I'm sorry about the exclamation mark in the title of this post, but here you will find about the worst possible mistakes people make when trying to plug their guitars into desktop and laptop computers.
Some of these practices are so dangerous that can even damage your computer and gear permanently.
And just in case you have missed it, please read my article on how to plug guitar into computer right way first.
Here are big no no's you should avoid at any cost if you want to make your guitar sound right:
This is the deadliest and the most nightmarish common mistake people do, because the "speaker out" connector from the back of your amp sends very strong, amplified signal that can burn your computer motherboard down along with your sound card and possibly your amp will get fried too.
The only good way of connecting your amp to computer is from the amplifier's LINE OUT (sometimes labeled as DI OUT or DIRECT OUTPUT).
Once again, check if your amp has line out connection and start from there with the right choice of cable connectors.
5. Connecting to computer from guitar pedals output
This is not going to work either. It's because the guitar pedals create unbalanced signal with "Hi Z" impedance. The signals of "Hi Z" type are meant for further processing by guitar amplifiers and not by computers. However, if your pedal or guitar processor is equipped with "line out" connector, it's great news because you can connect to computer straight from there. Also, you can use this "line out" to connect to mixer or PA.
If your pedal does not feature "line out", you'll need additional piece of equipment in your signal chain in between the pedal and the computer. There are several types of gear you may want to use in this situation (you'll only need to choose one of them):
Cheers!
Some of these practices are so dangerous that can even damage your computer and gear permanently.
And just in case you have missed it, please read my article on how to plug guitar into computer right way first.
Here are big no no's you should avoid at any cost if you want to make your guitar sound right:
1. Connecting guitar amp from "speaker out" to computer
 |
| Never use external speaker output to connect to computer! |
The only good way of connecting your amp to computer is from the amplifier's LINE OUT (sometimes labeled as DI OUT or DIRECT OUTPUT).
2. Connecting guitar amp from "headphones out" to computer
The chances are you'll not fry your computer from phones output, but there's huge probability your guitar will sound like tin can thrown in a coal mine this way. This is because different amp manufacturers make phones outs with very different impedances and you can easily end up with signal impedance mismatch at your computer input.Once again, check if your amp has line out connection and start from there with the right choice of cable connectors.
3. Connecting your guitar to computer audio input directly
I wish it could be as simple as that... what a wonderful world this would be!
Otherwise, plugging electric guitar straight to computer is possibly the only real life situation where $5.000 Gibson Les Paul and $100 Crapocaster sound exactly the same (in a bad way).
Otherwise, plugging electric guitar straight to computer is possibly the only real life situation where $5.000 Gibson Les Paul and $100 Crapocaster sound exactly the same (in a bad way).
Straight connection just don't work due to the guitar signal/computer audio input impedance mismatch. The signal you get this way is useless for processing in your DAW and even the best guitar modeling software like Amplitube or ReValver can't make any use of it.
4. Connecting guitar to computer via mixer
Theoretically, this is is very good solution but only if you have a mixer with guitar inputs. If so, you can go directly from the mixer to the computer. Know, guitar inputs on mixers are quite rare feature and you should feel very lucky if you have one.
Otherwise, the "regular" types of mixers are not capable of processing guitar signal at all because of the impedance mismatch - again (sigh).
In case you have a mixer without guitar inputs, you will need additional piece of equipment (as listed below under No. 5).
In case you have a mixer without guitar inputs, you will need additional piece of equipment (as listed below under No. 5).
5. Connecting to computer from guitar pedals output
This is not going to work either. It's because the guitar pedals create unbalanced signal with "Hi Z" impedance. The signals of "Hi Z" type are meant for further processing by guitar amplifiers and not by computers. However, if your pedal or guitar processor is equipped with "line out" connector, it's great news because you can connect to computer straight from there. Also, you can use this "line out" to connect to mixer or PA.If your pedal does not feature "line out", you'll need additional piece of equipment in your signal chain in between the pedal and the computer. There are several types of gear you may want to use in this situation (you'll only need to choose one of them):
- Audio interface
- Direct injection box
- Convenient preamp
- Guitar link
- Guitar amp with "line out"
Cheers!
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