Acoustic-electric guitar: is line-in or usb cord better?

I want the best (reasonably priced) way to hook up an acoustic-electric guitar. Is it better to use 1/4" to 1/8" cord and plug into mic port. Or buy USB guitar cord and plug into USB port? Or it better to mic with a (cheap) USB mic?

Most acoustic-electrics have a built-in pre-amp, so the easiest and cheapest way would be to plug it into the line-in port and see if it gives you enough level.
Mind that a "USB guitar chord" is always an analog-to-digital interface - it has a processor, needs a driver etc. For more information:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/FAQPages/PlugInGuitar.html

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How to connect an acoustic electric guitar to macbook pro

whats to best way to use an acoustic electric guitar with garage band without a buying additional gear, macbook pro. thanks

"whats to best way to use an acoustic electric guitar with garage band without a buying additional gear"
I record acoustic/electric guitars & vocals to my MacBook Pro (Logic Pro 9) with exteremly good results........ BUT my advice would be, don't spoil a good job for a little expense!
I use a USB audio interface (see link below) that provides facilities for connecting any sort of audio signal and monitor facilities for overdubbing multitracks etc.
There are many such units available, but I would thoroughly recommend the one below.
Good luck...........happy recording!!
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=970

Acoustic/Electric Guitar and Feedback

I've been trying to get some useable recordings from my Taylor 414CE and I can't get it to work...
I plug straight into my MBPro via a 1/8" plug adapter but get a TON of feedback if I try and monitor off the MBPro's speakers. Is this because it is an acoustic/electric? I can turn the monitor off and record, but the quality still sounds really bad. Any suggestions?
Or do I really need some sort of USB/Midi interface like M-Audio's Fast Track or Black Box? I'm a total recording newbie, so I apologize if this particular horse has already been beaten to death.
Thanks.

plug in some headphones and monitor that way. Acoustic guitars feedback very easily. I think you are probably just too close to the speakers with your guitar. If you really don't like headphones, try facing away from the computer and maybe get a longer instrument cable so you can get a bit further away. You can always chop off the extra bits after you record if you aren't right there to hit stop.

A good channel-strip for acoustic-electric guitar?

I'm trying to record a Martin 00CXAE, going directly from the guitars built in pick-up to an Apogee Duet. Since I'm a song writer and know very little about engineering I usually just rely on the default channel-strips, usually it works out great but I just got this new Martin which sounds amazing through an amp or PA but through logic sounds very tinny and the piezo-y twang is really exaggerated. Does anyone know if there's a place I can download a channel strip engineered for direct recording of this type guitar? Or does someone have some tricks they can share?
Thanks in advance for any responses.

With such a good guitar, you really should think about investing in a good microphone and recording the sound that way.
It's very rare indeed for recording engineers to use the built-in piezo pickup of an acoustic in the studio, unless that close-up treble 'twang' is something you're especially after. THese days there are tons of good quality choices for small or large diaphragm condensers in the sub $500 bracket.
You'll also gain a ton of tonal flexibility just by factoring in mic placement and the room, two things that don't come into play with your piezo.
If you're fine with sticking with the built in pickup sound, then I would avoid using Logic's built in channel strip presets. Most of them, if not all, feature extreme compression and eq settings, IMHO.
Record your guitar, add a channel EQ, and start with a 'high-pass' to filter out rumble below 70 or 80hz, then maybe hunt around for some of the 'boxy' frequencies in the 500-1000 range and dip those a few db. Then what you do with the treble is up to you. Boost some 'air' around 12k, or add a gentle rolloff shelf after 8k to knock down some of the clacky pickup tone.
You also might want to look at some better eq plugs like those from URS, Sonnox, or Waves which can help beef up the sound in pleasant yet subtle ways...
Good luck. And get a mic whether you think you need it or not. It'll come in handy someday.

Fender acoustic electric and line in

i have a fender dg11e acoustic electric guitar with built in pickup. i'm looking to connect this guitar to my macs line in. When i plug straight in i get no sound though. I read some of the other forums and understand a mic may have better sound but i'd still like to get this to work. I checked the guitr and don't see a place to put a battery so i don't think the pickup needs one. do i need a preamp or something else? thanks

If the guitar doesn't have "active pickups" (doesn't take a battery):
http://www.thehangtime.com/gb/gbfaq2.html#pluginguitar
also read:
http://www.thehangtime.com/gb/gbfaq2.html#recordlinein

Is it possible to use a cable with two headphone jacks on either end and an electric guitar adapter to record in Garageband?

