Hey, all. I'm a BIAB noob. I bought the 2010.5 version when I was working on the piano, but I've moved cities and the piano didn't fit into my carry-on so I've switched to the guitar.

I bought 2015 today and want to use BIAB to generate tracks for me to practice with. I suck, so things will only be in the key of C for now.

Is there a way for me to plug my electric guitar into my computer, and then plug my headphones into the computer so I hear both BIAB and the guitar in the same set of headphones? Right now I'm using an electric guitar without an amp and my laptop speakers kinda suck. I do have a Rocksmith cable that connects from my electric guitar to a USB port. Can I use this?

Little help?

doogiet

It would depend on your computer, but probably not going to find a happy ending going the short route as you describe.

Do you have an effects pedal you could run the guitar through? Or an amp with Line Out capabilities?
That would likely be your better option; most basic system do not handle guitar level signals very well .. line level is much more commonly supported.

Something like a Line6 POD, Digitech RP150 or a Behringer V-Amp would work if an amp is unavailable. The key is getting the low level guitar signal up to a line level signal.

Of course there are workarounds, but achieving joy is much easier with some kind of amp sim.

Hi, Doogiet.



I was able to go out on the web and within minutes had seen several examples of people stating happiness using what you have for inputting guitar with various DAW's. Here's one such:



Therefore, I don't see any reason why not. I would imagine PG Music software works with drivers that are capable of controlling the device*

It will probably take some work, as suggested, to find the right latency settings. Once done, I'll bet it works just fine for your purposes in both RealBand and BIAB. *As always, I may be wrong.

Just know this: any effects you apply in the DAW to that guitar signal, if done in real time (iow, so that you can hear the effect while playing) will dramatically increase latency. The workaround is to record with no effects applied, then apply the effects to the already recorded passages. You will likely get tired of this quickly, because hearing the effect real time changes how one plays, as adjustments are made to complement the effect that are USUALLY for the better

So, the previous suggestion of an effects box is a great one. I have a Korg AX1G, for example, and I love it. It has an array of amp sims and effects, is programmable, and has plenty of power to boost the signal as needed.

-Eric

One of the biggest problems with the "cable devices" like you describe.... is they have latency issues in many systems.

How I do it:

I use either a Line6 Pod2 or an amp. I connect the outputs of the POD or the mic to my Focusrite Saffire interface..... which connects to the computer and that works perfectly fine with minimal latency. I use the ASIO driver and the Saffire shows up as input and output options in my DAW, and anything else (BiaB) when I select the input for recording or monitoring.

The Saffire gives me exactly what is happening inside the box either with it's headphone jacks or at it's monitor outputs.

FWIW here is my take on your situation.

Since you don't have an amp and your laptop speakers kinds suck I wouldn't use the Rocksmith Cable. I would buy a Roland Micro Cube amp for $150 USD, sometimes they are on sale as a friend got one for $88 USD:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MicroCubeGX

You can either play through the amp as you jam with BiaB or you can use the line out and play and record through your laptop. You could also use a mic and record the amp that way also.

I have a MicroCube and it is one fantastic little amp. In fact it is the only guitar amp I own!

I hope this helps - MarioD

Hey, all. Thanks for your replies. I'm a noob with all of this talk of gear and cables and whatnot (I had to Google DAW to see what it meant).

I'm looking for the simplest solution. I have an amp, but it's this tiny Marshall device that takes a nine volt battery and is small enough to clip on one's belt (it even has a clip). If I ever get good enough to play with other people, I'll need to a get a better/real amp. It doesn't have a line out, just an input and a headphone jack. You can see it here: http://amzn.to/1BNTjWX The Micro Cube amp that was suggested looks pretty hot (or maybe it's just the guitarist).

Still, I know my way around a computer pretty well. How hard would it be for me to set up all the drivers and whatnot for the Rocksmith cable? I'm not sure if I would even know if it was working, etc. Are there videos online on how to set up a cable? Should I download amplitube and try that?

Update:

I fiddled with the computer and BIAB to recognize the Rocksmith cable. But, like I was warned, there are lag issues that make it sound pretty bad. I fiddled with the audio and driver settings and was able to get it down to a lot less, but it's still there and it's irritating.

I think I'll go buy that Cube amp that was suggested. It would be nice to have a real one. Then I just need the proper cable, I suppose.

D

Will you be plugging the cable directly into your computer via the computer's sound card or do you have an audio interface?

I'm not even sure what an audio interface is, unless it's some kind of doohickey that plugs into the computer. I'm planning on buying the Cube amp and then a cable so I can plug the line out from the amp directly into the microphone/line in port on my laptop.

I totally suck still, but BiaB is making me want to practice more.

D

You will need a guitar cable and a guitar plug to mini plug adaptor like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Mini-Adaptor-Cable-Inch/dp/B001DK1ZVO

Okay, great! Thanks for the tip, I'll pick one up with my amp.

An interface is simply an external (most often) sound card with features that make it perfect for recording and mixing music. The better ones use ASIO as a driver and that comes on a disk with the interface or are available from the manufacturers web site.

Using one and setting it up to be the default sound card for your recording system in your DAW makes your system act like it should act.... with near perfect echo back and extremely low latency for synths.

Using one will reduce that latency (delay) you hear to levels that you can work with. I still hear a slight delay or latency when I work with the amp sims like Amplitube. There's an awful lot of processing that has to be applied to the clean guitar signal to get it sounding like a stack of Fender Twins or whatever else AND get that signal back to the speakers quickly enough to still be in sync with the source material. If that can be done in less than 8 to 10 milliseconds, it sounds like it's in sync well enough for rock and roll.

Those little cables can't make that round trip that quickly so you end up with stuff so badly out of sync, that for the most part it's totally useless to someone trying to record to the music.

This gives me pretty low latency for audio in from a mike.

http://smile.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424872699&sr=8-1&keywords=Focusrite+scarlett

Just so I understand correctly: If I plug my guitar into the line in port on my computer from the line out of the amp I'm going to buy, I won't have any latency, right?

Get the FocusRite 2i2 or 2i4 Audio Interface as mentioned above by PhillyJazz. Period.

Any time you use the factory chips.... no telling what kind of latency you will end up with.

Get a dedicated USB interface running ASIO drivers with nice audio preamps and phantom power and be done with latency.

Is the REC/OUT output the same as a Line Out output?

I bought the amp you suggested. I love it! It's small and light and portable and has a great sound. It's perfect for where I'm at right now. Thanks so much.



DoogieT

By definition, yes, it's supposed to be. It might bypass part of the mixer on the amp, though - depends on what the line out purpose is. The manual should indicate that but yes, a Record Out signal is line level.

That amp has been one of the best selling small amps at my parents music store for quite a while. I agree; nice suggestion Mario.

Personally, I like the rack/pedal layout for recording (regardless of brand), since technically a speaker is not needed and may affect the judgement of the output sound. Listen to it 'after' recording it.
These particular amps have a nicer line output signal for recording than the speaker can replicate. Often sounds better on the recorded track than the live speaker.

It's hard to explain this to some people. They 'hear' it and think that's what they will get when they record it .. but it isn't.