Usb Guitar Interface Mac Garageband
Oct 27, 2007 I am planning on purchasing an IMac today and will be using garageband for recording. Can you tell me what is the best audio interface for garageband that will produce professional results? You can connect a real MIDI keyboard through a USB cable (on most newer gear) or a MIDI adapter (on older equipment). You can connect other MIDI instruments, including guitars, woodwinds, and drums, and record onto a real instrument track in GarageBand. Click the red Record button when you’re ready to rock.
Apogee GiO is a studio quality guitar interface that turns your Mac into the ultimate guitar rig for recording, rehearsing, or performing live on stage. GiO unlocks total control of the virtual guitar amps and effects in GarageBand, Logic, and MainStage through a single foot controller and professional audio interface. Jan 22, 2008 Support Communities / iLife / GarageBand for Mac. Can you tell me what is the best audio interface for garageband that will produce professional results? Dell, Windows XP Posted on Oct 27, 2007 9:11 PM. I will also use the interface to input guitar to the computer. I don't mind paying a bit more for better build and sound. This interface works perfectly out of the box on PC or Mac. You can also record on iPad if you buy the Apple MK0W2AM/A Lightning To USB Camera Adapter. Record direct onto your iPad, into Garageband or other apps, as well as on your Mac or PC. It is just one bit of guitar recording kit designed to be totally mobile, portable and multi-platform. Apogee JAM is a USB guitar interface for connecting and recording studio quality electric guitar or bass with GarageBand on iPad, iPhone and Mac. Mac and iPad / Connectivity via USB. 16 input / 8 output rack-mountable audio interface. Smart minimalistic design with plenty of inputs on the front of the interface. On/Off switch for ease. Suitable for engineers and bands looking to record live sessions (multiple instruments simultaneously).
The iRig HD 2 from IK Multimedia is arguably the best beginner audio interface for recording guitar with Garageband.
I own three audio interfaces: the Focusrite Saffire 6USB, the Scarlett 2i2, as well as the iRig HD 2.
Due to the fact I rarely record vocals, I pretty much always stick to the iRig HD 2, on account of the fact it’s super small and convenient.
To be truthful, I would argue that, while the iRig HD 2 is not the absolute “best” you can get in terms of audio interfaces, it is great for just recording guitar and it’s the perfect interface if you’re looking for a unit that will do the trick while also being inexpensive.
With that said, there are other solid audio interfaces on the market that have multiple inputs for not only the guitar, but also vocals, so there aren’t any limitations in terms of how many instruments you can use at once.
For instance, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 has two inputs, that way you can have your guitar/bass/etc plugged in while also recording vocals. You can read more about the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 at this link here.
The iRig HD 2, on the other hand, is only meant for playing the guitar, so if that’s all you’re looking for – just a simple audio interface for playing the guitar – then the HD 2 is a great choice, especially considering its relatively cheap price.
On the other hand, there are some issues with it. My biggest gripe with the iRig HD 2 is the fact it’s made out of plastic, which, to me, always communicates “cheap.”
Other than that, the iRig HD 2 doesn’t have a lot of down-sides to it, with the exception of some users finding it difficult to get their computer to recognize it.
Let’s say you’ve purchased the iRig HD 2 and you’re having trouble getting Garageband to recognize it; this problem can be solved by rebooting Garageband with your iRig HD 2 plugged in.
It’s also worth noting that if you have a new MacBook Pro, rather than one of the old ones, you’ll need a USB-C to USB port, so make sure to pick one of those up if that’s the case. Although, if you own a new MacBook Pro, you probably are already aware of the necessity of an adaptor.
You can even have GarageBand play through a chord progression where you pick the notes it will play. Just like the Mac version, you'll be able to see each track visually making it easy to fine tune each part of your songs.Just like the Mac version of GarageBand, you'll also be able to record your own tracks straight into the iPad and then combine them with loops, other instruments, or whatever you want. How to download loops for garageband ipad. Some instruments have unique touch-screen interfaces, such as the guitar, which gives you a strumming interface. Soren referred to these handy interface tricks as 'training wheels' for beginning musicians.
If you want to get a USB-C to USB-B port, I recommend checking out this one right here on Amazon. This one, in particular, has four USB ports, so you can plug in multiple devices if necessary.
Let’s move on to the details and specifications of the unit, as well as what comes with the box.
***The iRig HD 2 is compatible with PC, Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
What Comes With The iRig HD 2
- Micro USB to Thunderbolt Cable (for new iPhone users)
- Micro USB to USB Cable (Will Need an Adaptor if you’re computer is brand new)
- A clip for attaching it to the microphone stand.
- ***Amplitube 4 for Mac and PC (and Amplitube for iOS)
***It’s worth noting that many of the amplifiers and presets that come with Amplitube 4 are locked, which for me, has rendered Amplitube 4 completely worthless. I never use it. From what I understand, you actually have to purchase each amp model.
- T-RackS 5 Custom Shop
- AmpliTube Custom Shop
- Syntronik Free
- SampleTank Custom Shop
It has a Micro USB Device Output and a 1/8″inch Headphone port.
And LED light that communicates that it’s turned on and whether the signal is too hot or just right.
Assuming you use the points in the next 6 months, that's another $34, so it would effectively get the price down to $391. Omnisphere 2 black friday sale. $429 You could then try and get Musician's Friend to match or beat that as that is their policy. Then you would get another 8% off in Backstage Pass Points.
It flashes blue when it’s turned on, flashes red when the signal is too hot, and it flashes green when it’s just right.
It has a gain control knob on it on the left-hand side of the unit, also known as a pre-amp control. In other words, you can turn down the strength of the signal in case you’re clipping.
