Apple Logic Pro /LogicExpress Discussion

This is a really naive question, but in all my years of using Logic,  
I've never recorded a band with guitar players who wanted to plug  
directly into my interface.  But I am now, and have more guitars (4)  
than Hi-Z inputs (2) on my Firepod.  SO here are my questions:

1.  Does MOTUs original 828 MK I  have Hi-Z inputs?  I know the front  
ins on later versions are, but I can't find anything about that  
feature for my unit.

2.  Is there any way to record a guitar through a Lo-Z input short of  
buying a DI box?  Why is it bad?

3. Also, if I do end up using both my 828 and FP-10, is there any  
drawback to creating an aggregate device?  Does that take more  
processing power or reduce quality in any way?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

Gregory

> 
> 2. Is there any way to record a guitar through a Lo-Z input short of
> buying a DI box? Why is it bad?
> 
>

Absolutely do not do this.Impedance mismatch will result in major 
frequency filtering, and your sound will be thin and awful, guaranteed. 
Guitar outputs are high-impedance, and want to see a high-impedance input.

One way around this would be use effect pedals, some of which may have 
relatively lo-Z outputs.  If you have guitar amps with line-level 
outputs, that can work, too.

Skip

Why would these guys request this? Are they trying to mimic something they 
read about another band? Is the idea to get a clean guitar sound, then add 
distortion later?

There are some high end preamps which have instrument DI inputs. (For example 
the API A2D has XLR w or w/o phantom, but also instrument jacks too). 
However, there are DI boxes at all price ranges from really cheap to fairly 
expensive. Avalon has a half rack unit U5 that is really good for bass and instruments 
- I think they are $600 new, but you might get it used for $300 or so. Radial 
has a big selection. But there are DI boxes under $100 too.

Another option is a Pod or something like that. With the Pod rack unit, you 
can record guitar, and have it go straight to the digital inputs of the mac. 
You can also get the guitar in via any of the DI boxes above, and then use the 
pod Gearbox plugin to add the amp simulation and fx later.

API A2d
http://www.apiaudio.com/a2d.html

Avalon U5 :
http://www.avalondesign.com/instrudi.html

Radial DI products :
http://www.radialeng.com/re-products.htm

Pod 
http://line6.com/


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com, GAmoore@... wrote:
>
> Why would these guys request this? Are they trying to mimic something they 
> read about another band? Is the idea to get a clean guitar sound, then add 
> distortion later?

Perhaps the room is not conducive to acoustic recording, or their amps are hissy/hummy,.  I 
could see recording electrics or acoustics in directly, assuming the pickups are good ones.. 
there's a ton of effects which could be imposed (or omitted) later.

One thought is that you don't need to do all of them at once!  There's this thing called 
overdubbing.. if you're short of inputs, do two or even one at a time.

best luck

In a message dated 4/24/08 12:06:58 PM, mkarl2@... writes:
> Perhaps the room is not conducive to acoustic recording, or their amps are 
> hissy/hummy, Perh
> could see recording electrics or acoustics in directly, assuming the pickups 
> are good ones..
> there's a ton of effects which could be imposed (or omitted) later.
> 
> 
For elec guitar, you can close mic the cabinets. if the amps have hum, there 
are ways to handle it - but a guitar is not going to sound the same at all 
through even a clean amp versus a direct input. acoustics are never going to 
sound as good no matter what pickup is used. 



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com, GAmoore@... wrote:

> For elec guitar, you can close mic the cabinets. if the amps have hum, there 
> are ways to handle it - but a guitar is not going to sound the same at all 
> through even a clean amp versus a direct input. acoustics are never going to 
> sound as good no matter what pickup is used. 

We have to assume the original poster had a reason for attempting to use DI's versus micing.  

I try not to tell people the very basis for their question is stupid.

karl