Steelman on 24/3/2010 at 21:52
I'd like to get back in to learning to play electric guitar after giving it up about 10 years ago.
I've still got all my gear (guitar, amp, pedals, leads) but now I have a computer and internet access!
Without doing much research I recently bought a 1/4" jack-USB lead and quickly found out about latency! (£23 down the drain :wot:) - I honestly thought it would be as simple as plugging in and away you go:o
Can anyone on here give me some advice on this?
The Behringer UCG102 looks like good value but does it actually work and what's the latency like? I've also been looking at the Line6 GuitarPort RiffTracker. It's a lot more money but it does look like it comes with some very good software and I have a birthday coming up in May so it's not out of the question. Any other good quality/reasonably priced interfaces out there that I should be looking at?
Btw I like to play classic rock so anything that comes with classic amp emulation would be a bonus.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
Volitions Advocate on 25/3/2010 at 13:20
if you're talking strictly a guitar interface rather than a more general purpose recording interface then I'd suggest any multi-effect platform that has a USB out. Boss GT-10 is a good example. I'm not sure about the line6 stuff but similar types of things with USB out should work.
Otherwise go and get yourself an inexpensive audio interface like an M-audio USB fastrack type of thing. Or get a mini M-box. that'll give you 2 inputs and come bundled with Pro Tools LE. I'm not a fan of pro tools myself but there's nothing stopping you from being creative with it.
Steelman on 25/3/2010 at 19:53
Thanks for the reply Volitions Advocate
Being new to this sort of thing, I'm not really sure what I want exactly! I do know that I want to be able to plug my guitar into my PC and be able to play without any latency. Basically I'm looking to be able to jam along with tracks on my PC without disturbing my wife or the neighbours. Effects and amp emulation would be good also as it would stop my computer room from being more cluttered than it already is.
The Line6 GuitarPort RiffTracker caught my eye as it claims it eliminates latency and comes with effects, amp emulation and includes recording facilities.
The M-audio USB fastrack looks good and is a reasonable price. What's the latency like? I presume that if I bought this I could use it with any amp/effects/recording software that I might install at a later date?
Thanks again for any more help and/or advice.
Volitions Advocate on 25/3/2010 at 21:28
if you're just using it for practice/jamming than a recording interface isn't all that important. Just get something that will plug into your computer that you can hear the guitar through. Like I mentioned before with the multi effects units.
BUT if you are planning on recording some stuff later than the interface is your best bet. because you can plug any thing into it without guitar colouration. that coupled with a basic DAW program like Cubase SX (or whatever the suffix is) or ProTools M-powered or the like would serve you well, because then you could lay down tracks and play along with them. Audacity has this functionality as well and it's free.
Anything like the FastTrack would work well for you and latency is always present but manageable because you're only dealing with one audio signal, you can adjust for the latency as well which just taxes the CPU a little more. but something as small as 10 - 20 msecs you shouldn't really notice.
So check out PreSonus and see what they have, they've got good inexpensive gear. M-audio is okay as well. But stay away from MOTU if you're using windows.
Unless you're planning on tracking an entire band yourself, go with one of those little 1 or 2 channel USB interfaces. It should work just fine.
Steelman on 30/3/2010 at 17:50
Thanks again for the great advice.
I think that I would like to be able to record my stuff at some stage and would at least like the option. I've done a bit more research and checked out the PreSonus and M-audio like you said, they sound like good bits of kit but I think I'm going to go for the Line 6 as it seems to suit what I'm looking for. Like I said I have a birthday coming up so that's what I'll be asking for:D
I'll let you know how I get on.
Cheers:thumb:
