sound card with electric guitar interface

[barneygumble742]

hi,

i'm not big on sound cards. i have an electric guitar but not an amp. i was wondering if there is a sound card that has an input for my guitar and makes the computer an amp and the output be the computer speakers (which are really good in my opinion).

i heard a lot about midi and i don't know anything about it. to the best of my knowledge, i think it's another file format for musical instruments, mainly the piano.

thanks,
barneygumble742

[Gizmo]

It depends on your guitar. I'm not real good with this, hopefully someone with more experience can correct anything that I have wrong here.

I BELIEVE that you will need a phantom power supply for the pickup in your guitar, and an impedance convertor (can't remember the music term for these) to take the low impedance output from the guitar and turn it into a high impedance signal for the mic input on the sound card.

[JMa2969]

Nope, you just need a standard sound card (I use the Audigy MP3+ from Creative. Use a 1/8" female to 1/4" male converter to plug into the input of the sound card and away you go. Just don't expect live effects to come out of your speakers. Unless you pick up some advanced software (like pro-tools) then all effects are added after playing. They say that they can do live effects but in my experience (I play and have effects processors and amps and just hook those to the comp for recording) the "live" effects amount to garbage distortion that you cannot even hear what you are playing. But hook it up, no fancy converters, you can buythe part at radio shack for 2-4 bucks, and do your effects processing after, they really do sound great once you get the knack of setting up how you want it to sound. Just be very aware that to hear what you are playing, leave so called live effects off and hear the natural tone of the guitar and add effects in post. (Pro-tools is VERY expensive to use on a system if you can't afors the effects processors and amps to begin with). Not to stomp on any one elses opinions but from playing guitar for 16 years they do not need power converters (the action of the strings vibrating near the magnets of the pickups puts enough power out to be picked up by any input jack designed for sound input). Hope this helps you in your quest for sonic perfection (I just love the guitar...so much you can do with it even without effects...and then add computer generated effects....ahhh nirvana).
Tim

[JMa2969]

oops, got that backwards...thats a 1/4" female to 1/8" or 3/16" male...usually 1/8" male...but if I got the little number wrong ...like I said..they are a standard part at any Radio Shack....Just plug your guitar chord into the 1/4" end and the 1/8" into the input and away you go.
Tim

[JMa2969]

Originally Posted by barneygumble742

hi,

i'm not big on sound cards. i have an electric guitar but not an amp. i was wondering if there is a sound card that has an input for my guitar and makes the computer an amp and the output be the computer speakers (which are really good in my opinion).

i heard a lot about midi and i don't know anything about it. to the best of my knowledge, i think it's another file format for musical instruments, mainly the piano.

thanks,
barneygumble742

BTW...E-Mail me or PM me and let me know how things turn out for you...music is one of my gretest joys in life and helping a fellow musician would make my day!! And if you didn't get notification of my posts to your thread, go to your thread and read what I had to say.
Tim

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by JMa2969

Not to stomp on any one elses opinions but from playing guitar for 16 years they do not need power converters (the action of the strings vibrating near the magnets of the pickups puts enough power out to be picked up by any input jack designed for sound input).

Heh. You're not stompin' on me, bro'. I SAID I wasn't sure.

[JMa2969]

Originally Posted by gizmo

Heh. You're not stompin' on me, bro'. I SAID I wasn't sure.

I said I wasn't tryin' to stomp anyone...lol...I know i have been at that part of it a little longer than you. You outclass me in so many other areas though, ya gotta let me have one....lmao....btw..the first thing i saw when i got to this board was your cooling mod (that i bet got you your gig as staff...really cool. I have taken engineering courses and couldn't/wouldn't even try that one. Really top notch.
Tim

[Gizmo]

Thanks for the props.

The mod itself had very little (I think) to do with me being invited to join staff. It was the fact that they needed someone, I know a lot, I'm willing to share what I know (no, strike that; I believe I am REQUIRED to share what I know), and I try to help others with our group hobby. I believe you will find that the last two items exemplify EVERYONE on Staff. That's why we're here.

[robbie]

Hey Tim, I do music. Email me!!
Rob

[dem]

hey Barney, try this, do a google for guitar fx box and give it a shot, I tried it and though the demo is short it should give you an idea if you like it or not! I think it's like $20 to keep.

[danrok]

If you can play guitar get the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy ZS Platinum Pro 7.1 and you will be a very happy person!

It comes with jack inputs and all the sampling and effects software you need.

[barneygumble742]

unfortunately i've been away from my computer for a very long time. i ended up spending about $125 on a new fender amp.

but reading this thread now, i feel like a big doofus. i thought that it was that simple but after the first reply, about requiring extra power, i realized that my theory possibly can't work. but for future reference, i'll keep that in mind.

because when the guy at the guitar store opened up my guitar to fix the wires inside, the board looks so familiar. and naturally i thought to myself "there has to be a way to have it interface with a computer." and the tiny board inside the guitar reminded me of sound cards and naturally i kept thinking.

also, when i opened my new amp, my friends didn't know how to plug it in because the power cable is removable (same power cable as a pc and they don't know squat about computers). i was kind of surprised but at the same time i'm glad that if i ever loose the power cable, then i can use my pc's power cable...j/k.