Recording at home? Here are five spectacular pieces of gear that will up your studio game

Home recording has been gaining steam for years – if not decades – as an alternative to pricey, time-consuming, and sometimes just downright unattainable studio time. And let’s face it: the events of the past year-and-a-half have only made the idea of moving the creative and recording process into the comfy confines of your own home even more desirable, if not wholly necessary.

Thankfully, as the concept of home recording has evolved, so has the gear to facilitate it. These days, there’s a seemingly endless array of instruments, equipment and software on offer to help you create and record studio-quality music without leaving your bedroom.

But with all the products that are out there, where to begin? Guitar World has focused in on five pieces of gear that will not only help you create top-notch recordings, but also provide the wide range of flexibility and seemingly endless tonal options that, traditionally, were the sole province of fully-stocked, uber-expensive studio facilities.

To get started on your home recording journey, read on. 

Positive Grid Spark

Few pieces of gear have made as big a splash in the past few years as Positive Grid’s Spark, and with good reason. The 40-watt intelligent amplifier comes loaded with amp models and effects, and allows users to access more than 10,000 additional amp-and-effect presets via the online ToneCloud, Positive Grid’s worldwide social network of players, engineers and producers.

Which means that, if you’re recording at home, this one amp has you pretty much covered as far as accessing virtually any tone you might desire.

And that’s only the beginning of what Spark can do. There’s also proprietary features like Smart Jam, which will generate a custom backing track – with authentic bass and drum sounds – and then stream it from your mobile device to the amp so you can play along, as well as Auto Chord, which lets you stream a song to the amp and then transposes the chords for easy, almost instantaneous, learning and jamming. 

Want to just plug in and crank it up? Spark's control panel is exceedingly simple to operate: A rotary dial allows you to select from seven amp types – Metal, Hi-Gain, Crunch, Glassy, Clean, Bass, and Acoustic – and there are knobs for gain and master volume, a 3-band EQ, modulation, delay, reverb and output. A smaller knob on the top controls the volume of external audio, and there is a tap tempo feature for the delay and a tuner.

If that’s not enough, Positive Grid just dropped a surprise firmware update, with three new amp models and three freshly-voiced pedals, including the ultra-high-gain Insane 6508 (based on the Peavey 6505) and the Clone Drive (recalling the legendary Klon Centaur overdrive).

And, oh, yeah – the feature-packed amp fits right on your desktop. What more could you ask for in an all-in-one tone box? The Spark truly is the amp to rule them all.

Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster

Similar to Spark, if you’re looking for one guitar that can cover essentially all your stylistic needs you’d be well-served by Fender’s Acoustasonic, which utilizes the revolutionary Fender and Fishman-designed Acoustic Engine – a mix of analog and digital tech – to deliver ten different body style and tone wood combinations at the twist of a knob.

That’s only the beginning of the innovations. The patent-pending Stringed Instrument Resonance System (SIRS), which uses a “waterfall” design to control the flow of air into the body, creates a naturally loud voice and lively harmonics – giving you bold acoustic tone in a thin body. A trio of pickups, meanwhile, covers a wide spectrum of electric and acoustic tones.

And while the Acoustasonic was first introduced in Tele form (followed soon after by a Strat), why not go for the new, super-slick Jazzmaster iteration? The fresh model includes four fresh settings and a Tim Shaw-designed humbucker for accessing some raucous, high-intensity electric sounds. And it’s all wrapped up in classic Fender looks and style.

IK Multimedia Axe I/O Solo

Perhaps you’re more in the market for great DI sounds? Then perhaps try out IK Multimedia’s Axe I/O Solo, a two input/three output USB audio interface with IK's PURE microphone preamp, an instrument input with proprietary tone-shaping options and 24-bit, 192 kHz converters with a wide dynamic range.

There’s also an active/passive pickup selector for guitar inputs, PURE and JFET input stages and IK’s Z-Tone impedance-adapting circuit.

Furthermore, you can connect amplifiers and effects pedals via the Amp output and then send them back into the DAW, and there’s XLR combo inputs for recording with microphones.

The compact unit also features two dedicated inputs for controller pedals and switches and MIDI In/Out, and comes bundled with AmpliTube 4 Deluxe as well as a suite of T-RackS mixing & mastering plug-ins and Ableton Live 10 Lite recording software. If you’re going to go with one audio interface, IK is a-ok.

TASCAM Model 12

It’s always helpful to have a good mixer on hand, and recently we’ve been impressed by TASCAM’s new Model 12, a compact, all-in-one integrated mixer designed, in TASCAM’s words, specifically for music and multimedia creators, songwriters and performers. The unit includes a multi-track recorder, USB audio/MIDI interface, DAW control functions and unique podcasting capability including mix-minus and smartphone inputs.

There’s also TASCAM's Ultra HDDA (High Definition Discrete Architecture) mic preamps, Hi-Z line level inputs on all channels for direct instrument input and a click output with tap tempo.

Additionally, a VAMP Playback function gives a seamless loop playback between two selected points in a song, and MIDI in/out connectors allow connection with a wide range of keyboards, drum machines, controllers and other sources.

To be sure, the Model 12 is a thoroughly modern beast, but – and here’s the coolest part – with the retro looks of a classic Tascam Portastudio. So you get old-school, hands-on control (peep those faders, for starters) with fully contemporary features and fidelity. The Model 12 will take you back to the future, for sure.

Positive Grid BIAS FX 2

Yes, we know we already have Positive Grid’s Spark on this list, but if you’d prefer PG’s incredible design capabilities in software form, check out the BIAS FX 2, which the company says will turn your computer into an all-in-one guitar effects powerhouse – and indeed it will.

BIAS FX is an intuitive, fully customizable virtual electric guitar, bass or acoustic guitar rig for Mac and PC, and also works as a standalone guitar effects processing app. Its stockpile of guitar effects and foot pedals can be expanded by downloading thousands of shared, custom pedals from ToneCloud, and you can even create totally new and unique pedalboards and sounds.

FX 2 expands on the original BIAS FX with an extensive collection of all-new and revamped amps, pedals and HD racks. There’s also fresh Fuzz, Time and Harmonizer modelers, as well as a looper and recorder that allow new performance capabilities. And it’s all wrapped up in a newly-designed – and even easier to use – interface.

But the ultimate game-changer is the Guitar Match feature, which can transform any one of your favorite guitars into a Strat, Tele, Gretsch, ES-335, Charvel and much more. Merely choose a favorite guitar, match its body style and pickup configuration, analyze notes at different pickup settings and fret positions, and you’re good to go. No special pickups or processors are required. It opens up an entirely new world of expressiveness, versatility and convenience, all from the comfort of your bedroom, if you so desire.