Guitar to Computer Interface

[taneal1]

I'd like to connect my guitar to my computer for recording purposes. I have no problem finding software for the actual recording, but the proper hardware is difficult to find for a newbie.

I don't want to use a mike or my guitar amp/pre-amp. I'd like to plug the guitar directly into the computer via an external "box" or directly into a sound card that is designed for audio recording rather than a standard computer soundcard.

Can anyone recommend specific hardware to accomplish this?

Thanks for any advice!

Tom

[richiebee]

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/JamLab-main.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...kPro-main.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...kUSB-main.html

[brandondrury]

Well, I'm not going to be specific. Luckily, I don't have to.

These all have "hi-z inputs" (unless I screwed up something).

Brandon

[DT Chris]

So if I want to plug my guitar directly into my audio interface of choice, I have to make sure it has HI-Z?

[brandondrury]

Well....you don't HAVE to have Hi-Z, but it is preferred most of the time.

Many many many pro recordings that use DI guitars that were reamped or even ran through some crappy (and nearly useless) guitar simulator plugin used a standard DI or preamp with 1/4" input.

The Hi-Z input will make the guitar signal a little brighter. This can be great or this can be not so great.

Just to be safe,I'd say that Hi-Z is preferred but not required.

Brandon

[DT Chris]

I have no desire to run a guitar simulator at all. Ugh.

I'm just asking because I may not always want record guitar by mic'ing my amp in order to play. Perhaps just plugging in the guitar to record an idea real quick, or to capture simply a clean sound for rythmn or blues style. If I don't need Hi-Z for this, that's fine. Depending on the price difference, it may change which audio interface I purchase. My budget will initially be around $3-500 CAN.

[brandondrury]

Well,

I'm kind of a purist with my guitar tones. Are you familiar with the tone of an electric guitar plugged straight in. It's not pretty. Having said that, there are times when it is very useful.

You've got about $430 max American bucks, so unless you need a billion inputs, you should be able to get everything you need.

[4trackmaniac]

"Super D.I. Box" Microphone Kits and More |

I started my own company a couple of years ago, being out of work and unable to afford the recording gear I desired. Being a cabinet designer/builder and also being skilled in the art of electronic circuitry design, I began building my own equipment, "friends wanted one too" and now I am offering them for sale (very reasonably) on my website and occationally on Ebay. One of my latest is a nice, compact "Super D.I. Box" which can interface PC's thru the Line-In jack with microphones or electric guitar and acoustic guitars with transducer pickups. The best thing about them (other than a nice clean signal) is the $25.00 price tag!! (plus $6.00 shipping) One version requires 2-1.5 volt AAA cells to operate the circuit, and the other (Designed for just Dynamic Mics to a PC) uses the PC's "plug-in-power" to drive it's circuit.

[fortyseven]

Although Im not too crazy about Behringer, they do make something called GUITAR LINK UCG102 which is made especially for connecting guitar to pc. Its very cheap and works quite well (I have one). Behringer also make the U-CONTROL UCA202 audio interface which is even cheaper and also works fairly well. The only real difference is that the former has stereo jacks and the latter has RCA jacks.
There are many other ways to do the job but I mentioned these because they are the cheapest and lets face it, most of us are starving musicians here!

[brandondrury]

I started my own company a couple of years ago, being out of work and unable to afford the recording gear I desired.

Do you have any sound clips of the mics? If you want me to do some reviews send me a private message.

Brandon