Best USB Guitar Cable (Guitar-USB Interfaces): A quick, convenient and inexpensive way to connect your guitar to a computer and record is to use a guitar-usb adapter. Here we review the best budget guitar-usb interfaces to get your guitar sound on the computer.
Introduction
Not sure how to quickly get your guitar connected to the computer so that you can record your musical ideas?
The quickest, easiest and cheapest way is to get a guitar-USB interface.
You need to plug your guitar at one end and connect the other end to a USB port (of the computer).
Once connected, you can start recording on your favorite DAW recording software. You can even use amp simulators and other effects on your computer to create a better guitar sound.
Just plug your guitar or bass and play! You can even choose the output method – listen on your headphones (or monitor), or through your pc speakers (or computer headphone out).
Best USB Guitar Interfaces/Adapters
Here are the best USB options available to guitarists. Use one of these Guitar/Bass to USB Link Cable Adapter for PC/MAC Recording – guitar one end, USB the other, and start recording. Start recording quickly and easily.
Alesis GuitarLink Plus
Works with Mac, PC and even iPad (with iPad-USB adapter). Studio-quality audio without needing to install drivers. Headphone port allows you to listen to yourself while recordingComes with a free adapter in case your headphones only have mini-jack.
See PRICE on Amazon
Apogee JAM
Use this to connect your guitar to iPad, iPhone, Mac or Windows PC. Easy plug and play interface for guitarists. Built for GarageBand and Logic Pro, but works fine with any recording software or app.
See PRICE on Amazon
Behringer UCG102
The Behringer UCG102 guitar-USB interface amplifies the signal from your guitar and converts it into digital (from analog) so that you can directly record on your computer. Comes with output as well as guitar input.
See PRICE on Amazon
IK Multimedia iRig 2
Use it to record on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac and Android Smartphone. You can output to headphones or a guitar amp. A consistent bestseller ever since it was launched.
See PRICE on Amazon
USB Guitar Interface: Buying Guide
USB Guitar Link Cable Structure
A Guitar link cable is quite basic in the sense that one end of it is the USB and the other end is the jack.
This is the most common type of a USB Guitar Cable, though there are variations wherein the jack-end of the cable may differ and provide you options to connect a couple of inputs.
It is just a plug-and-play device and you don’t need any adapter to power it.
You can use this to connect any acoustic, electric or bass guitar to the computer, and allows it to record on your computer, and apply different amp settings.
How to Use It?
This can be used by amateurs as well as professionals to create your own music.
The USB end goes into your computer and the jack-end goes to the amplifier of your guitar. With this setup in place, you are now ready to record your guitar sound into the computer.
If you have a separate sound-card (and a separate pre-amp), you will need to plug the other end of the guitar cable/interface into the pre-amp, the pre-amp’s line output would then go into the audio interface, which would then go into the computer. Using a soundcard also solves the latency issues, as explained next.
You will need a software program like Garageband where you can sequence your recording.
- BEHRINGER UCG102 guitar link interface, works with Mac/Pc
- ClearClick Guitar to USB Cable, works with Mac/Pc
Latency Issues
USB Guitar Cables are perfect for practicing or for recording rough tracks, quite handy if you’ve started composing lot of songs lately.
Some of you may experience some latency issues, but then it’s not a big problem if you’re just laying down demo tracks. You could also plug-in your headphones into the headphone socket of the Guitar cable to reduce the latency (in case it bothers you).
To Conclude
This is an easy plug-and-play device that accepts a 1/4 inch plug, so that means though it is promoted as a guitar cable basically you can connect anything you want to it.
For example, you may even connect a multi effects pedal to it and see if you are happy with the results. Be creative and you can do several things with it actually. Not everyone may want to do a professional recording using this device, and might be actually looking for acceptable sounds and effects.
In either case, the USB Guitar Cable is useful accessory to have.
Also Read: More Guitar Cables for Stage and Studio
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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