Line 6's BackTrack is here to record all your moments of brilliant greatness

You play guitar, and we know you're very gifted. You haven't been to Juilliard, but it doesn't matter because you're inspired. What you need now is something to capture inspiration, so you can then drag it -- in the form of a WAV -- onto your desktop via USB 2.0. You need BackTrack by Line 6. Just plug your guitar into BackTrack, plug BackTrack into your amp, and start playing. The device begins recording when it detects a signal and it never stops as long as the battery has a charge (up to eight hours). When you let out a truly boss riff -- or a tasty lick -- you don't have to worry about losing that gem. The basic package retails for $139.99, can capture up to 12 hours of audio and comes equipped with 1GB flash memory. BackTrack + Mic comes equipped with 2GB flash memory and an internal microphone, records for up to 24 hours and retails for $209.99. Both models are rechargeable via USB and have the standard 1/4-inch in / out and headphone jacks.

[Via CNET]

[who? @ Sep 17th 2008 10:31PM]

Twang twang twang...

Ok I'm done. Guitar Hero anyone?

[Someone is here @ Sep 17th 2008 10:53PM]

Guitar hero? Rock band 1 and 2. Guitar and the whole band!

[who? @ Sep 17th 2008 11:01PM]

Ok then... Guitar Hero World Tour anyone?

[Roy @ Sep 18th 2008 12:06AM]

play a real guitar! =D its a lot better


ps i also play GH and RB but nothing beats the real thing

[who? @ Sep 18th 2008 8:02AM]

Yeah, you must be real popular at parties... cough.

[Nick @ Sep 17th 2008 10:34PM]

this reads like a guitar center ad.

[Someone is here @ Sep 17th 2008 10:51PM]

First. I love it!
Second. I was first!

[Someone is here @ Sep 17th 2008 10:52PM]

Umm major screw up!
Sorry dudes! Saw 0 comments. Got excited!

[Someone is here @ Sep 17th 2008 10:55PM]

Oh look. I'm disappearing! Everywhere!

[LySiNe @ Sep 17th 2008 10:57PM]

Always record, always record....!

[scott @ Sep 17th 2008 11:00PM]

it looks like a fancy breathalyzer =P

[who? @ Sep 17th 2008 11:02PM]

or similar... ;-)

[John H. @ Sep 17th 2008 11:00PM]

ooooooor, if you can play a really awesome lick, play it again, even better than listening to it

[who? @ Sep 17th 2008 11:04PM]

What if it's so epically awesome that you want to listen while you aren't concentrating on playing at the same time?

[Hotrod @ Sep 18th 2008 12:25AM]

Well, it is very common with guitar players to forget the awesome riff they played, even if its just a few minutes later.

[BoxOfSnoo @ Sep 18th 2008 7:06AM]

@Hotrod: ...which is especially why you need to play it again... so you remember it.

[bolezhinkov @ Sep 17th 2008 11:24PM]

not that cool. buy a USB mixer for the same price, download audacity for free and just record everything that way.

[Jeff @ Sep 17th 2008 11:47PM]

Yeah, because every guitarist is always sitting next to a computer that's constantly running.

[Tomba @ Sep 18th 2008 12:01AM]

O.K. what makes this thing cool is it's a reamper. Does your USB mixer have a HI-Z instrument level output you can plug into an amp...doubt it. Replay the guitar youve just shreded while you figure out what pedals you want to stomp on or where your amp should be set.

Cool tool for writeing. I like it.

[hitjim @ Sep 18th 2008 12:24AM]

There is already a JACK plugin that does this in the Ubuntu package repository... but admittedly, this puts said functionality into a much simpler form factor. Would be good for practice sessions, where you don't want your band members rolling your eyes while you set up a laptop w/recording interface every time. This way is much more discreet.

I'd consider it after v2 comes out and the old one ebays for half the price :D

....that is... if i still played music.

[hitjim @ Sep 18th 2008 12:33AM]

*their eyes

sorry... grammar nazi and bad proofreader makes for a volatile mix

man... if your band members are rolling your eyes... you should think about finding a new band. Unless you're GWAR... then it would make sense.

[ryne @ Sep 18th 2008 1:21AM]

this would be awesome for my brother. He's always telling me about "this riff that was so awesome!" but inevitably he forgets it.

[pbase @ Sep 18th 2008 1:40AM]

The Zoom H4 does all that, has stereo inputs for 1/4 jacks and XLR, phantom power, built in stereo mics, line and phones out, an SD slot, and a nice complement of Zoom's standard amp emulators all in a nice portable little package. It's a bit more expensive, but worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH-cyTvnEaI

[Film_Geek @ Sep 18th 2008 2:38AM]

If only it had an XLR input, I could have had a cheap sound recorder for my films. ::sighs::

[wonkydonkydotnet @ Sep 18th 2008 4:48AM]

At least the Storage + Batteries in the Zooms (H2 or H4) is Removable and Upgradeable.
I think Non in zee Line 6.

God, after watching the vids at Line6; I just thought, "Damn! -How many times could I have used something like the Zoom H2/H4 or Edirol R09!!!!"

[NoAndThen @ Sep 18th 2008 10:13AM]

microtrack 2 is way better, it has xlr inputs, and 48v phantom power so you can run a mobile stereo condenser setup. I love it.

[wonkydonkydotnet @ Sep 18th 2008 7:41PM]

@NoAndThen: Good one. I forgot.
-However: I kinda don't get why the usually-affordable M-Audio is a little spendy in a Field Recorder.
Maybe preamps in the Microtrack probably better than the Zooms?

But no included mics, only 1/4 balanced inst of XLR mic inputs???

Dunno, maybe I'll check Harmony Central. See what they say.

Funny, this BackTrack almost looks par for the course for Line6. =>Flashy Exterior, but otherwise Not well thought-out.

I remember looking at their USB interfaces, like the UX2 and thinking -is this all you get for $199? -I can get a Lexicon Omega that kicks this thing's ass!!

[Itchy Pajamas @ Sep 18th 2008 1:16PM]

I played a truly boss riff one in 1977. Sure wish I'd had this thing!

[Nate DiDonato @ Sep 19th 2008 4:28AM]

zoom h4 FTW

-stereo condensor mics x/y pattern with windscreen
-2 1/4" jacks and XLR (doubles as a USB 2 input interface and USB or line in microphone)
-4 track recorder
-mic simulators with compressor and limiter
-guitar effects
-tuner
-metronome
-records directly in both .wav and .mp3 in various qualities of your liking
-need I go on?

It follows me anywhere when I travel anywhere with a guitar, to record shows, or just in the studio if I don't feel like turning on my computer when I'm just meedly-meedlying around.

Whenever I read about yet-another one of these micro recorders, and it doesn't have any impressive features to top the h4, I yawn. You simply can't beat the functionality and quality for its price.

[Tom @ Sep 19th 2008 7:36PM]

Just because the plug fits doesnt mean its all good.
None of these devices spit out an instrument level that correct for plugining into a guitar amp.
You can do it and it'll work and itl sound awfully distorted and lame because the impedance is very wrong. This thing spits out what a VOX AC-30 wants to see. Zooms dont.

[hotpickups @ Oct 17th 2008 10:57AM]

@TOM
Can you elaborate a little more on your last 3 sentences. I'm new to guitar playing and your comments are interesting but I'm a little lost.