Tracking guitars with Boss Katana outputs: Best option for recording guitar at home
Вставка
- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Need some help finding your way around the fretboard?
Then please check out my FREE CAGED System taster course here!
www.markfeagui...
or follow me on Instagram:
/ markfguitar
Hey!
Thanks for checking out this video - a slightly different video to usual - in this one I wanted to show how the popular little Boss Katana outputs have a couple of options for you, when you record a guitar into your recording software (or DAW).
I since discovered, after uploading that this video was left channel only, as I was testing some new screen software and the set-up, so apologies for that! :-/
I used the Line Out and the Rec Out to compare whether there was any tonal difference and I also mic'd up with a Shure SM58 to compare that too!
Hope you enjoy and please leave some feedback! Cheers for now, Mark
Thanks and all the best!
Mark
It would be interesting to hear those samples against the USB recorded tone just to compare. Good video, thanks.
My left ear thorougly enjoyed this
Good... now turn round and face the other way and give your right ear a treat lol! (I need the royalties 😉) happy new year!
@@MarkFeaGuitar Thanks for the help dude, happy new year as well!
Why oan it left for a demo?
Same💀
You can use the Katana USB to record directly, just select the Katana Driver as your main audio interface in your DAW.
I regularly use this method, the only downside is that in my setup, the audio out from the DAW is routed back to the Katana.
I'm using Tracktion T7 DAW which only allows one audio interface driver to be connected for both input and output, but I'm sure I've seen other DAWs allow the use of different audio interfaces on input and output.
Hope this helps.
Kevin Birch ah, that's cool... maybe that'll help our friend. I tried this exact method but both my DAWs kept telling me that the Katana was not an audio interface. I also tried selecting the input from the Katana and output to the Katana, which failed and then output to my desk... Mixbus just closed itself lol and Cubase refused to work .... these systems can be so temperamental!!
Hi, I use Reaper as my DAW and tried using USB as you described and yes, you have to choose Katana for both input and output. You say you regularly use this method? You must use it only when recording the very first track for all prior tracks will route back to the Katana causing the output of all previous tracks to record onto the new track along with your new guitar track. At least this is happening to me so it's useless except for first track or am I doing something wrong?
Jared, I've never recorded any previously recorded tracks (being monitored) by this method, guitar for me is generally one of the later or even last things that get recorded.
Are you monitoring the playback through the Katana's speaker? - Just a thought as I've only ever used headphones plugged into the Katana during this process.
I have to set the DAW to pass-through (live-monitor) the input recording signal so I can hear the guitar being recorded plus the previously recorded material playing back from the DAW in the headphones.
I don't know if the headphones make any difference or not, since I've never tried doing it without them.
It certainly works for me using Tracktion, I can't really help/comment on if, or how, it works in any other DAW, as Tracktion is the only one I use.
Thanks for this, trying to get over some technical hurdles for recording and this helps
Good stuff!
Just the video I needed. Thanks for sharing.
Backspin66 thanks! Glad it helped
Sm57 &/or a condenser mic in front of the amp. All I need.
Good combination! DI's really useful for when you have neighbours or kids asleep though!
exactly what I needed to know. Thank you!
Gary Brimer cheers dude, sorry the quality of audio wasn't better.. trying to figure out how my screen capture software worked with my mixing desk!
My right ear feels incredibly lonely
Nawhhh... turn round and face the other way lol (sorry! 😉😫 )
😎
I thought it was crap that when I wanted to use both a mic and direct recording output at same time that it cuts my speaker sound. I'll have to try the line out option. Thanks f video!
I've just modded my Katana 50 MkI to defeat this. Just a little jumper wire across the two terminals on the pcb that the inserted jack normally breaks continuity for. Now my speaker stays live when headphones are inserted but can be silenced by switching to standby.
My biggest issue is that I have not managed to achieve a good cab sound in my phones despite fooling around with the the Tone Studio's emulation settings. To me it sounds like a guitar plugged direct into the hifi; all toppy and brittle. OD was just plain nasty annd unrecordable. I did wonder if the cab and mic sim settings only worked for line out since that is how they are labelled in Tone Studio but Boss's own website says it should work or REC OUT/PHONES too. So I am baffled.
