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Various Ways To Interface Your Instrument To Your Computer

If you’re like me, you are obsessed with home recording. I’ve spent a lot of time and money figuring out the best way to connect my microphones and guitars to my computer over the years. Here are the routes I chose and what worked best.

Platform

From the beginning I decided to go with the Mac platform, just because I had played with their iLife included software “GarageBand” and was somewhat satisfied with its recording capabilities. I don’t think it has everything, but I got a Powerbook G4 in 2003 and now own a MacBook Pro.

Straight Line-In w/ Radio Shack Adapter

The first thing I tried was to use the built-in line-in on my Mac, which is a 1/8 inch female stereo port. So, I got a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter from Radio Shack. This was the worst way to interface my guitar to my computer. The part from Radio Shack didn’t fit my instrument cable just right, it caused undue wear on my Mac’s port, and the sound was super tinny.

iMic

The iMic is basically the same as the Radio Shack adapter, only its got a short cable on it and it fit my instrument cable better. I still got a pretty tinny sound.

M-Audio Fastrack USB Audio Interface

I had my first fruits of success with this $99 audio interface. Essentially it takes your guitar’s or microphone’s analog signal and turns it into a digital one. It sends the digital data via USB to your recording software, and voila!

This solution was my first experience of semi-professional sounding recordings, paired with some GarageBand post-production mixing and effects. There was still a problem with buzzing and feedback, however.

I also borrowed a friend’s mixer which would allow me to do some mixing, and balancing, and pretty soon I was making stereo recordings. It sounded pretty good, but the interference increased. I had too many connections and cables and opportunities for signal loss and corruption.

Alesis 8-Channel USB Mixer

This is the solution that has worked best for me for a small home-grown budget while getting virtual recording studio quality. This mixer was around $200, but acts as both a regular analog mixer, and a USB interface (both parts of which can be used independently of the other). This mixer/USB interface removes some of the seams of the rig, allowing for purer sounding, higher quality recordings. The mixer also features 100 different pre-amp effects.

So, essentially, the signal goes from my guitar, through a cable to my USB mixer, through the USB cable straight to my computer. There are very few analog connections involved.

Behringer iAXE 393

There is one more option that has even less analog connections. The Behringer iAXE 393 has a USB port right on it, allowing you to plug it straight into your computer digitally. This is quite an incredible idea, allowing seamless digital recording. Hopefully more guitar companies will jump in and add their own USB versions of their guitars.

I tested the iAXE, and I must say that although the action was a little high, the guitar sounded great, pumping data straight into Garageband.

Guitar learning software computer interface guitar lesson

IK Multimedia StealthPedal USB-Powered Guitar Audio Interface/Software Controlle $199.99

NWT GUITAR TO USB INTERFACE LINK CABLE RECORDING BLACK $0.01

NWT GUITAR TO USB INTERFACE LINK CABLE RECORDING BLACK $0.01

Guitar to USB Interface Cable Link PC Laptop Recording $15.99

DigiTech iStomp Guitar Multi FX pedal w/ iPhone Interface PROAUDIOSTAR – $118.00

Peavey AmpKit Link Electric Guitar Interface for iPhone $38.58

USB Guitar PC MAC Interface Link Audio Black Cable Recording $13.58

New Guitar to USB Interface Link Cable for PC / Mac Recording $1.04

Guitar to USB Interface Cable Link PC Laptop Recording $14.99

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Zoom Dave Mustaine Signature G2.1DM Guitar Multi Effects Pedal/USB Interface $249.00

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Zoom G5 Guitar Multi-Effects & Amp Modeling Simulator Pedal & USB Interface $299.00

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Alone in the Field $11.38 Diversity and freeness of thought clearly resonates on Multi-Panel’s debut for Unschooled Records, Alone in the Field. Like Four Tet, Multi-Panel is primarily concerned with making music that is structured, crisp, and melodic, yet with a distinct subtlety and intelligence all his own. Though his work is often branded as `laptop folk’, that simplicity is almost misleading: an ocean is not a big lak…

Apogee JAM Studio Quality Guitar Input for iPad, iPhone and Mac $97.00 JAM brings the legendary sound quality of Apogee to iPadTM, iPhone® and Mac. Now guitarists can have a pocket-sized, plug in and play interface at an unprecedented price and experience ultimate tone with the guitar amps and effects in Apple’s GarageBand software or other compatible applications. Pristine digital sound for ultimate guitar tone JAM is a premium digital converter featuring PureDIGIT…

TASCAM DP-008 8-Track Digital Portastudio $449.99 There’s nothing more important to any serious songwriter than being able to get down ideas before they fade away. That’s why you should always keep a battery-powered recorder close at hand. But not just any recorder will due. First and foremost, you need a recorder that’s easy to use – after all, nothing squashes creativity like having to fumble around with your gear. That’s just one of the great …

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Blue Microphones Icicle XLR to USB Mic Converter/Mic Preamp $59.00 Why should you bother with a bulky interface, when all you want to do is plug a single microphone into your computer? With a Blue Icicle in your arsenal, you can turn any microphone into a totally streamlined, USB-ready recording device. Instead of lugging around some fancy rack and a bunch of outboard gear, just toss an Icicle and a mic in your laptop bag, and take your studio straight to the sou…

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