Hey everyone,
I got my Macbook Air (Mid 2013 model) last month and I want to record my acoustic-electric guitar on Garageband (which came with the Air).
I don't want to buy a guitar that has a USB. I have a cable with a 3.5 mm headphone jack on both ends like the one pictured here on this website http://www.bestdealaz.com/item.php?id=628 (i didn't buy it from this site though).
I connected a 6.3 mm guitar adapter (http://www.ebay.com/bhp/headphone-guitar-adapter) to this cable. Then I connected one end of the cable to my guitar and the other end to the Headphone/Microphone jack on the left side of the MBA.
I saw how other people were saying to go to System Preferences / Sound and then change audio output to audio input.
I can't do that. I tried.
Please help!
Thank you.

Hello Massimo Pascucci,
The issue that you are facing when creating an endpoint with internal loadbalancer is the limitation of not allowing same ports to be listening under a single cloud service. This reason for this is that there is a limitation of only one private IP (Also
known as the Internal load balanced IP) per cloud service.
There is also a limitation on the Internal load balancer more than one port to be published per load balancer:
You can leave your feedback by following the link below:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/1805c5a0-3906-4cd6-8561-9802d77e0ae5/is-it-possible-to-use-both-an-ilb-and-an-elb-listening-on-the-same-port-in-the-same-azure-cloud?forum=WAVirtualMachinesVirtualNetwork
Refer to this article for more information on Internal load balancer:
http://azure.microsoft.com/blog/2014/05/20/internal-load-balancing/
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Macbook Pro May 2010 Input Line for electric guitar

Hi, i've bought a new macbook a few days ago, it's my first mac and i saw that i can connect my electric guitar to my macbook, but the question is how do i do that? I've seen over the internet possible solutions but what i can't understand is how to configure the "line in" jack on the mac...is it possible to connect the guitar over the USB or Firewire?

It is possible to connect the guitar via USB or FireWire, through any of the USB and FireWire audio interfaces that are offered by third-party manufacturers. That's probably a better option than connecting an analog cable with a mini phone plug directly from the guitar to the audio-in port on the MBP. You'd be able to match the input level to the MBP much more effectively by using an external interface.
I'm not a musician and can't suggest any particular interface.

Recommendations for Electric Guitar to USB interface?

I'm interested in purchasing a guitar-to-USB interface for my MacBook Pro. This Spring '11 model does not have an audio input jack, so a 1/4" to 1/8" converter is not an option. Can anyone recommend a relatively inexpensive interface that works well with the amps offered in GarageBand (v.6.0.4)? Thanks!

isteveus wrote:
Csound1 wrote:
isteveus wrote:
All Macbook Pros have audio input. It probably shares the same jack as the headphone.
Both the gain and the impedance are wrong for an electric guitar pickup, not a good idea.
Why not a good idea. It's cheep, it works and thousands of people do this every day.
Of course a audio interface is the way to go but if you just want to mess around with with garageband or do the guitar lessons there is no problem using the audio input.
Some single coil pickups may not have enough gain to get a good signal.
Read up on Ohms law

Iad Camera Connection Kit (USB) + USB Electric guitar + GarageBand for iPad

Hi,
I wonder if the USB Camera Connection will work with an USB Mic or Electric Guitar and if I'll be able to use this with GarageBand for iPad.
Thanks,
M

Hi I have one that looks exactly like the Behringer but in black and made in china. No trademark. It must be the pirated version which I got for $30-$35 USD in Mexico. I connected it through the CCK to the ipad (1) using the newest OS 4.2 or 4.3 and I was able to tune the guitar. I couldn't hear a thing but the notes appeared. Then I was able to record a track but still no sound. I played it back and it came low. I'm still figuring it out, but it seems that it might work.

Cracking/popping output electric guitar line in/signal overload

I am using a saffire pro 14 interface and have an electric guitar lined into input 3...why do i get a overloaded signal when i play the guitar as well as clicks and pops/muffled sounds coming out while going through the various amp designs?

Because the volume is too high...
somewhere....
the pops and crackles and dullness
could be
from a too low buffer setting
somewhere
or from how you've set up the channels.
Or you can have broken hardware
anywhere
or you have some earinfection perhaps?
But seriously, do you really think the info you provided is even nearly sufficient for anyone to senisibly troubleshoot it? If you do think that, I can tell you that you're wrong.
I don't even know what you mean by overloaded signal and how you've established that it is overloading and not just being crunched up by the Amp designer?
A screenshot of your mixer (with the correct track selected) would already help. And a description of what you already tried would also help. You did try something, did you?
Also, to what is Logics' I/O buffer set? (Logic Pro>Preferences>Audio>Devices>Core Audio) Set it to one level bigger.

Turn an electric guitar into a bass guitar with garage band?