Great job. Thank you. I got exactly what I needed. Much appreciated for your efforts an sharing.
My pleasure buddy!
You missed the USB recording.....Nice video anyway, thanks mate ;)...And there is a trick to use your own IRs, and turn off spk simulation....Turn the stereo expander ON .....Saw this trick the other day, and apparently works
Yeah, I just couldn't get my desk / interface to work with the usb and tbh, I never record like that unless I use a dedicated box like a Line6 podfarm thingy. Plus, I'm sure since creating this video, there must have been loads of others who've sussed this out better than me now lol. Thanks for watching though! Cheers bud
When doing audio analysis like this next time you should try doing (per this example) a match eq to the line out and record out to look at the differences.
Ah, you mean like an analyser to see how they compare on an EQ graph.... yeah, never thought of that. To be fair though it was just a raw test to see if any audible difference. Normally in a track, depending on whether clean or distorted, I'd normally EQ my guitars quite heavily anyway - what about yourself?
@@MarkFeaGuitar Yeah your audio test was great but there was no audible difference I could detect between the line and record out. That's where the match eq would be good for, the subtlety that doesn't come across on YT. But to your question - I normally try and do as little EQ in the box as possible, get the sound right first then track it. That it my prevailing philosophy as of now but there's no right or wrong in all this..
Thank you for the information and comparison. Thanks!
You got a new like ; D
Hey! Thank you for watching and subbing!
Hey man, sorry if i've missed something, but are you recording straight from the amp into an audio interface?
Hey, yes, the line out from the amp is going straight into the interface via jack. There are 2 outs on this version of the Katana and tbh, they're pretty much indistinguishable - especially once you have other instruments in a track. Hope that helps bud!
Hi i don’t know if u could help me i’ve been trying to record with this phone out feature using my interface but when monitoring the audio through monitors the audio starts crashing even when i set input all way down :( and when i turn on effects from my pedalboard it gets worst
It sounds like a latency problem. If you are mixing, set your latency in the preferences of your interface software to higher setting than when recording. If the computer you are using is not a high spec, the CPU will struggle to process things in what feels like real time. That help?
@@MarkFeaGuitar hey thanks for your answer i will try with your advice i am not really sure if is because of latency because when i play it is of 36 ms / 1608 samples or i dont know if could be because of parameters settings on my interface which is an audiobox 96
hi
im new to gutar recording
i have a boss katana and reaper daw
after recording in mono and render to stereo mp3
everything sounds quiet, flat and warm
any idea what im doing wrong?
thanks
Hey! So, it sounds like for one, you need to up the overall output volume, so it's not quiet. You can do that with compression which will also add some punch, as well as EQ certain frequencies.... You don't say what else is on the finished track - guitars, bass etc? But in any case, there are a ton of things you can do and I'm afraid there's no quick answer as there are so many variables as well as the ultimate one; what you actually want it to sound like . Every mixer / Producer has a different angle and things they like, so there's no absolute rules...
If I can help further or you want me to do a tutorial idea, just let me know!
Could you share your experience about the volume of the signal when recording? Apparently you get really low signal when using LINE OUT, which could be a downside for clean tones and missing the opportunity to use the speaker as a monitor. REC OUT tough seems to have higher volume but then you have to use headphones. Tks for the video
Hey, thanks for the comment. Unfortunately I can't really shed any more light on the recording aspects as I usually record through an Allen and Heath desk, so have a completely different set-up. I did this a curiosity really to see what the signal differences were between the amps built in options...
@@MarkFeaGuitar no worries. Tks for replying! ✌
Really helpful video Mark. For Recording ideas / playing to Backing Tracks at home l use my old Pod 2.0 plugged into my UX2 then into Reaper with both guitar & backing track ( when used ) heard through my , yep , Bose Hi Fi speakers powered via an arcam power amp. For such purposes it sounds fine . ditched my actual amps recently and am in 2 minds as to whether go get a Headrush / Helix or equivalent with prsumably better modelling that l can take anywhere effortlessly however l would still be without a "real amp" which is where the Katana might come in.
