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More electric guitar questions

S

Special K

Diamond Member
Before I go and ruin some expensive piece of equipment, I wanted to get some advice from the guitar experts here on the following connections I was thinking about:

1. Using the PC + some guitar FX program as a cheap substitute for a pedal:

guitar--->PC soundcard(line in or mic in)
PC soundcard line out---> guitar amp input

would that work? Then I could get the power of the amp (much better than my little PC speakers I would imagine) but use the program for effects.

2. Run the guitar into a regular audio amp:

guitar--->guitar amp input
guitar amp line out--->RCA cables--->aux input on audio amp

Would that work?
 
Originally posted by: SpecialK
guitar--->PC soundcard(line in or mic in)
PC soundcard line out---> guitar amp input

would that work? Then I could get the power of the amp (much better than my little PC speakers I would imagine) but use the program for effects.
Click to expand...

That should work fine. However, you may actually need something to boost the signal going into the sound card. But maybe not.
 
look into guitarport or the other one from Native Instruments.

I play thru my amp and then my soundcard, but my amp is rather crappy. I would rather play straight to the soundcard.
 
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: SpecialK
guitar--->PC soundcard(line in or mic in)
PC soundcard line out---> guitar amp input

would that work? Then I could get the power of the amp (much better than my little PC speakers I would imagine) but use the program for effects.
Click to expand...

That should work fine. However, you may actually need something to boost the signal going into the sound card. But maybe not.
Click to expand...

No, you don't, but you've got to be protective of your speakers. Don't crank it up, and start to jam, only to realize that it takes 3 seconds to toast your speakers.

The Guitar Port is decent for sound, and the subscription you can get is great for learning tons of songs.
 
Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: SpecialK
guitar--->PC soundcard(line in or mic in)
PC soundcard line out---> guitar amp input

would that work? Then I could get the power of the amp (much better than my little PC speakers I would imagine) but use the program for effects.
Click to expand...

That should work fine. However, you may actually need something to boost the signal going into the sound card. But maybe not.
Click to expand...

No, you don't, but you've got to be protective of your speakers. Don't crank it up, and start to jam, only to realize that it takes 3 seconds to toast your speakers.

The Guitar Port is decent for sound, and the subscription you can get is great for learning tons of songs.
Click to expand...

Well in that case, the sound would be coming from the guitar amp, so it shouldn't be a problem, right? I just wanted to output the unamplified, effects-processed signal from the soundcard to the guitar amp's input.
 
Only problem is that if you just have a standard sound card, the connections/signal will sound like complete a$$. Most ppl will call bull$hit, but from recording using a audigy to recording using a $125 tascam USB2 input thingy, the sound quality/reproduction is insanely better. Of course, I run a Pro Tools DIGI002 setup now, but that's a bit outta your price range, lol.
 
my setup is like this

guitar -> effects pedal -> guitar amp -> amp line out to soundcard line in

works pretty well....unfortunately you're looking to generate effects in your PC. hmmm

-Vivan
 
hughes & kettner tubeman + m-audio delta 44 + sonar/cubase/nuendo is all you need.
(note, gamer cards will not be able to handle low latency dx/vst processing, that's where these semi/pro cards come in in addition to higher quality converters)
 
i run a podxt into a mixer, and run the mixer to the computer. the pod xt is fairly expensive though (~$400) but it sounds good and you can customize amp sounds and effects to death with it. for a simple solution you can do what i did for years, simply mic a guitar amp or acoustic and record that way.
 
Originally posted by: TheShiz
i run a podxt into a mixer, and run the mixer to the computer. the pod xt is fairly expensive though (~$400) but it sounds good and you can customize amp sounds and effects to death with it. for a simple solution you can do what i did for years, simply mic a guitar amp or acoustic and record that way.
Click to expand...

But can I use the PC as a pedal and play through my guitar amp? I wasn't necessarily looking to record (plus I already found several threads here on how to do that), just find a cheap way to have some effects and tide me over until I decide to buy some real hardware.
 
You can always get a cheap effects processor. They are fun to play around with and you can probably swing one for about the same as a guitar port. If its just to play around with, my friends little brother had this and it was pretty fun and easy to use.
 
to do that you'd have to process the sound on the fly, i don't know what programs do that, guess there are some. i'm not sure about outputing that back out to your amp though. it will probably sound like crap. the sound coming out of the computer is a stereo line, so you'd need some cable or an adapter to go from 1/8" stereo minijack to 1/4" mono.
 
There aren't that many decent, cheap computer-based guitar effects. Guitar Port is the only one I can think of. Then there are plugins like Amplitube but they cost hundreds of dollars (and I personally think they aren't that good).
 
OK, so the general impression I'm getting is I can try to run the guitar through the PC and use it for effects, but there's a good chance they will suck. Really all I'm concerned about at this point is not frying my equipment.

Does anyone have any advice for my second question? Would that be safe to try?
 
Just get a good RAW sounding guitar preamp and a good soundcard made for this stuff. (ie: M-Audio Audiophile at the least) There are a many FREE DX/VST plugins that you can use with host applications that will come free with your audio card. (probably Cubase SX SE or something similar). You'll get killer results and knowing you AT freaks, you already have a souped up PC that's more than enough to handle low latency audio processing so you can play and hear the effects without noticeable lag. (although with a consumer/gamer soundcard, you will get a nasty delay no matter what, as the drivers aren't designed for it)

I personally run a H&K Tubeman through a Delta 1010 and into Nuendo at 1.5ms latency (the delay between the time you strike a note and the time the computer processes that signal and back out to your speakers). 1.5ms is unnoticeable latency. Anything higher than 4ms and it becomes obvious to any guitarist. PM me if you need any help.
 
Either way, you'll need a preamp to send the guitar signal into the soundcard and to make the computer act as an effects processor, you NEED a low latency soundcard at the very least. A guitar preamp with a speaker simulated output like a Digitech 2101 or a Tubeman like what I have will give you the best results.
 
It's been using my guitar on my PC for years. That line about toasting your speakers is crap- just plug your guitar into the mic jack on your sound card (you'll need a 1/4" - 1/8" adapter if you're not using a Sound Blaster Audigy with the break out panel). The pickups on a guitar are just microphones. The mic jack is usually amplified so you'll get a fuller sound, but you may need to turn the level on it down to about 50% and compensate with the speaker volume. If you get any buzzing you may want to try the line in jack. It won't be as loud but it will be cleaner.
 
Originally posted by: Slacker
Heh, when I was a kid I hooked an electric guitar up to the leads inside a turntable, it worked!
Click to expand...

Heh.....I did it with an AM/FM radio and played along with songs on the radio---you'd be suprised how many rock stars started like that 😀


BTW- If anyone is looking for cheap effects, GET ONE OF THESE:

Roland MicroCube

In my 20 years of playing, this has got to be the coolest piece of equipment I've bought. It runs on DC/batteries, has nearly every standard effect built in, has VERY smooth sound, a tuning fork, and cna be had for under $130! I bought it a few months back so I wouldn't have to have guitar cords all over the floor near my PC anymore.
 
IMO effects are way overrated, and the coolest ones are ones you'd need a pedal for anyways (wah, whammy). Get a good amp with good distortion, and leave the computer out of it. Or get a pod. 🙂
 
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