It’s worth noting that if you’re using a guitar with active (battery-powered such as EMGs) pick-ups, you might have to turn down the gain because the signal is much stronger.
It also has a microphone clip on the back for clipping it to your microphone on stage or wherever, not only for the convenience of use but also for using the unit as a stomp-box. We’ll dive into what I mean by that later.
On the bottom of the iRig HD 2, it has two ports, the 1/4 instrument jack as well as a 1/4 amplifier jack.
What this allows, is for us to send a signal to the computer/Garageband, and to an amplifier at the same time, so we can use an amplifier/cab combo for a speaker system, and also record it through Garageband at the same time.
In other words, in case you want to play your traditional amp and cabinet set-up, including with all of your pedals and whatnot, you can send the “traditional set-up” signal into Garageband for recording, or you can play it through Garageband’s Amp Designer.
If you want to read more about using the Amp Designer, click the link here to read the article I wrote about it.
On the right-hand side of the unit, we have the FX-Thru switch as well as a headphone volume control.
The “FX” setting is for playing the guitar through Garageband’s interface. In other words, it sends the processed signal from the software, in this case, Garageband, to the iRig HD 2.
This means we can use the computer/Garageband as the amplifier/pedal effects.
The “Thru” setting is for the unprocessed signal, which means we’re using the “dry unprocessed signal,” of the guitar through the guitar amplifier, and using that signal and sending it into Garageband.
Guitar Interface For Mac Garageband
This might be confusing, so I’ll explain it another way.
The “FX” setting is for playing the guitar using Garageband as the pedal-effects board/amplifier setting, and then sending that signal out to a guitar amplifier or a mixing board for playing a live show.
If you intend on only using the iRig HD 2 through the computer and playing it back through the speakers, then FX is what you want.
FX is also the setting you want if you’re going to plug your guitar pedals into the iRig and play it through your computer speakers.
The “Thru” setting means that we’re sending an unprocessed signal to a guitar amplifier or a mixing board. In other words, the “Thru” toggle switch means that we’re sending a signal unaffected by Amplitube or Garageband settings out to an amplifier or a mixing board.
The device is 24bit and has a 96kHz sampling rate, which means that the device is operating at what is commonly believed to be the industry standard for recording.
If you want to read more about what these terms mean, check out my article on audio interfaces, The Definitive Guide to Audio Interfaces.
Other Important Things To Consider
- As I mentioned in passing above, if the LED light is flashing red, that means that you’re clipping, and you need to turn the gain on the audio interface down.
- Aim to have the LED signal flashing green when you’re strumming hard on your guitar
- For Amplitube 4, you actually have to purchase each model in the Custom Shop, which in my opinion, was a huge disappointment. Like I said above, if you know how to access these without paying $25 for each model, let me know.
- The iRig HD 2 doesn’t work for microphones, it only works for bass and guitar.
- Make sure you’ve selected “iRig HD 2” as the input, down in the Smart Controls in the Recording Settings. You can see what this looks like in the image below.
- If you’re having issues getting Garageband to recognize the device, try and reboot Garageband with the iRig HD 2 plugged in. This is what I did when I first bought the device and had trouble getting the computer to recognize it. Additionally, you can go into Garageband’s preferences and change the “Output” and “Input” device settings.
- Make sure your “Enable Audio Units” box is checked, which will allow you to enable various AU plug-ins, including Amplitube if you end up wanting to use it.
- It’s also worth mentioning that, yes, you can use the iRig HD 2 with your guitar pedals. If you want to know how to plug your guitar pedals into Garageband while using the iRig HD 2 as an audio interface, click the link here.
- I’ve also noticed that some MicroUSB cables don’t work with the iRig HD 2 for some reason. For instance, despite having the same cable as nearly all of my vapes, they don’t work in the same way, so make sure that you’re using the MicroUSB that comes in the box, rather than some other miscellaneous cable. This might just be an issue with the vape cables, but I can’t say for sure – just something to keep in mind.
How To Set Up The iRig HD 2
In terms of just getting the iRig HD 2 set up, it’s not that hard. It’s just a matter of plugging it into your computer, which looks a lot like the image below.
1) Plug your USB to USB-C adaptor into your computer
2) Plug the USB to MicroUSB cable into the adaptor
3) Attach the MicroUSB to your iRig HD 2
4) Plug your guitar cable into the iRig HD 2, and then run it into your guitar.
How To Access Amplitube 4 and Other Free Software
This part is optional, but in order to get access to Amplitube 4, Custom Shop, and the other plug-ins that it comes with, you must register the product with IK Multimedia on their website.
You don’t have to do this if you intend on just using the iRig HD 2 as is, however, it is necessary for accessing Amplitube.
1) Go to IK Multimedia’s website at www.ikmultimedia.com
2) Make an account with them.
3) Register the iRig HD 2’s serial number with IK Multimedia. You can find the serial number for the product on the box.
4) Once you’ve registered the product with them, you’ll have to download the authorization manager to set everything up, but once everything has been registered, you’ll land on a page that looks like this.
Then, you can download all of the plug-ins that it comes with.
YouTube Video Tutorial
Conclusion
All in all, the iRig HD 2 is definitely a really handy device to have if you’re a guitar player, and it’s worth grabbing, especially if you’re all about the convenience of use or you need an audio interface to travel with on the road.
Additionally, if you’re in the market for a portable audio interface that’s good for both microphones and the guitar, the iRig Pro I/O is a great choice because it works for both. I wrote about the iRig Pro I/0 more in detail at this link here.
Usb Guitar Interface Software
There are also additional models with more than one input, so you can plug your guitar as well as your microphone into the same unit at the same time. It costs more money, however.