I'm a teenage DAW (is that the right term? A non-commercial person who uses software instead of hardware to record and mix?) and I am currently in the process of making my own cover for a song and writing my own songs. My questions are about an electric guitar (Ibanez Artcore AF75TDG) and amp (Roland Cube 30x). I am using a 17 inch MacBook pro. I also am using a USB M-audio MobilePre audio interface for my recording. I plug my acoustic guitar directly into the audio interface (I'm a bad boy... I need a DI box) and I have an OK mic for the amp I'm using (I would use one of the really BOSS condenser mics my dad bought, but I dont have mic cables in the house). I also have an M-audio "Key Studio" MIDI controller at my disposal. My questions are about the use of GarageBand:
1) How (hypothetically) do I plug my electric guitar into my MacBook Pro to take advantage of all the built-in amps in the software? Do I just create the track as an "Electric Guitar" track and plug into the audio interface normally?
2) I can do a bass line with my MIDI controller, but I want to try making my electric guitar sound like a bass guitar. Is there some way to do that? Like run the guitar through a software bass amp in GarageBand?
Please answer any way you like. If there is anything you think I need, please tell me. I can borrow equipment from my church (such as mic cables or SM57 mics, our DI boxes are pretty much shot now, but are still useable) if need be.
Thanks all.

Most online reviews give just about any apogee product a good name. Especially the jam and duet lines. Before you buy product make sure you evaluate exactly what you will need out of it. Will you always be recording just guitar tracks, or eventually want to record more than 2 tracks simultaneously? If you stick to purely 2-track most people say apogee sound is one of the best.
I personally own a different interface (FTU by Maudio) but mostly because I wanted up to 4 tracks at same time for live and studio recordings. It's an ok product but probably falls short of the apogee quality. Think about exactly what you want from your setup and price range. It's all a delicate balance of compromise from there...

How can i get the best sound from my electric guitar?

Hello,
I'm new to the Apple forums. I have come seeking some knowledge about how I can make my guitar sound really good like a metal/rock sound while at the same time not sounding unnaturally distorted but clean.
I have a Macbook Air with a Griffin iMic. I have tried some of built in presets for metal/rock but they are either too noisy (background hiss) or they arn't rock like enough. I like the metal ones but they have too much hiss and it ruins my recordings (sounds like a jumbled mess in the end...)
I'm not only new to the forums, but i'm also new to electric guitar and peddles. I'm certainly not new to guitar itself though, been playing for 7 years. What I really seek is what kind of settings I can have like a combination of the best amp model + pedals along with settings or effects to apply to it.
Thanks in advance, I hope i provided enough info.
Kris

Linkandzelda wrote:
I have a 1/8 to 1/4 adapter which i plug directly into the iMic. So theres no preamp involved, yet.
You can by pass the iMic by using the same adaptor and plugging straight into the Line in on your mac. Try it and see if there is a difference in your sound.
Regarding settings, I was able to develop one which has minimal noise levels but also some distortion. I will defiantly experiment more...
Yeah, the key is to start with as clean a sound as possible and then add in little bits. Start adding with a Chorus effect first, then maybe a slight delay. Try all of your setting with both strumming and picking, both fast and slow, as you often have to match your playing technique with how the effects are set up. Then add Fuzz/Distortion etc. Once you have done that then reverse the set up sequence by starting with the major signal modifiers like Distortion etc and add the chorus, flanger, phasers after. These sorts of strategies can change the way things sound. Don't forget a bit of reverb.
The key is to start simple with mild alterations. Also, find a few guitar sounds you like from your favorite songs where you can hear good clear guitar sounds. Maybe create a playlist in iTunes and use these as a reference to compare between what you like and what you are creating. This A-B'ing will go along way to helping you develop your 'taste'. Its great to hear things side by side.
Goggle each of the guitar effects and learn what they do, make a few simple notes as a reference. Basically educate yourself.
and invest in a M-Audio Fast track 2 as i suspect the griffin is causing the noise.
Personally I would recommend something a bit better than the M-Audio Fast Track USB. The quality of your recorded sound is dependent on the sound converters in your external devices. I am not sure there is any advantage over your built in sound card verses the Fast Track. There are other things to consider with sound cards so it pays to do some planning and research.

How do I connect an Electric guitar to a Mac by Firewire?

