Which DAW / Equipment

[bloos66]

I agree with grahambop - don't spend any more money..

The other important aspect worth mentioning to do with DAWs/Interfaces/plugins is how you listen to your playing and recording. For each method, you need to adjust the mix/EQ and possibly amend the effect chain.
If you use headphones, the impedance is important, how well the headphones match the interface, also you may want to add some (stereo) reverb to the mix and fix the EQ to your liking.
If you use an external amp/speaker, it may also color your tone, so again, change the mix/effects.
These days I generally play through a pair of fairly old Yamaha HS5 studio monitors and I get a great sound, especially with S-Gear, it's almost like I plug-in, select a preset and off I go.
Headphones is by far the hardest to get right and I only use them for tracking acoustic guitar through a AKG C214 or Rode NT5, and I am only learning now how to correctly EQ the mix otherwise I sounds too dull/dark.....
So much to learn :-)

[MCh]

In my view, 'cheap' recording gear these days is pretty good but there is still a bit of a learning curve involved. Gain staging is one area to get familiar with, and using the various settings on the interface. Make sure you have the Instrument (not Line) selected on the 2i2. I have been using Focusrite (currently 4i4 3rdGen) with Reaper as the DAW on Win11 and S-Gear for many years with outstanding results. S-Gear is in my opinion one of the best and easiest to use amp sims. I also use Helix Native, so many options.
I have lately been getting into EQ plug-ins and can recommend the 'free' ToneBoosters EQ (works in Demo mode but you can't save presets, but it's fairly cheap to buy).
I suggest to dive a bit deeper into the Focusrite/S-Gear/DAW issues, there is so much to learn/master.
BTW - S-Gear also has a Overdrive/Boost option (as well as Compressor), the Boost with a Gain of 0 (or very low) will also help to brighten the sound somewhat.

If you use Reaper, don't look further for a parametric EQ plugin. Reaper comes with REAEQ. It does not look good, but it is one of the best. Give it a try, it's free. Same thing for other plugins, like compressor, limiter, etc. There are hundreds of them. TUKAN have developed a great amp, and some other plugins, like a Lexicon reverb which I think is interesting. TUKAN plugins come in REAPack. You have to download them.

Yeah, lots to learn. A time not so long ago, guitarists were concentrating on playing guitar. Sometimes composing. Sometimes arranging. Recording involved an engineer, a producer and a bunch of specialists. Now we can do it alone in our bedroom. We try to substitute ourselves to what used to be a team of knowledgeable people. The availability of "cheap" material is a blessing, but having a home studio is only half of the equation. We still have to learn to use it. I have been studying Reaper for 2 years now an I have barely scratched the surface. Fortunately, for me, learning is half the fun.

[jazzdod]

Thanks all. Think you’re right and I’ll give what I’ve got longer. I don’t have any mics other than a Shure Super 55 that my singer uses for our wedding gigs. I’m really looking for a direct sound preferably for ease of use so I’ll give Sgear a bit more attention. I’ll really be just recording the guitar either solo or over backing tracks as per my videos at the top of this post. Because of this I’m after as much clarity and sound quality as I can as it’ll be a clean signal in the main.

[rpjazzguitar]

I just use the line out on my DV Mark Little Jazz, into the line input on a Focusrite 2i2, into Reaper on my PC. In Reaper I usually just add a bit of convolution reverb, sometimes I add a bit of compression or EQ if it helps the mix. I don’t worry too much over input levels etc., I just go by what looks/sounds right.

All sounds ok to me, I would not spend money on anything more expensive. I think it would just be diminishing returns.

Recording engineers should stop reading now, so you don't get apoplexy.

I went through my pedalboard (adding some reverb which I knew I couldn't remove later, but I didn't expect to want to). Then into the 2i2 and from there into Reaper. I monitored with the Little Jazz. No mics involved. If I needed to tweak the tone of the guitar, I did it with plug-ins. I recall using EQ but not much else. I tried a bunch of other things, including mic'ing an amp and going through the LJ in front of the 2i2, but this simple method worked for my application.

I didn't expect to win a Grammy for the music or the engineering, but I got a few things on the radio (less impressive than that might sound) and I used it to get gigs, which worked.

For mixing, I had to rely on others' ears. Mine are not good enough.

[fep]

Thanks all. Think you’re right and I’ll give what I’ve got longer. I don’t have any mics other than a Shure Super 55 that my singer uses for our wedding gigs. I’m really looking for a direct sound preferably for ease of use so I’ll give Sgear a bit more attention. I’ll really be just recording the guitar either solo or over backing tracks as per my videos at the top of this post. Because of this I’m after as much clarity and sound quality as I can as it’ll be a clean signal in the main.

