PC meet Guitar. Guitar meet PC.

[-VK-]

Hey,

OK, so I've been playing guitar for a wee while with a rubbish little 15w practice amp. I've seen a few people who use their PC's as amplifiers for their guitars, so basically have the sound of the guitar coming from their PC speakers...also giving the option to record too...

Does anyone have any recommendations of any things to do this with? I've seen some USB based ones but have been told some may have latency problems...

Help!

VK

 

[Toxcity]

I do this all the time.

Works very well unless you are wanting to tweak the sound of the guitar.

Then I would grab yourself an effects pedal.

Guitar ----> Effects Pedal ----> Line-In on PC ----> Speakers.

Bare in mind that guittars are mono.

 

[-VK-]

Oh cool, just through the effects pedal?

I have an ASUS Xonar D2 in my PC....that'll take the Line In from the effects pedal?

I looked at a few pre-amp USB things...but I think they're...lacking

 

[Toxcity]

I cannot see why it won't take the input.

My SB LIVE! takes a guitar on it's own just fine.

 

[PP Mguire]

There are many things. If i was you, id get an effects pedal and a USB M-Audio external device. It takes 1/4" jack (like the end that goes into guitar stuff) and XLR (commonly known as Mic cables) and input the effects pedal to the M-Audio and then into the PC.

I have an older version of this

And i plug my whole guitar rig into it.

I also have a Legend 21

that has midi output and stereo/mono 1/4" outputs ect. You can use it in a regular guitar setup (obviously) or use it as an all in one guitar effects box. It literaly has anything youd want. Distortion, echo, reverb, phase, chorus, flanger, compressor/limiter, gate, ect. There are also many variations of this type of "All in one" box by many different companies. They are pricey but for the person who wants simple into the pc kinda thing its the thing to have.

My particular Legend 21 also has a stero effects loop as well. So you can plug the extra toys into the effects loop like a wah wah pedal, tuner ect and then output it all to your amp.

Heres my setup on the ground. Its kinda old but i still use the same stuff. Whats in the picture (the stuff with pink tape is mine) can be plugged into your pc the way it sits.

 

[-VK-]

Excellent, many thanks for your help.

I think I'm going to plump for...

Either http://www.dv247.com/invt/43353/ or http://www.dv247.com/invt/38128/

I'm tempted by the Line6..

 

[PP Mguire]

Deff the tone port. i can bring up many Youtube vidoes that the guys use them.

I forgot to mention, my Legend 21 has a headphone jack so i dont even need an amp or pc!

 

[-VK-]

Well the guitar practice got put on hold while I finished my degree....so I'm back looking for a setup.

The problem I've found with all the USB solutions so far is that none of them work with Vista....

Toxcity, which pedal do you use? I was looking at a Marshall Jackhammer....I guess I just need a converter for Amp-jack to Line-in jack?

Any help!?

 

[GavX]

All I used was a guitar lead to 3mm jack converter... worked just fine again, though the effects pedal, but I have done this on my laptop which I think even predates AC97 and it worked (albiet terribly) so fancy soundcards not always needed. Excluding the pedal it cost £1.99 Just get a Boss DS1, classic pedal and get one off fleabay for £10

 

[-VK-]

Thanks for your reply GavX. Pedal looks good...did a google on those converters but no joy. Maybe I'm being "special".

Any links bud?

 

[GavX]

pop down to a local musoc shop, they are "ment" to be used for 3.5mm headphones into the larger 1.4" jack on your amp, but they do the trick for guitar to PC