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Level 1

8 points

How do I connect my electric guitar to my iMac?

I did a search and could not find a simple answer?

Could someone post a link to what kind of adapter I need to buy to do this?

I want to record using the effects in GarageBand.

Thanks in advance for any help!

20" iMac 2.16, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 31, 2009 6:16 AM

Best reply

forumsurfer

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Jan 31, 2009 6:42 AM

I was in the same boat as you, but after much searching for info and a lot of trial and error I finally got it set up. You need an "Audio Interface," which is a box that plugs into either your USB or FireWire port on your Mac. Your guitar plugs into the audio interface as well as a microphone and headphones (if you want). You then have to go into the GarageBand preferences and under the Audio/Midi tab set the Audio Input to your audio interface device (mine is an M-Audio FireWire Solo). GarageBand should automatically recognize your AI device and list it in the Audio Input menu. Also, set the output to Built-In Output to have the sound come out of your Mac's speakers or any speakers you have plugged into you Mac. THEN you select the amp you want to use in GarageBand, double click on the amp's image to make it spin around and reveal the amp input settings. You may have to play with the Input Source settings to find which one works for you. I set mine to "Mono 2 (FireWire Solo Multichannel)". And make sure the Monitor setting is set to On or On with Feedback Protection.

Then you should be in business! Good luck and happy playing.

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40 replies

isteveus

Level 5

4,334 points

Feb 11, 2009 9:33 AM in response to James Asherman

James Asherman wrote:

I think that plugging an 1/8th inch mono plug into the stereo input can short the inputs.

You will not cause any harm because it is a input and not a output. What will happen is that you bridge the input this is completely harmless.

Feb 11, 2009 9:46 AM in response to isteveus

"You will not cause any harm because it is a input and not a output. What will happen is that you bridge the input this is completely harmless. "

For the sake of non-argument I will buy that.

I would still maintain that guitars need a specific input, and that the impedance and level are all wrong
and that if this were not true, then most of the interfaces for this sort of thing would not bother with the specific 1million ohm guitar input that they all have. ( along with the XLR and 1/4 inch and sometimes RCA because they are all different)

I am still quite sure that even tho' the levels may seem cool on paper, in actual practice the constantly changing dynamic signal of the guitar can fry standard line inputs. Nobody plugs straight into a line input in a real studio, ( they use direct boxes and preamps that condiiton the guitar for a line or mic input) and you do not play guitar through the aux input of your stereo for the same reasons.

Message was edited by: James Asherman

Feb 11, 2009 10:52 AM in response to James Asherman

So in conclusion, The guitar has an impedance of between 4 and 8k ohms (my Duncans are 8K, YMMV))
Regular consumer line inputs run 10k ohms.
Not good.
Prosumer line ins might have an impedance of 20k ohms. (wider compatability) Still no good for guitar.
When you hit it hard the resistance fails and something fries. No plug in protects the line in.
(technically speaking )
But I am not just being a self-righteous ***** here.
I want to save people from frying their stuff, and I am not about selling high priced equipment that no one can afford ( Apogee) or even stuff I am owning and loving ( Line 6 Toneport, Pro tools Digi 001, A lifetime of actual gear.)
No.
Look around you. Many simple pedals (Boss, Digitech, Nady) will give you a 1megohm input and a 1kohm or 2kohm output solving the problem (Partly)On the other hand the Boss delays have 10k ohm output which could exacerbate the problem, so you have to look it up. But the Digitech pedals seem to have it covered, and they are plentiful. Usually you don't even have to engage it.
I would say that even a Fender pedal from Target could correct the impedance.

Feb 11, 2009 6:18 PM in response to James Asherman

so in conclusion - I've had mine (guitar) hooked in DIRECT for over 3 years now - cranking out sensational High-Gain Death Metal (and Classic Rock, Blues, etc) - at really loud volumes too - with my INPUT slider set to MAX (in preferences) - most all the Amp Sims I use (Amplitube, Guitar Rig 3, etc.) are also DIMED TO THE MAX. I have used my Korg Pedal in direct, and also my Zoom and a small Art Tube Preamp... but I prefer just Guitar -> Mac using a cheap $3.00 adapter... I haven't fried anything SO I CONCLUDE that it werks schaweeet! Is my conclusion flawed?

Message was edited by: strangedogs

Feb 11, 2009 7:23 PM in response to Pat-italiano-Valella

Is my conclusion flawed?