Amp sims are awfully good these days. I've heard some great tones with amp sims. And, I still think your original post video sounded great. I think you're not going to do much better than going direct and using S-gear.

I wonder what Barry Green is using on that video you posted. Maybe your tone has a bit more tube drive sound and maybe a bit more bass in the eq. First thing I'd experiment with is using the ReaEq in Reaper (did you write that you use Reaper?), or some other EQ plugin, select the high pass eq and sweep it down to take out some bass on the lower notes. Use your ears as you go.

Another thing to experiment with is predelay on your Reverb, 80msec, 100 msec, experiment with your ears. This might get some more clarity that you described you are after.

I'm going to check out the S-gear amps now.

[jazzdod]

Thanks fep. Great help on here. Barry Green states on the video below that that he uses a UAD Apollo Twin and plugins. He describes his setup in some detail and worth watching. He’s a great player. I just don’t know how he achieves such an acoustic quality to his sound. He states that he now just uses a UA Dream 65 Reverb into the Apollo (which I assume is the set up on the video I posted of his.
I use a Peerless Virtuoso with a floating pickup and a decent old Epi Emperor but can’t get that clarity with either.
Nobody has stated that they have upgraded interfaces and noticed a great difference so I’ll probably stick with the Scarlett for now.

[jazzdod]

In addition I use Logic Pro. Im grateful for the eq advice re the high pass etc. I do have decent monitor speakers and decent KRK headphones. I find plugins good for anything not too clean with the Scarlett but again it’s that clarity I struggle with. I recorded the following with the Scarlett and Sgear too:

[Ukena]

Think I’m starting to get better results with a lower input looking at between -12 and -18 db as you good folks suggested. I’ve still tried a combination of ways to record using a Blig Amp1 with Bluebox and plugins from SGear and Logic. Also DI in and still have this lack of clarity. I’m still suspecting the budget interface is the common denominator and for some reason I am now considering an Apogee Duet.
im not really into GAS but really would like a good sound.
Those who mic their amps what mic are you using?

I have used the Apogee Duet since they were introduced. I had the first and second iterations, and currently use the most recent, the Duet 3. It is an excellent piece of kit, and compares well with any other small interface. It should, as it is pretty pricey.

I go straight into the Duet from the guitar, no mics (or amp) needed. There is quite a bit of tone tweaking that can be be done digitally, and since once into the Duet (or any other computer interface) it's all digital anyway, I don't find any use for a mic.

[Runepune]

You obviously set your input to high impedance (Inst)?

Do not blame the interface. I'd rather blame the plugin/settings, strings, pickups or cable...if you don't get "clarity".

Have you tried a short cable from your guitar? Or a cable with low total capacitance? That will shift the resonant peak upwards, and leave you with more top end.

For some real acoustic quality to the sound, mic your archtop too.

[bloos66]

[QUOTE=jazzdod;133199 I recorded the following with the Scarlett and Sgear too: ...[/QUOTE]

Hi jazzdod,
nice playing, sound great. I am curious about your S-Gear settings, would you be able to post a screenshot of the S-Gear screen? for a cleanish tone, I use the following settings (as I mentioned previously, I like to use the Boost with very little gain, gives the tone some shimmer and body)...

[fep]

I watched and listened to the Barry Greene video in post#31. I tried to emulate that with s-gear and adjusted from there.

I started with the Jazz Deluxe default setting. I changed the mic on cab2 to a Dyn 57. I moved both mics to the as near as center as possible. I changed to Vintage Spring on the reverb and played around with decay and mix, added a bit more pre-delay.

But the thing that made the biggest difference to my ear in trying to get a more acoustic jazz hollowbody Barry Greene type tone was to back off the volume and treble pots on the guitar to around 7 or 8 on a 10 scale.

[Donnd]

Lots of great posts here. One thing I would add is once you are ready to record the final takes, record those at 24bit/96,000hz to get the maximum amount of headroom. Later in the mixing process you will have to dither (love that word) back to a lower sampling rate.

since you are probably recording in mono, make sure to copy the track, then paste a copy to make a stereo pair with some panning. Cool little trick - take one track and add a very tiny amount of delay to get more air, or cabinet effect. Done correctly, you get a fat sound that requires just a little reverb.

[jazzdod]

Some great answers here. Thanks again all. I’ll look to work on these ideas at the weekend and also check on my own SGear amp settings.

[jazzdod]

Hi all.
Just to finalise this post and thank everyone for their advice.
Sound and tone is subjective but as a guitarist seeking the best tone I can while maintaining a budget I ended up purchasing a B-Stock Apogee Duet 3 for £399 which came with the dock but not the cable that suits my needs.
I can honestly say that the difference between that and my previous Scarlett 3 is night and day as some mentioned it would be. I am pleased I made the decision.
Thanks again all.