Please forgive my lack of technical knowledge, I don't play guitar so the terminology is way beyond me. I am trying to find the best (and economical as in value for money) way to connect a guitar to an Intel Mac mini via Firewire port.
My daughter is getting an electric guitar for Christmas (Cort MGM-1) and a Roland Cube amp. She's been playing acoustic for five years already and is very good on guitar (now studying Grade 4). She will most likely want to record her guitar playing into software on the Mac, and I wondered what the experts here would recommend as being worth looking at.
Apple has a few pages given over to this here
http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/connectingguitar/
which mentions using analogue via the mic input, or digital using an "interface" but the problem I find is they only recommend USB connections, and these are pretty expensive anyway. Still, if that's the price, so be it. I would prefer to use Firewire over USB every time, if possible.
The Roland website says you can connect the guitar directly to the Mac with a cable from the amp, but threads I have read and help I have so far received on a Mac magazine forum indicate the need for a separate "audio interface" and others talk of needing a pre-amp. I am getting confused! Is the Roland amp not also a pre-amp.interface itself?
My budget is pretty low now too (actually it's been exceeded, but I'm aware of the "Buy cheap, buy twice" argument and want to think ahead. Her sister plays Flute and Clarinet and they both sing, if that is any help.
I know there are some really professional and top grade experts on this forum, and I would welcome your suggestions, recommendations and opinions. Please help me work out what to do!
TIA

Thanks a lot to everyone for such a wide range of ideas. I've spent most of the day researchng them, and it is confusing. Now we have a number of options that also include software, eg ProTools or Cubase LE 4 or Ableton or some other program. That means even more research! And won't that double up what we are already doing with Garage Band or Logic? SOrry, I'm just a poor Sax player used to playing the dots, unamplified!
One big reason to go with Firewire (apart from its just better anyway) is the USB ports are pretty full on the Mac IIRC but the Firewire is totally unused.
As for plugging the cable straight in the back of the Mac into the Analog In port, that would only allow a single stereo input or two mono ones, and that could be limiting. I agree though that it would allow for something to be done pretty immediately.
I liked the Shure mic recommendation, I hadn't thought of that but it was extremely useful information which was great for you to add in. Very wise advice. Not sure if its a condensor mic or not, and not really sure why a condensor mic is supposed to be better. They are more expensive though but nothing in this world should be acquired because of price alone IMO; sometimes the minimum cost of something really useful is higher than just the minimum cost of purchase.
When I get one of these interfaces, where in the daisy chain should it be placed?
Guitar - Amp - Interface - Mac
OR
Guitar - Interface - Mac
OR
Guitar - Interface - Amp - Mac
or doesn't it matter?
If it is placed in the chain, should the amp effects be restricted to "Clean" leaving the interface or the software to do the effects, or can you change settings in as many places as wanted? I am guessing this is only a question when connecting to the Mac?
Sorry to ask so many questions, as you can see, I am getting hold of bits of ideas here and there, but there are still big gaps in my understanding. You've all brought me forwards a lot since this morning, I owe you all a great big thank you!
To sum up (please correct me where I am wrong or incomplete) what I am looking for then is an Analog to Digital converter with a Firewire (or USB perhaps) connection to the computer. These come in different flavours, often with "free" software, and can add effects in the computer just like some amps can. They all cost something like £100 to £200 upwards (same price as the amp really) and are in effect "amps for the computer" - or is that totally wrong?
As I said, I value your input and corrections.
TIA

How to change audio port output to input port on mac os x 10.9.2 to connect electric guitar on macbook pro for garageband

How to change audio port from output to input port so that i can connect my electric guitar to play along with garageband. I couldn't the option to change it in my system preferences of sound as my mac os x is 10.9.2. So please help me!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to play electric guitar with my garageband so badly!!! :O
Mac os x 10.9.2. ; Garageband 10.0.2

There is no audio line input on your Mac, get a USB interface, get one that is specified for guitars.

Background noise with electric guitar

Hi, I'm playing my les paul into a cheap (like $100) m-audio fast track interface, and picking up the signal with the usb on my macbook pro. I am using the audio port to send the signal to my line 6 amp.
I am quite sure i have set all the necessary settings correctly in the sound part of system preferences but i still seem to be getting background noise when i play. If i turn on the noise gate it takes away the background noise on dead time but if i play anything clean and turn it up i'm getting a buzz or something in the background.
How do i get rid of this, do i need a better interface,or a studio to actually record in or what. should i use an expensive mic instead and put it next to my amp? im just lost. i want the best sound and dont know how to get it....please help

There is confusion here the interface says m-audio fast track on it. I got it from a friend that is all I have used besides garageband and my guitar. My cable is a monster and should be fine in my opinion.
I started garageband and opend an electric guitar track. with the clean combo.
My input was set to mono input 2 , input one gives me no sound and more background noise.
After that I still got background noise, its like a fuzz, i read alot of ppl talking about a ticking sound but its definetly not that. its just staticy
ill try the headphones though...any other tips?
Message was edited by: stevewwf1

Acoustic-electric guitar: is line-in or usb cord better?

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