Sounds interesting Ron. I'm no pro with these things but I wonder if you have tried to play and record directly through the computer without the use of external speakers? I wonder if that would be helpful for you....?

Another thought here is... what are you using for mics?

TO elaborate on my previous thought re recording direct w/o external speakers. I think you should be able to drag and drop your track into your DAW [Reaper...?] that'll be track 1. Then create a new track for your guitar... Put your headphones on and listen to the backing track ...

I have a Line6 UX1 with POD Farm software... I can switch my machine to use the UX1 as sound card [no external speakers] or alternatively use my external speakers. In UX1 'mode' I can play my guitar and hear it in the headphones. Then if I set the 'guitar' track to record... the backing track can play [in the headphones], at the same time it is recording the guitar track.

I suspect you maybe trying to record both the backing track and your beautiful PRS at the same time through 1 single channel over 1 single mic... that may be the problem. You may be recording too 'hot' and overwhelming the track with too much volume... maybe!!!

Let me know what you think and if any of what I said makes any sense to you.

Craig [Wobbly Bob] makes some great sounding recording, he may have some better ideas for you to try.

Posted by: matonanjin

The speakers that I have had hooked up to my computer for probably over a decade have been fine.  It has only taken me a year or so but I finally got my Line 6 POD HD 500X hooked up.  And I now play my guitar through my computer and I actually got my DAW to play nicely with it.

But any volume at all and the sound gets really muffled.  Which is curious because I have been known to play my music at pain levels.  But to turn the volume on the amp (POD) up enough to play over a backing track on my Boss it just doesn't sound right.

So what does everybody use for monitors?  What do you recommend?  I don't want to invest a lot because I'm not going to be using this system a lot.  I haven't given up the analog tube Blues, Jr.........................yet.

When you say your pod is hooked up what exactly do you mean? What is interfacing the POD to the computer?  How do you record your session?  What DAW are you using?

Chris and wobbly_bob, I think I misled you.  I know I said that "I actually got my DAW to play nicely with it". That would lead you to believe I am recording with my DAW, which is Reaper.  I'm not.  At least not yet. I just meant that Reaper recognized my POD as a source.  In fact, to test it I actually set up a track for the POD to record but did not go to the step of playing and recording. 

I just want some decent speakers for practicing at this point.  The ones that I have now are just tiny, I mean REALLY tiny, computer speakers.  They just can't handle any load.  If I up the volume at a certain point it does not get any louder, just muffled.

wobbly_bob, I have the pod hooked up to my computer via USB.  I have it (my POD) set up in Windows set up as the playback and record.  I have the speakers hooked into the POD via the headphones jack using a 1/8" TRS to 1/4" TRS adapter.

But should I ever play anything worthy of recording (a highly doubtful supposition) I would record it with Reaper.  At that point I would especially like a decent sound through the speakers.

Thanks to both of you for responding.

Well the good news then is I think that the problem does not appear to be as technical or complex as I initially feared... therefore all my previous comments can be safely ignored! LOL I guess I jumped to several conclusions here! 😉

As for my computer speakers... nothing fancy for me... I think I got mine in Staples!! They were a bit over $100. Sound good to me and plenty loud for my purposes.

Speakers are really important, in my opinion. Why have nice hardware and guitars if the final thing that actually makes the sound (speaker) is no good? Get something decent at least.

Take a look at  https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/best-studio-monitors-500/

I have only heard the KRK Rokit and the Yamaha HS5. I think the Yamaha sound better. In fact, I think I will buy them or the HS8. Fantastic for the money.

If that is too much, consider these. For $200 for a pair, these seem good. Never heard them myself though. 

> https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ErisE4.5--presonus-eris-e4.5-4.5-inch-powered-studio-monitors

My computers go into a Sherwood rx5502 4 channel amplifier 

http://www.sherwood-av.com.au/product/rx-5502-multi-purpose-4-channel-stereo-receiver/

hooked up to 2 DSE 100 watt 8 Ohm impedance speakers.  Can handle anything thrown at it (except the kitchen sink of course)

Thanks Robert.  I had seen that Sweetwater article.  I have heard good things about the KRK Rokit's.  But I have somewhat of an emotional attachment to the JBL's.  Back in my audiophile days I had spent an obscene amount on a couple huge JBL speakers 🙄 .  I'm going to go into a Guitar Center today and listen to a few.  I hate to go to Guitar Center but our two local "mom and pop" guitar stores don't have monitors.

I think we need a Hall Monitor at MGA.  "Hey, do you have a hall pass?"

I listened to the KRK's and they were absolutely awful.  I did like the JBL 305's.  I can get the Presonus cheaper from Sweetwater but I don't want to wait. 

KRK absolutely awful? Wow, never heard that one before. How did you try them? I do prefer the Yamahas in comparison.

Posted by: robert

KRK absolutely awful? Wow, never heard that one before. How did you try them? I do prefer the Yamahas in comparison.

Robert, the KRK's sounded horrible thin and "tinny".  No bass at all.  We tried them by playing mp3's (Clapton and SRV).  All the monitors were lined up and a panel with buttons just let you switch between them.

Try these https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR305MK2--jbl-305p-mkii-5-inch-powered-studio-monitor

Check Ebay out first...........I saved on a couple of purchases including free shipping and no state sales tax..........jim C.

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