Plugging a Guitar into a Mac

[Dessery]

Hi All

I am trying to get my Electric Guitar hooked into my mac, I am not trying to record so quality isn't overly important to me but I do need to be able to hear myself back without any latency.

I have tried to use a USB to Guitar cable (one of these) but sadly it has about a seconds delay when I turn the monitor on in GarageBand which make it impossible to play with. I wasn't expecting a lot from the cable but I thought I would give it a punt as a cheap option, but sadly it is going to have to go back as its just unusable.

Has anyone else tried doing the same, could you recommend an interface that works? It is for just playing around with so I am looking to keep the cost as low as possible.

I am using a very powerful Mac Book Pro so I shouldn't have any problems from that side of things.

Many thanks!!
David

[slide496]

I had a terible time and never did find anything that would connect my guitar to my macpro 2012- I had system problems with the usb - don't remember if it was the port or the firmware or whatever - using system 10.9.4 and I tried the expensive interfaces as well and had to return them.

Actually there was one interface that gave a workaround by modifying something in the system but I don't do that sort of thing.

If you decide to try out anything good luck and make sure there is a return policy,research if there are any known bugs with the interface and the system you are using might be a good idea.

Lawd lawdy,
Harriet

[bod]

Hi David,

I have an Axeport pro that's not seen any use for a couple of years. As I recall, it used to work well enough on my Mac, and seemed a very straightforward piece of kit. If you think you might be interested in it I can dig it out and test it with Garageband once more.

[chrislovegrove]

Hey,

You need some sort of audio interface of some sort. I used to have exactly the same issue as you and this solved it. I use a MOTU 8PRE. It's a bit overkill for the amount of recording I do now, but I got it dirt cheap from a friend who was clearing out his studio so I can't complain. The type of connection between interface-computer makes a big difference as well. I found I still had some latency via USB but FireWire resolved the issue.

The interface seems to make the signal a bit stronger and clearer also.

Hope you find what you are looking for

C

[Dessery]

Hi all

Really sorry for being slow at getting back to you, it's been a bit of a crazy week.

Thank you all for your input, I've sent back the cable, it is looking like I'm not going to have much luck unless I fork out some decent cash and there is other things I would rather spend my money on at the moment, I was hoping it would be simpler than it is, you would of thought so anyway

Thank you bod for your generous offer, that is very kind of you. It's not a model I have come across in my searches. It's tempting but to be honest, I'm weary of getting something that isn't right so I thing if I was to get one, it would be from somewhere with a good return policy.

Thank you all again, if I do decide to go for something at some point and have some luck, I'll let you know.

All the best
David

[bod]

David, what is it that you are aiming to do? You say, not recording - but are you,for example, after using the "amp models" & effects in garageband to play with "in real time"? I'm very far from expert in these things, but on thinking about it a bit since your initial post, I seem to be having recollections of "zero latency" being easily available with a "dry signal," but I guess that's not what you're seeking (?)

[Dessery]

Hi bod

Thanks for your reply. I have actually started using yousician, I don't know if anyone has checked it out but I'm really enjoying it for improving my lead playing.

However at the moment, it is just using the mic to pick up the sound from my amp and it does not always correctly register the notes. I believe probably due to a combination of the distance from the mic and the fact that the music from yousician is also coming from the laptop which would be picked up again by the mic.

So my goal was to be able to plug into the laptop directly, add an amp setup through garageband then play along with yousician as a direct input, I can also then use headphones if i need to keep the noise down too because all of the sound is coming from a single source.

I would welcome and suggestions that may work

All the best
David

[slide496]

I think one approach is to make a list of available interfaces in your price range, go through it as to what has been tested as compatible with your operating system and macbook pro version.

It might help if you posted the details of the mac pro, its input capability or what you have available to connect and the system version for the forum.

Hope that is a little help -

Lawd lawdy,
Harriet

[bod]

Hi David,

I've been having a bit of a play around with Garageband (gb) and different ways of connecting. In short, my "findings" are consistent with chrislovegrove's remark, 'You need some sort of audio interface...' With nothing but a wire with jackplug adaptors into the mac audio input I get the big latency issues as soon as I switch on the gb monitoring plus an amp simulation. With even a basic (but reasonable quality) interface (in this case my Axeport pro) I experience much lower / negligible / no latency issues - even with amp simulation, effects and several tracks of "Magic Garageband" accompaniment. Hard to be sure, but it seems to me that the quality is improved a tad by having the 'phones plugged into the interface phone socket rather than the audio out on the mac. Also, find that monitoring with feedback protection results in issues, but more like clipping (?) than latency. monitoring without feedback protection looses these. I left the audio settings in gb preferences maximised for minimum delay (I'm guessing that maximising for number of simultaneous tracks would slow things down some...)

This much said, I'm not sure how all of this relates to your situation, as having just checked I find I'm on a mid 2010 mac mini with a 2009 version of gb... Also, not working with yousician, so it's possible that your difficulties stem from combinations of hardware and software that don't apply on my machine...

Having had a bit of fun playing around and "jamming" with the "Magic Garageband," I'm not so sure that I'd want to part with the Axeport after all, it's looking more like a good option for me again where I am now. But I know you aren't all that far from me. If you're going to be passing through Cosham way and fancy dropping by with your laptop to see if my interface is the sort of thing that would solve the problem, you'd be very welcome, just give me a shout. (Actually, I've also got an early Saffire interface around here somewhere, you could try that one as well...)  

[Michael Messer]

I haven't really kept up with this thread, but to plug into a Mac, or any computer, you need an audio interface. For home recordings I have used Focusrite products and they are excellent value for money.

us.focusrite.com/scarlett-range

Shine On
Michael