Which electric guitars will work with GarangeBand

Question

Level 1

8 points

Which electric guitars will work with GarangeBand

I have just started learning acoustic guitar using GarageBand lessons and others from the internet and I use an external mic to feed the guitar output into GarageBand. I'm thinking of getting an electric guitar in the future and was wondering which electrics I can plug directly into my Mac for use in Garageband via USB.

Do I need a specific "USB Guitar"? The main one I've seen on the internet is from iAXE and that doesn't get good reviews. I've also seen cables that seem to go from phono to USB - does this mean that any electric guitar can be plugged into my Mac, without an Amp. Since I'm very new to this, I would prefer not to get an amp at this stage.

Many thanks

Macbook Pro 2.4GHz Core Duo 2, Mac OS X (10.5.7), 4Gb RAM

Posted on May 26, 2009 6:44 AM

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Answer 1

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

May 26, 2009 7:30 AM in response to dariusp

dariuspoli wrote:
Do I need a specific "USB Guitar"?

you would need one that is _mac compatible_

I've also seen cables that seem to go from phono to USB

that would be an audio interface, and just like above, if the interface is mac compatible, it should work fine.

here's are some of the more popular interfaces:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Interfaces.html

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Answer 2

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

May 26, 2009 7:51 AM in response to dariusp

Don't buy a guitar on what will work with garageband. Any guitar will work. Buy a guitar that plays well sounds good to you and is fairly well made. I wouldn't even bother with a usb guitar.

Most guitars can plug directly into many macs with a simple guitar cable and the right plugs or a cheep adapter. This should be all you need while your learning to play and record.

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Answer 3

May 26, 2009 1:30 PM in response to HangTime

isteveus is right on... DON'T BUY A USB GUITAR - they're junk! I use a Les Paul and also a Strat - used to go direct with an adapter now I use an INTERFACE - lotsa good ones - both USB and FIREWIRE - from $49 and up. Try an adapter - 1/4" (Guitar Cable) -> 1/8" mini into your Mac first - if your signal is weak then let us know and we can recommend some nice interfaces. I use a BOSS GS-10 as my USB Interface and it's AMAZING - every king of Amp and Effect imaginable built-in.

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Answer 4

May 26, 2009 4:33 PM in response to Pat-italiano-Valella

strangedogs wrote:
isteveus is right on... DON'T BUY A USB GUITAR - they're junk! I use a Les Paul and also a Strat - used to go direct with an adapter now I use an INTERFACE - lotsa good ones - both USB and FIREWIRE - from $49 and up.

If strangedogs has gotten converted from NO INTERFACE to "now I use an INTERFACE," there's gotta be something to them. 🙂

While I'd just as soon buy something from Hangtime's link above, sweetwater's site is a good place to research them, because they have just about everything (I'd just avoid Digidesign hardware unless you're going to use ProTools):

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/computer-audio/audio_interfaces/

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Answer 5

poflynn

Level 4

1,303 points

May 26, 2009 9:30 PM in response to MattiMattMatt

I would prefer not to get an amp at this stage.

And there's really no need to. You can plug into GB and use the effects there.
I don't know if the MacBook has the preamp but you can often plug straight into the Mac using a 1/4" to 1/8" converter plug. But an interface of some kind is much preferred. And, yes, I certainly would not bother with a USB guitar.

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Answer 6

MacIIx

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2009 8:07 AM in response to poflynn

echoing what everyone else has said, no need for a usb guitar... If you have one already, it will work.
I have a '64 Silvertone, all stock, just plugged in the line in with an 1/8 to 1/4 adapter and it gives the most wicked surf sound I got!

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