Garage Band input/preamp
J
I got a mac w/ Garage Band and of course I want to record myself
making noise over my favorite tunes. But my 175 sounds like crap
through all the (rather impressive looking) Fender amps it comes with.
I am connecting guitar to computer w/ a Behringer "Guitar Interface
UC6102" which I got for $45. Do I need something fancier? Or is the
problem elsewhere? Or does Garage Band just stink for jazz?
Keith
with my results, using an ES175 (for a traditional clean jazz sound).
Here is how I do it:
When I click on "New Track" I choose a "real instrument" track instead
of an "electric guitar" track. I plug my ES175 straight into the Mac
with a Soundtech Lightsnake USB cable rather than using an interface.
Then, I just tweak the eq and add a little reverb in Garageband and I
get a great jazz sound. On occasion, I have used an interface instead
of the usb cable, with great results - but I still recorded on a "real
instrument" track rather than amp simulation. I like the Lightsnake
cable, because it is simple, inexpensive and Garageband-ready (and I
don't need multiple inputs at one time). Here is the information on
the Lightsnake:
http://www.soundtech.com/products/home-recording/stusbg10/
Keith
J
Sounds great. I'll try it.
Keith
doesn't do it, maybe there is something going on with your guitar
interface.
Keith
J
I tried it and you are right. The difference is night and day. Thanks
much.
Larry Hogan
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Checked this out. Looks great, and it's now on my wish list.
An additional feature: from an eBay description, it appears that it
also comes with a 1/4" dual-female out so you could route one send to
an amp at the same time. Er, maybe I'm getting the nomenclature wrong
here (I would think you'd still need the computer end as the USB, so
how that works with a 1/4" splitter I'm not exactly sure. Download the
manual first?) but the description does mention that you also get an
amp send as well. Two mentions on eBay: either for about $35 plus
$5.95 s/h.
Hope this also helps.
Larry
drthoma...@gmail.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
I don't understand the purpose for the Lightsnake. Why not just plug
your guitar straight into your soundcard? All you need is a 1/4" to
1/8" adapter plug, which is a lot less expensive than the Lightsnake.
Keith
1/4 inch out. You are correct - you can take a regular 1/4 guitar cord
from there to your amp so you can use your normal guitar amp as a
monitor if you want. I usually don't do that. I just use headphones
from the mac so I can hear the mix with my backing track.
Keith
Keith
In response to Tom's question....You need an Analog to Digital
converter in front of garageband. Most people use interfaces with
various inputs for mic's, guitars, etc. The interface then sends
digital signals to the computer via usb or firewire. The lightsnake
cable, and similar devices, such as the Behringer interface that "J"
uses, are more than just cables. They actually have Analog to Digital
converters built into them. In Soundtech's words: The Lightsnake has
"an embedded 16-bit analog-to-digital converter with audio signal
boost ensures extremely low audio loss and a 48kHz sampling rate
provides you with high audio quality while recording". I don't think
you can get a useful signal out of a passive pickup if you just
connect your guitar to the sound card with a regular guitar cord. I'm
not an expert, so maybe some techies can explain this better than me.
Keith
Lawrie
> your guitar straight into your soundcard? All you need is a 1/4" to
> 1/8" adapter plug, which is a lot less expensive than the Lightsnake.
This is what I do except I plug my guitar (and bass) into my amp and I
go from my amp direct into my sound card (Line In).
Lawrie
Keith
guitar amp. In this case, I believe it is your soundcard that converts
the analog signal to digital. Maybe some people who know more about
recording can tell us the pros and cons of doing it that way, vs.
using an interface.
Keith
drthoma...@gmail.com
> I guess that works because you are boosting your signal with the
> guitar amp. In this case, I believe it is your soundcard that converts
> the analog signal to digital. Maybe some people who know more about
> recording can tell us the pros and cons of doing it that way, vs.
> using an interface.
That's my point -- I can't imagine that a $40 Lightsnake cable has any
significantly better A/D conversion than whatever sound card came with
the computer. As long as you can get your guitar to line level with a
mixer or amp, why not just use the sound card instead?
Greger Hoel
<drthoma...@gmail.com>:
In theory, it's better to have the A/D conversion as far away from your
computer as possible, minimizes electrical interference generated noise.
--
Always cross a vampire; never moon a werewolf
Dan Adler
wrote:
I'm very surprised by the favorable Lightsnake review. I bought one a
couple of years ago, and the delay made it completely useless - it was
out of sync both in the actual recording and in the playback - I was
using it with a newish iMac so I don't think it was the computer
causing the delay - I had much better results with direct analog into
the computer. Maybe their technology has come a long way since then,
but I would make sure you can return it if the delay is unbearable.