Anyone using their laptops as amplifiers?

[Braunz0]

I'm kind of curious and wondering if anyone actually does this here. I've thought about it in several instances. It would keep my back from dying. How do you change channels? How do you keep digital noise to a minimum?

Been messing with Logic and have been entertaining the idea of using it for a little side project.

[guitargeek]

laptop running amplitube into a full range PA is a nice combo. convincing tones. switch channels via midi control (fcb1101 or rocktron all access)

[iaresee]

Doesn't someone even make a controller + I/O box all in one for taking a virtual rig live? Yea, here it is, the StompIO (http://ikmultimedia.com/stompio/features/).

[Hides-His-Eyes]

If you're gonna go down this path, i'd advise either using mac computers or a completely clean install of windows (have to be a dual boot unless you don't need the laptop for anything else)

one low cpu click x 2kW of PA = an issue

[Braunz0]

If you're gonna go down this path, i'd advise either using mac computers or a completely clean install of windows (have to be a dual boot unless you don't need the laptop for anything else)

one low cpu click x 2kW of PA = an issueI'm running one of the new Macbook Pros at the moment.

[JeremyLangford]

I'm running one of the new Macbook Pros at the moment.

What is the best way to plug into a new Macbook Pro to use it as an amp? I ordered one of the new $1200 MBPs last night and I'm thinking of ordering a Griffin iMic to plug my tele into the laptop to practice at home. I think that using the "mic" setting will boost my guitar signal enough so that I can play in GarageBand.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/

I really don't see any other way to use my laptop as an amp besides using the "Audio In" jack and I've read that a dry guitar signal isn't really strong enough to be picked up by the computer.

[Hides-His-Eyes]

if you can afford a $1200 computer, you can afford a legit audio interface with a Hi-Z input.

Line6 do one, the big pro audio companies (M-audio, Edirol etc) have one for every budget.

any of these units would do everything your imic does and more, except they'd only accept real mics instead of crappy PC ones.

[JeremyLangford]

Are you talking about putting a mic in front of my amp? I would love to do that for recording a song but for now I am just trying to practice at home with my guitar only so that I can leave my amp at my band's practice space.

[Braunz0]

Are you talking about putting a mic in front of my amp? I would love to do that for recording a song but for now I am just trying to practice at home with my guitar only so that I can leave my amp at my band's practice space.

I have an Apogee Duet and I run my guitar directly into that with an instrument cable. Garageband and Logic have settings already specifically for the Duet. Great for practice. Haven't exactly worked out the bugs for live applications yet... Yet.

[JeremyLangford]

So would the most professional way to send a guitar signal to a computer for recording with your guitar amp be to put a mic in front of your amp and use the "Mic In" input on your computer so that the signal goes straight to the soundcard?

And would the most professional way to use a computer for guitar amplification be to plug the guitar chord directly in the "Mic In" input on your computer for the same reason?

Or does using USB and Firewire as your audio input send the signal straight to the soundcard just like the "Mic In" and "Audio In" inputs? Does a USB or Firewire cable transfer your signal slower than an instrument cable?

[Braunz0]

You're going to need a dedicated interface more than likely... Otherwise you'll just overdrive your sound card and that doesn't sound good.

[Hides-His-Eyes]

So would the most professional way to send a guitar signal to a computer for recording with your guitar amp be to put a mic in front of your amp and use the "Mic In" input on your computer so that the signal goes straight to the soundcard?

No.

And would the most professional way to use a computer for guitar amplification be to plug the guitar chord directly in the "Mic In" input on your computer for the same reason?

absolutely not.

Or does using USB and Firewire as your audio input send the signal straight to the soundcard just like the "Mic In" and "Audio In" inputs? Does a USB or Firewire cable transfer your signal slower than an instrument cable?


A Usb or firewire interface replaces your sound card, but would be specifically designed to accomodate a guitar level signal which you could run through Guitar Rig or Amplitube or Freeamp or something.

There would be a slight delay (known as latency) which would be greater with USB than with firewire, but this is what happens when you want to use computers. It shouldn't be noticeable on a high spec computer like yours if you set things up properly.

You want something like one of these:

http://line6.com/podstudio/