How to Record an Electric Guitar on Your Mac
Optimizing Your Analog Signal
Basic System Connection: Audio Line in with Preamp
You need a strong signal to get a strong tone. But when you plug straight into your Mac, chances are your guitar will sound dull and timid.
That’s because the Mac’s inputs and outputs are optimized for -10dB line levels. Electric guitars signals are rarely that strong. This is especially true if you play a retro/vintage-type guitar.
Unless your guitar has active electronics, you probably need a preamp to boost your signal. (If your guitar doesn’t require a 9-volt battery, it’s probably passive.) A louder signal will also give you better results from your software’s amp- and stompbox-simulating plug-ins.
Steps
With a stompbox:
- Connect a clean boost pedal between your guitar and computer.
- If the pedal has a gain or overdrive knob, turn it down.
- Raise the output level while watching your software’s input meter. You want a signal loud enough to make the meter dance, but not loud enough to launch it into the red zone. You may need to add more gain/overdrive.
With a preamp:
- Connect the preamp between your guitar and computer.
- If the pedal has a switch labeled “phantom power” or “+48V,” turn it off. (It’s for condenser microphones, not guitars.) If there’s a “+20dB gain” switch, turn it on, but lower the input and output levels.
- Use the preamp’s level indicator to set the input level. You want strong illumination, but little or no red. Then adjust the preamp output so you’re seeing the same strong signal in your software’s input indicator.
