Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
Since Apple took away the audio input jack, on the back of the newer 2013 iMacs (not a smart move Apple) …. what are some of the best, and then least expensive ways to hook up my electric guitar to my 2013 iMac?
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), Apple TV, iPhone 4S
I was able to quite easily plug my guitar into garageband on my old mac mini, and a little saddened when there was no audio in socket in my iMac!!! I tried the Cateck USB 3.0 5-Port Aluminum Hub, which has a audio and microphone socket, but that doesn't seem to work. Mac Rumours suggests that Apple have locked out non-Apple products, which is also a little sad. Without knowing much about it, I hope that something like the t.bone USB 1G Klinke-USB-Adapter or Behringer GUITAR 2 USB from Thomann.de will get it done. I hope that helps someone.
The audio input was not a guitar input, and now that (thankfully) it is gone you will need to use a real guitar interface via USB.
An audio input is not a guitar input, but a usb is a guitar input. It seems to make sense to you, and I assume you know more than I do, so thanks - good to know the cable is all I need.
A USB socket is not an audio input of any kind, but is where the guitar interface can be connected (as can a Firewire or Thunderbolt socket) You will have to choose a guitar interface (usually but not necessarily a pre-amplifier)
Do I need more than a cable with a 6.3 at one end and a usb at the other end, which is in the category of "USB Adapter / Interface"? Do I need something like the Behringer U-Phoria UM2, in the category of "USB Audio Interface"?
Yes you will need something with a guitar input and a USB output, it will be a device, not a cable.
XofDyer wrote:
An audio input is not a guitar input, but a usb is a guitar input. It seems to make sense to you,
I think you may have misunderstood the information. The "interface" is a type of guitar input that connects via USB. Your computer and all of its applications are a digital platform. Anything that is input in an analog format (voice, instrument, turntable) will need to be converted to ones (1) and zeroes (0) at some point. Now, your guitar never had the proper impedance to interact with your computer via the audio input. It sent some sound which you computer interpreted as digital information, just not in the correct amount or quality.
There are many manufacturers that sell quality interfaces for analog instruments. The two I'm most familiar with are "iRig" by IK Multimedia and "Jam" by Apogee. Each have their strengths and weaknesses (Google is your friend) and either can be purchased at comparable price points.
How Do I Connect Guitar to 2013 iMac
