How to Record an Electric Guitar on Your Mac

Connecting Your Guitar to Your Mac: Digital Option

System with I/O Hardware

There are several advantages to recording guitars through digital audio interfaces. They make it easy to zero in on the perfect input level. They can sound better — Mac audio supports 44.1kHz/16-bit analog recording, but digital boxes can go as high as 192kHz/24-bit. This can mean clearer, more three-dimensional sound. You can also record more than two tracks at the same time (analog only permits two mono tracks or a single stereo one). And digital interfaces can minimize your system’s latency (time lag).

Steps

Don’t install the software that comes with the interface until you’ve visited the manufacturer’s website and confirmed that you have the latest version. Chances are you’ll need to download and install an update.
Connect the interface to your Mac via FireWire or USB cable. (If the interface doesn’t have its own power source, you may need to connect it directly to the Mac, not to a USB hub.)

Connect your guitar to the interface’s 1/4-inch input.
Select instrument-level input if that’s an option.
Open System Preferences.
Click on the Sound icon.
Click the Input tab.
Select the Line In option. Your interface should appear in the device list. Select it.
Open your recording software.
Create a new track.
Set the track input to the correct source.
Set the input level by adjusting the interface’s output control.

Pages1 2 3

How to Record an Electric Guitar on Your Mac

Tips

Choosing an interface

Consider how many simultaneous recording tracks you’ll need. Four tracks probably aren’t enough to record an entire band, but the same four tracks are more than enough for a play-everything overdubber.

Other questions to consider: Do you need something portable enough to take on the road? Does it matter whether it’s powered by the computer’s USB bus or a “wall-wart” adapter? Would a built-in MIDI controller be helpful? Will you be plugging in microphones as well as guitars? Are you interested in a device with built-in amp and stompbox modeling?

Some digital audio systems require proprietary hardware — for example, if you are a Pro Tools user, you need a Digidesign-approved interface. Know your needs before you buy.

Update your driver

There’s a good chance that both the interface manufacturer and Apple have upgraded their software since the product shipped. Always check the manufacturer’s site for the latest software drivers.