No it is not. I have gone so far as to look up the specs of the audio chip in my mac to try and find out if it it shifts impedance or something. I know they sell cords for this and it is the way people do it.
So forgive me, for thinking about it.
I still think a cheap pedal can make it work safer.
As to your personal methods, have fun, but diming everything is not my cup of tea .
( Though I do turn the models up ) (too much delay is my cup of tea)
I am completely done on this point . I give up. I certainly must be wrong. Boo hoo.

Message was edited by: James Asherman

poflynn

Level 4

1,303 points

Feb 11, 2009 8:18 PM in response to James Asherman

Gentledudes, I think it has to do with what kind of Mac you have. Some have a pre-amp in there and some don't, if I'm not very much mistaken.

Feb 12, 2009 3:51 AM in response to poflynn

that's right... a lot of MacBook owners report very "low" signal going direct - I, on am Imac, have a very FAT, RICH sound. And I did use a couple different interfaces but found there was really no perceivable difference in sound using them or not... I'd love to try out an Apgee Duet but I ain't about to spend $500 for one. That's crazy...

Feb 12, 2009 7:03 AM in response to James Asherman

Hey, if plugging directly into your mac works for you, then go for it. But my vote goes for getting some kind of interface, even a cheap one.

isteveus

Level 5

4,334 points

Feb 12, 2009 8:32 AM in response to MattiMattMatt

I still say it is completely safe to use your guitar direct to your imac or even through most FX pedals.

First all pedals that can boost signal will have a output gain control so even if they could cause damage you can turn it down.

Also even a 20k guitar pickup will loose a lot after going through the volume/tone pots and a guitar cable. I have never heard anyone complain that their guitar was to loud it is always too low a signal.

I always recommend if your going from guitar to computer that you use a compressor this will boost signal to a good level and suppress any spikes.

And the iMacs (and some other Macs) have a audio in that seems to be able throttle or boost signal. I think it has a small pre amp that has a very wide tolerance just so you can plug guitar, mic, POD, cassette player, headphone outs, etc. without damage.

For the record I do regularly use a audio interface but for just noodling around or song writing I'll go guitar to line6 pocket POD to audio in on my macs.

Feb 12, 2009 12:54 PM in response to isteveus

isteveus wrote:
I always recommend if your going from guitar to computer that you use a compressor this will boost signal to a good level and suppress any spikes.

I think that's one of those things that varies person to person. Same with vocals. Some people record vocals through a compressor and swear by it, others go direct and swear by it. Whatever works best for... whoever is doing it!

For the record I do regularly use a audio interface but for just noodling around or song writing I'll go guitar to line6 pocket POD to audio in on my macs.

Although I believe that pocket POD is doing some of the things an interface would do, isn't it, so it's not exactly a naked signal.

isteveus

Level 5

4,334 points

Feb 12, 2009 5:13 PM in response to MattiMattMatt

Not a naked in the least but it is a FX processor going right into the Mac input probably a much hotter signal then just a guitar.

I do like something between my guitar and Mac mostly because if I yank the cable and knock the pod or whatever on the floor... well you see where I'm going.

As for a compressor I'm not a big fan of compressing but they do work well. I like them more for dropping the attack a little and adding a little sustain. But when I doing project that I need a real guitar sound (been a while) I will mic a amp anyway.

Feb 13, 2009 8:05 AM in response to isteveus

isteveus wrote:
As for a compressor I'm not a big fan of compressing but they do work well. I like them more for dropping the attack a little and adding a little sustain. But when I doing project that I need a real guitar sound (been a while) I will mic a amp anyway.

Well, the big debate (aside from the debate on whether to use them in the first place) is whether to use them while you record, forever burning compression onto your tracks, or after the fact, once the signal has already been recorded, without benefit of a compressor on the front end. I've heard seasoned engineers argue on both sides.

I myself "break the rules" and will sometimes use a hardware compressor when micing my piano due to its wide dynamic range, particularly if I'm recording something for broadcast that will only be squashed to death anyway by the orgy of compressors in the broadcast studio.

Feb 23, 2009 9:50 PM in response to iMoe

I found something called the Monster® iStudioLink™ that looks like it's built just for this purpose. Here is a link:

http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=2440

Has anyone used this cable, and if so, any comments?

Feb 23, 2009 11:15 PM in response to Paul in LA

This is nothing but an overpriced cable, it doesn't give you more than plugging a cheap adaptor on your guitar cable.

poflynn

Level 4

1,303 points

Feb 23, 2009 11:44 PM in response to Christoph Drösser

Monster are usually high quality cables.
But unless you want to spend the extra money...

Message was edited by: poflynn

How do I connect my electric guitar to my iMac?