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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

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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.
40 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 31, 2009 6:42 AM in response to iMoe

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.

Jan 31, 2009 6:07 PM in response to iMoe

IMOE - I also have an Imac - I had 2 different interfaces I bought (from advice in these forums) including a FastTrack USB... I discovered after testing different hook-ups out that I really didn't need anything other than a simple 1/4" -> 1/8" adapter (Radio Shack - $3.00). I get great sound from my Les Paul and my Strat just using a Guitar Cable with the adaptor going into my LINE IN on the back of my Imac. The interfaces didn't really give me any better sound. MacBooks have issues as the Imac's have a small preamp built-in (apparently) but the laptops don't as their signal isn't "hot" enough. Get an adapter to convert your Guitar cord to a mini and plug it in to your Mac - make sure to turn MONITOR ON and rock out!

Feb 7, 2009 3:54 PM in response to Pat-italiano-Valella

I went to radio shack and of course they didnt know what I was talking about.

I bought a 1/8" mono male (plugs in my imac) to a 1/4" stereo female (my guitar)

The adapter fits but does not hold my entire guitar plug, the guitar plug is a bit too long.

Also when I turn the monitor on I get horrible feedback and cant get it to go away.

Is this all just because it sounds like I have the wrong adapter?

Feb 7, 2009 4:14 PM in response to iMoe

iMoe wrote:
I must have just bought the wrong adapter because I cant get any sound to come out.


it kind of sounds like it, yes, the 1/4" plug SHOULD fit all the way in ... though I'm not sure what other kind of 1/4" jack would let you just plug it partially in to it.

The line in jack IS right next to the speaker jack correct???


yes

Feb 8, 2009 10:27 AM in response to iMoe

ya know...if we can go to google for everything, then what is the need or purpose for this board?

I hate when people say....search google....or read the instructions.....

Oftentimes these questions have been asked and answered in previous threads or other forums. A little bit of searching will sometimes get you an immediate answer to your problem without someone else having to do the work for you, or type out a long explanation.

It's also frustrating when you tell someone, "move the playhead" and they say, "what's the playhead?" Hence the, "read the Getting Started" advice.

But there are still questions that need answering. And the combined knowledge of the folks on this forum covers just about everything. And sometimes the answer is, "search google, or wherever, on this subject because you can learn a lot more that way than is feasible in this type of forum."

It's also good to have problems logged in the forum so it can be seen when there are GB bugs that need to be addressed or if it's just an individual problem.

Message was edited by: poflynn

Feb 11, 2009 8:52 AM in response to rjreade

As much as I do NOT recommend plugging and electric guitar straight into the line in without at least a direct box or something (mixer, preamp, pedal, something), the correct setup would be a 1/4 inch mono plug from the guitar to a 1/4 inch mono to 1/8 inch stereo plug, which is why the OP needed to exchange the first one he got for the opposite.
I think that plugging an 1/8th inch mono plug into the stereo input can short the inputs.
If that is your arrangement, plug it halfway in and then switch around to determine which channel you are hitting.
This document sort of explains why I believe my info to be correct. Guitars have high impedance compared to lines, and it changes with dynamics. Line-ins are not ready for the guitar signal and will fry when you hit it hard if you didn't already short it out with the plug.
http://www.crownaudio.com/kb/entry/304/

Message was edited by: James Asherman

Message was edited by: James Asherman

How do I connect my electric guitar to my iMac?

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