The sound has to go into the computer, be processed via the software, and pass back out again before you can hear the sound of your guitar as if it were running through an amp. For guitarists, however, it's not quite so simple. When recording vocals, people often get around this using 'direct monitoring', whereby the unprocessed input signal is tapped off before it goes into the computer, for latency-free listening.

Most readers will be familiar with the problem of latency - the delay you hear when monitoring a signal as you're record it. And if you only want to use your computer as a software guitar rig, things get even easier: for under £20 $20, you can get a guitar-to-USB cable - essentially a compact audio interface built into a cable - which will have you up and running in no time.įor more advice on choosing an audio interface, you can read our in-article feature on the matter at /sos/sep08/articles/audiointerfaces.htm. There are countless models around that allow you to plug in a guitar, and many that will also accept microphone signals, which would be ideal for recording basic demos. If you have no interface at all, the simplest option is probably to go for one of the many USB devices available. If you have such an interface, you're pretty much good to go! Some interfaces, however, have only mic or line inputs, in which case you'll need either a DI box (for mic inputs) or a guitar preamp (for line inputs) before you can start jamming. Many audio interfaces already have such a facility: a quarter-inch jack socket that presents a high input impedance (sometimes known as 'Hi-Z'). Socket To Meįirstly, you'll need something to plug your guitar into. To get the best out of such software, though, there are a few things you need to consider. It's not just software versions of studio outboard that have proliferated in recent years: there are now more plug-in emulations of guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets on the market than you can shake a stick at! The quality of many of them is very good indeed, and the prospect of getting your computer to take the place of an amp stack and pedalboard, at a fraction of the price (and size!) of equivalent hardware, is indubitably enticing. If your interface has an instrument jack input, like this one, then a bit of software could be all you need to get the perfect guitar tone from your computer. Can your computer fulfil the next stage of your tonequest? Software amp sims have come on leaps and bounds in recent years.

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