. Whenever I sit down in that room I'm rubbish. I do much better at home.

Also need to sort out a bit of earth hum on the new amp but we've covered that before....cue TT and a bit of tinfoil .

We used to have some keen sound engineers on here. You still there? It looks very do-able but I got lost in techno babble and it started to look like such a mission.

I asked at the theatre this week. Fella went into overdrive for me and came up with a solution. Err, I don't quite need that level of sophistication but his enthusiasm was fun.

Wrong forum I know, but have you seen the real sound forums? Wow. They'll have me lining the walls with sheepskin and mud before you know it.

Zs

Playing my guitar and Building castles in the sun and Singing "Fun, Fun, Fun"



OMS

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Failure is always an option

I understand what you are trying to do and the answer is quite simple, what you are trying to achieve is not new and various methods have been used forever, the most popular method was the midi file of the backing track and most midi players had a tempo control so you could practice at your rate, midi files are still plentiful and the 'old skool' still swear by them.

Here are a couple of methods to help, play your sound file through a computer using one of the many music programs out there that have tempo control and loads of other options such as Soundforge, Mixmeister etc;

Go to the second hand hi-fi shops and pick up a minidisc or CD player recorder that has tempo control on it, Sony used to do these in abundance, if you could get hold of a DAT player that would be a bonus.

Probably the most cost effective solution would be to buy a small DJ desk that has tempo control on it and site this between your IPod and amp, a lot of DJ desks have IPod input now but you can always buy a lead to do this if it didnt.

Getting rid of earth hum is an exercise of trial and error, it is often worth investing in a DI box on the input side with an earth lift facility.

regards

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"Take nothing but a picture,
leave nothing but footprints!"
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"Oh! The drama of it all."
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"You can throw all the philosophy you like at the problem, but at the end of the day it's just basic electrical theory!"
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Edited: 01 March 2013 at 12:13 PM by rocknroll

If you have a Mac, get Garage band or if you are feeling a bit flush, Logic.

Guitar Pro is great for practising but not so good for recording.

Haven't tried any of the programs Rocky mentions above but I am sure they are much of a muchness.

Nick

PS edited to add, if you do go down the PC route, be careful of latency issues if your processor isn't up to coping with the workload, its an absolute pain in the proverbial as it won't play in real time and therefore becomes useless for recording.

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"be careful of what you write"

Simplist, and totally free, program is Audacity from sourceforge.net This will let you record any number of parts and play them back together, it also has a tool for changing tempo without changing pitch (and vice versa!). When you change tempo it does add a certain "metallic" quality to the sound, but it's fine for practising. I've been using it for years and can't recommend highly enough.

Let us know how you get on!

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Andy Millar CEng MIET MCMI

http://www.linkedin.com/in/millarandy

Thank you R&R and Andy. Just what I needed to guide me. I like the sound of the audacity because you make it sound easy. Wasted hours the other night lost in various web sites, which was great but not very productive. I could spend a fortune given half a chance.

I did not know you were here. The mods transferred this thread, good call.

I too am in the Les Paul camp. A standard 2008 (chambered body) as the mid life crisis present to myself last summer. I saw your discussion on here about pick-ups which I read with interest. When it came time to have mine set up I was recommended to a guitar tech and took it to him. He dropped quite a few decent names and works on We will Rock you so I entrusted the baby to him. He did a cracking job, I thought it was good when I bought it but it came back with the action lowered to perfection and the bounciness of the pick-ups adjusted. I wouldn't dare do it myself like you do. An odd chap, I was a bit nervous leaving it with him. Yes, I had the scratch plate put on.

Now, the Amp I bought with it is tubed. A Blackstar. I found it rather tinny or telephony and eventually took it to an audition room and taste-tested it against some others. I'd have expected tubes to be better and the web raves about them, but I have just bought myself a little Roland Cube 30 which I find much better, and more fun. The clean is really clean and the dirty stuff sounds less like electrical interference. So now I have two amps.....

Thereafter, 2 classicals and a Tanglewood Accoustic Electric. I rather fancy a Telecaster next.

Thank you, I am off to do some enthusiastic googling on all the suggestions. I will indeed let you know. Can't wait.

Graham, what a lovely surprise that you also play. Dark Horse.

Zs

Re tube amps: a while ago I picked up a really really cheap 7w tube combo, a Fender Champ copy with a tone control. Sounded dreadful. I replaced the 6" speaker with an 8" I found lying around and it sounded slightly less dreadful. A couple of weeks ago I pulled the chassis out and plugged into my bigger cabinets (a 2 x 10" and a 1 x 15") and it sounded absolutely fantastic. So if you can drive your Blackstar into a better cab it might well be worth a try!

Re hum: I've now dismantled the chassis of the amp and repackaged it into an instrument case, it now hums like mad - and I'm supposed to be an expert on reducing noise in music systems! It happens to everybody. Just clearing a space on my workbench so I can sort it out.

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Andy Millar CEng MIET MCMI

http://www.linkedin.com/in/millarandy

I agree with Andy......Audacity is a great program.

I've been using it for years and now have all of my students using it too. Simple but effective and very user friendly.

What did you end up using? I'm just curious because I'm sure I will need to upgrade to somehting with more options very soon.

...and so do I. Thank you so much for that information Andy.

Audacity is on the laptop and I am finding some time now to go through the instructions. Finding the time being the most difficult part, it looks fairly straightforward.

My earth hum ( on the Roland Cube, not the tubed Blackstar) went on for days and I did much unscrewing of sockets and fiddling around. Then one evening I picked up the lead for the iPod, which was plugged in but with no iPod on the end of it. The hum went crazy. Now I know that it has to be unplugged from the amp and all is clear again. Methinks I was overcomplicating the issue. Just a rogue bit of cable. Where have I seen that before...nearly every day at work so shame on me.

Thank you for that. I've got the beginning of sweet home in the bag since my post but have just discovered Peter Green's 'I need you love so bad' which is an absolute must. Hopefully I'll get it transferred across to audacity tomorrow and put it through it's paces.

Yours in A major pentatonic, starting with an E shape (I think) Zs