Is there a method that l can essentially substitute the Pod with the Katana and hear the tones from the amp coming through the HI Speakers along with say a backing track ? I assume when linked to the UX2 , the Katana speaker will itself disengage ?
Hi Robin, the Katana has USB connection to a computer, so you can use it as an interface and won't need to plug the amp into the UX2, although you can as well.
There are a lot of output options here, direct to UX2, simultaneous output to hear the speaker on the amp, the interface being the Katana and use the Boss Tone Studio which is part of the Katana package...let me know if you need anything clarified or check out my recent videos about the tone studio software. Cheers for now!
Mark Fea Guitar
Thanks Mark,
Will do. My thinking with the UX2 was as now, it would let me monitor / control the Output into Reaper however good to hear the flexibility which the Katana offers particularly when used with Tone Studio.
Keep up the good work
Hi.
Is it possible to use the two outputs to record guitar output twice? So one would be the katana sound and one would be the dry signal. I have a komplete audio interface
Yes there are 4 different outputs I think you can set in the tone studio program
Very good informative video
Just curious - when using the line out and rec out, what did you plug into? I'm thinking of recording with a Boss Katana Artist via my Alesis iO4 so I'm assuming that plugging into the guitar/line input of the Alesis would be the way to go. However there's also a mic-line/guitar switch. Sorry for the stupid questions but I'm a bit thick with this stuff ;)
Further to my previous waffling - perhaps just going straight in with the USB out would be easier.
Ruiseart Alcorn Hi there. .. there's a few ways you could try I guess... if you go the mic / line route first, just try that and see what the signal is like. The line level input is designed to receive the signal from the rec out of the Katana really, because it's what they call a "line-level" signal which basically means they are balanced to work together. The guitar input really is for the guitar signal. As regards the USB, I'm not sure that would work in this case as the USB is really designed for the software to operate the presets with the various effects options... I don't know that the Alesis would see the Katana as an input option... Personally I would stick with the line input option in the Alesis. In my Litle test here, there was very little difference between the line out and headphones out of the Katana either... hope that helps!
Thanks heaps for this. I'm assuming then that the "guitar" switch on my Alesis iO4 would probably be for plugging a guitar straight in. In the past I recorded my guitar by plugging into an old POD 2.0 and then from that into the "guitar/line" input and setting the "mic/line-guitar" switch to guitar. It seemed to work (although maybe I should have sent the switch to "mic/line". Anyway, with the Katana I'll try it as you suggest - rec out into line. Again, many thanks :)
Ruiseart Alcorn you're welcome! Let me know how you get on! I hope you manage to get the tone you're after onto the recording! Cheers
@@MarkFeaGuitar Hi Mark, you can hook the Katana up to your computer and choose it as the audio interface. Then record via usb. Boss has a video on it ;o)
I see that Harrison Mixbus behind you.
Haha, yeah, love that software! Well spotted 😉
nice video thanks! i have another problem though, when i try to record multiple tracks with using the USB output, i want to listen to the other tracks so that i can play along with it but i doesn't work. do you have any suggestions or information about this?
It's probably time to invest in a small / cheap little usb interface. Something like a Line6 UX model. Probably quite inexpensive and easy to get hold of on ebay. I think the Katana as an interface has limitations routing the signal for input amd monitoring at the same time; your basically asking the amp to create the tone your playing and process and replay through its speaker, the whole output of your recording.
Hi great video is there any settings to adjust in tone studio before recording from the recording out socket? and is it better to use a 1/4 TRS jack plug to reduce any interference. Thank you for doing the comparisons
Hi, thanks for the comment! Tone Studio only affects what is then stored in the amp, so if you've set a tone up you like, then the output will play whatever that setting is.
Having said that, it makes sense to go into your settings and just try a few parameters to see what differences they make - maybe the output speaker sim etc.
You can only use normal Jack socket from the outputs anyway, so just plug it in and try, record some stuff and see how it sounds!
