Jacobrivers8

This is just a question of curiosity, but my parents are thinking about getting me a laptop for Christmas, and I'm a person who likes to think outside the box sometimes , so would it be possible to plug my guitar into my laptop and use that as an amp? Also, if that were possible, would i be able to plug it into a direct box? (I play on the worship team at my youth group, and it's much easier to mix the sound when we play through a direct box or mic our amps) Again this is out of curiosity, so if this sounds noobish i apologize :p

Eppicurt

You're better off getting a little USB interface like the Line 6 UX1 and run it into Gearbox or PodFarm which are both amp modelling programs. They're only about $40-$50 and sounds great.

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gumbilicious

yes. i have recorded and played through my laptop many times using an ipod cable and a 1/4" male TS to 1/8" female TRS converter plugged into the input.

the sound wasn't awesome, but you can do it. to give you an idea of the quality, here is a recording i did with that technique using garageband:

http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/...usic/play733334

more dedicated interfaces will have better preamps and analog to digital conversion. depending on your purposes an interface like Eppicurt mentioned my better serve you.



not to sure what you mean here, so let me just lay out how it'd work. most the time if you plug into a computer you will be using some kinda amp sim (revalver, amplitube, guitar rig, etc) this software generally has amp, cab and even microphone emulation so there isn't really a need for a direct box. generally you can run the output of the computer right into the board and then they can route the signal to the monitors and mains.


you aren't gonna find out unless you ask.

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W4RP1G

Where do you get one for that cheap? Musician's Friend sell the UX1 for $150usd.

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Eppicurt

Ah I see now, that's the newer one with the mic input. Didn't realise the single guitar input one was discontinued, those ones were about $50-$60 roughly.

Roland do some cheap Guitar>USB interfaces too.

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R45VT

You aren't that far off. $99

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-...x-with-pod-farm

Not for use with microphones. Guitar/bass only.

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Eppicurt

Ah, they're the GX now.

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sideslick

Another question from another poster:

What about using the Rocksmith "RealTone" cable?

Is that close to the quality of a cheaper recording interface?

I've used it with the trial version of Guitar Rig, and it sounds alright to my inexperienced ear (read: never recorded ever).

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This actually might help the TS, so this technically is on topic, LOL.

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Acϵ♠

Make sure the laptop you get has a good sound card.

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R45VT

Not needed if he gets a Line 6 UX or GX.

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fly135

A used low end Digitech RP like the RP155 can be found for around $50, and works as a USB audio interface plus can be plugged directly into any powered speakers. I also has the needed output specs for driving the input of a computer sound card directly.

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