Hardlycore

So I need a USB audio interface to use an amp simulator, but apparently they are a rarity around my area because I can't find a local store that sells them. I don't want to buy one online and be forced to pay shipping and handling fees because money is rather tight at the moment. (Worse comes to worst I will do this tho.) So I was wondering if it would be possible to craft my own?

I have USB cables and guitar gables galore, but is there something special they put in them to make them work? I am a complete tech noob so please be gentle. :p

Any good input is greatly appreciated!

GABarrie

if you have to ask... you can't make it yourself...

they require programming and micro controllers and stuff, not your basic solder job

EDIT: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-USB-Gui...=item1e76fbac0a

try that

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eddiehimself

No way man... s&h is a lot cheaper than starting your own microelectronics company

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Hardlycore

I figured it'd be too good to be true. :P

And yeah GABarrie, I was checking those out, but they got HORRIFIC reviews. I'm prolly just going to bite the bullet and go for a Behringer or something.

W4RP1G

Pod Hd 500?

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Homemade pickup winder!

RebuildIt

I bought a cheap one direct from China to test a concept. It was less than $2 and included free shipping. What I found was that the old saying, while not always true, is very true in this specific case. You get what you pay for. The thing I bought allowed noise to go from the guitar to the PC via a USB connection, but the sound quality was horrid. I'm not that guy who is fussy about subtle differences caused by different wood types or who made a set of pickups. And I think you can make up for a lot in the amp itself. But if the signal is coming to you mangled, fuzzy and chopped up, it will be nearly impossible to clean it up.

I suspect your amp simulator can also use a signal in from your computer's mic jack. There is a possibility that you mic input is also low quality, but I bet you will find it is pretty good. The mic input does most of its work as an analog device. USB makes the signal digital too soon and is subject to clipping.

LeviMan_2001

A microphone input will sound pretty bad because it's not made to have a high impedance input stage like your guitar amp. However, if you have a non-true bypass pedal, it will help that out due to the buffer in it.

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eddiehimself

+1. true bypass pedals are overrated.

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wursty

What I use for programs like Guitar Rig and the such is the cable that came with the game Rocksmith. I also use it as a recording interface from my Peavey Vypyr and use a 1/4 female to 1/8 male into the headphone jack.

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Gear

Peavey VYPYR 75w with Sanpera II pedal
Epiphone SG Special Mod
Ibanez AEL20E
Epiphone G-310 Junior Mod
Schecter Hellraiser Deluxe FR
B.C. Rich Bronze Series Warlock

GaryBillington

If you want to avoid kit with HORRIFIC reviews, you'll need to spend a reasonable amount of money. Go read the interfaces sticky, there's something for all price ranges there.

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LeviMan_2001

Haha true. To a point. They're nice if you do fuzz face stuff, as a fuzz face needs to have a true bypass signal in front of it, other wise it'll be overly bright. Again due to impedance (and ghetto-ass circuits from the 60's).

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RebuildIt

Really? I just plug mine straight in.

LeviMan_2001

You may not notice it if you've already got a pretty muddy set up like a hot humbucker. But if you plug in a vintage style strat or something, you'll notice it just won't sound quite right.

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