Don't forget you can always EQ later to sculpt the tone a little. Let me know how it goes or if you need any other info. Always happy to try and help! Cheers , Mark
MFGuitarStuff hi Thank you on the 100 you have blend and vintage etc I have set it on blend and record, I should be able to after if needed drop it too wall of sound for any enhancement thank you again for your valued support
@@rockwriter9054 that's cool, so try a few variations and see which one records best for the feel and sound you're after within the track! I can't remember now but I think I have mine on blend too. Cheers!
MFGuitarStuff hi thanks so much .i have found mixing the boss with my peace valve classic does the magic , wet /dry the boss is a gem for that, great talking with you ,keep up the great demos, they are so valuable to many cheers Stevie
Thanks
What cables should i use for recording with REC OUT? Should i use stereo cable to connect katana and scarlett?
Hi, I'm pretty sure the rec out is mono, and to be honest mono is how most parts are recorded unless it's actually a stereo signal you need because of effects / panning, like as in a synth example. Most guitar effects are done in the mix so they blend with and sit better in the track, unless like I said it's a specific effect you're looking to create when printing to the track. Do have a look at the owners manual though to double check that stereo is possible!
Thx :)
You need to adjust your pan knobs I can only hear you on the left side Try recording on two channels and pan one to the right and the other to the left
Yeah it was a new recording screen capture software which didn't like the routing through my desk.... an anomaly
Definitely need to use line out I believe, if you want quality. USB output doesn't even work with Pro Tools, it simply doesn't recognise it
My software (Mixbus) didn't like the USB either lol
But does usb have work worse quality?
You might have chosen a clearer riff to be able to distinguish the little nuances. A ball of crunch mush doesn't change much through different mediums. IMHO...
Lol, I will probably do another video for this as had a few comments about making it clearer... out of interest, what would you want to see - completely different tones and the effects explained?
+MFGuitarStuff I have my Katana 50 connected to my mac with a USB. How do I get Pro Tools First (the free version) or GarageBand to recognize Tone Studio as a plugin? How do I record with my Katana 50 using either Pro Tools or Garageband? I really want to record like you do but I can't figure it out. I'd really appreciate the help
Anthony Sclafani Hi Anthony, do you not have an interface then, to put your signal into your Mac?
Anthony Sclafani Anyway, I'm not sure that Tone Studio is visible as a plug-in as such or a VST... I'll have a play on my system and see. One way might be to get the computer to see the usb device (amp) as the soundcard so it gets the signal direct through the usb. You would have to go into preferences in your DAW and select the sound input route like you would if it was a Focusrite interface or whatever and then it might be able to select the input source as that onto the individual track... that's pretty much how all the line6 boxes work. I'll check out what mine does using that set up later as well... HTH!
If you could figure it out that’d be super helpful thank you! You obv are pretty good at this stuff
MFGuitarStuff I’m just using the USB out to connect to my MacBook
Hi Anthony, I finally had a chance to check the USB connection and whether it would work as an interface. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to want to work that way - I tried it in MIxbus 32C and also in Cubase Pro9. I think the issue is that the whole Katana system is an app and therefore the protocols that allow this gear to "talk" to each other are not there. It would seem the same is true for its use as a "plug-in", in that it isn't a VST as such - it's an app for the amp... So...
What you really need is a very cheap and simple interface option - you could try the iRig or even something like the Podfarm UX1 or GX. If you want to invest $100 or less I would seriously consider and highly recommend the Focusrite Scarlet Studio. Several of my students have these and they are great! I also have the Scarlet 6i6. With one of these connected via USB, you'll then have the REC output option of the Katana.
Hope that helps you out a bit buddy! Cheers for now, Mark
this was allright...no, actually, it was all left
🤣🤣
You should have tuned the guitar first....just sayin'. Sill very informative!
yeah maybe it's out a smidge... Les Pauls... lol - also, did this play in mono for you? I just played it back in my studio and it was left channel only :-/
Yes....left channel only. I'm sure you'll get it!
Doug Byron haha!! Bloody thing! I was trying a new screen capture software but the audio in came through a Rode vocal mic into my Allen and Heath desk... and course, it's all mono 😴... I'll figure it out lol