I'm sure this has been covered before, but how do you record guitar tracks that in stereo that can be panned right or left? Do I need a stereo cable to go. Or is there an I/O setting I need to tweak?

The best answer to this question is do not record guitar tracks in stereo. There are many reasons why and the basis of your question is one of them. You want to record guitar tracks in mono and a staple of most modern recording is to double, triple and even more the part on other tracks. (meaning record other takes, not just copy and paste) Be sure to mix up the tones a bit to give it further depth. There is much debate over this, why I don't know, but any producer, recording engineer and even most home studio owners would agree with what I have said. I think....we will see, I suppose. mark

Doubling aside, recording in stereo more or less fixes the stereo image including spacing delays between microphones and reflections/echoes of the recording space. For a realistic live recording, that may be what you want. Panning that stereo recording in the box later can create a confusing sonic geography, as the listener's brain tries to reconcile the subtle delays and echoes with the new "location" you have chosen for it.

but how do you record guitar tracks that in stereo that can be panned right or left

Guitar is a mono instrument, just like vocals. So you may want to re-think why you want a stereo guitar track, as you can pan a mono track left
and right and guitar is a mono.
 
You plug into a mono input and that means you record in mono, unless your using some sort of hardware processors that turn it into a stereo sound with the addition of effects, but these give you options to keep it in mono also.. I would still keep it in mono, as that is what guitars are naturally.
 
 
Just saying,
CJ
 

ry1633


  I'm sure this has been covered before, but how do you record guitar tracks that in stereo that can be panned right or left? Do I need a stereo cable to go. Or is there an I/O setting I need to tweak?

you would certinaly have to cable the two mics/preamp and converter channels, and configure your track inputs of course. Then there's choice of dual mono, or a single stereo track.
If you go single stereo' then check out the Channel Tools plug, allows full control of placement, and several other tricks for pan, alignment (delay).. and one of my faves Mid and Side' gains
Prior to the Tools' plug I'd tend to favor dual mono tracks specifically for the independency of L/R gains and panning. The pros/cons are pretty much a 'it depends toss-up now.

It does sound cool when you get that "Boston" type of stereo sound.  I think what they're saying is that you can get it without initially recording in stereo.  You can record in mono and then do cool things to that one track with the software.  Just my opinion.

Duke

CJaysMusic

but how do you record guitar tracks that in stereo that can be panned right or left

Guitar is a mono instrument, just like vocals. So you may want to re-think why you want a stereo guitar track, as you can pan a mono track left
and right and guitar is a mono.
 
You plug into a mono input and that means you record in mono, unless your using some sort of hardware processors that turn it into a stereo sound with the addition of effects, but these give you options to keep it in mono also.. I would still keep it in mono, as that is what guitars are naturally.
 
 
Just saying,
CJ
 

+1 on CJ's advice.  Though I found a pretty nice free doubling plugin:http://www.kvraudio.com/product/adt_by_vacuumsound that works pretty nice for guitar tracks as well as vocals.

+1
If you need to pan left or right, then you need to record mono tracks. If you record a stereo track, panning will just adjust the balance between what was recorded on the left and right sides of the track. By recording mono tracks and placing them across the stereo field, when you export the final mix to an audio file, you will get the true stereo effect. 

Sorry - I am not an audio guy - just a keyboard player with some computer background.

For keyboards, there are different panning effects built into many sounds.  Don't I want to set up a left and right track for those?

An example would be the rotating sound of the organ intro to Won't Get Fooled Again.

I am all for anyone explaining this to me, and thanks.

Bob Bone

Yes Bob, but the OP was specifically talking about recording Guitar - not keyboards.