How to Connect Guitar to a Computer (4 Best Methods)

Find out step-by-step how to connect your guitar to a computer or laptop using the four best methods.
The above guide covers everything covered in this video as well as more information on audio interfaces and specific options.

Connecting your guitar to a computer is easy, but the method you choose will make a big difference in what you can record.

Video Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:13 Not Recommended Method
0:41 Audio Interface
2:47 Multi-Effects Pedal
4:32 Amp USB Output
5:29 USB Microphone
6:19 Choosing The Right Method

[randymiles]

Man, I tell you what, this video is great. I've been playing for over 25 years. Love metal, but for some reason I feel old because I own and play through a Marshall 🤣 playing through a computer always seemed a bit wimpy to me, but I've been seeing guys getting some serious tones this way. I've wanted to try it but had ZERO idea how to go about it. Thanks for the info👍

[guegel]

Matt Bellamy be like "what if I take the computer and put it IN the guitar?!?!"

[OddTheories]

I want to echo some of the comments here. This video was perfect. Comprehensive and straight to the point. I really appreciate not having to wade through nonsense to get to the answer to the question I asked by searching for video. Thanks!

[Mursto_]

I love this video. I've been playing guitar for just over 2 years now, and music recording is something that I always wanted to do but was nervous to start. This video helps a lot, so thank you greatly for this

[PeterDaley]

Thanks. I hadn't tried connecting my guitar to my computer - I just started wondering how a few day ago^

[genus]

Thank you so much!
I got the Scarlett... Tought it didnt work.. but you showed me it!

[pigeon]

At last!
A really helpful tuturial not just trying to sell us stuff
Thanks Aaron

[wreckoningday]

Thanks for the simple, quick and to the point instruction. I've been looking into getting set up to record at home and there's too much info on it. This really helped. Heading to your other videos now

[ransi_]

No bullshitting, Straight to the point, Subscribed!

[MyRackley]

I have a Yamaha AG06, which is a USB-powered mixer / audio interface. It has a "loopback" facility, which allows me to play a backing track from a computer program to the mixer, add vocal / guitar parts, and send the mix back to the same computer for recording on another program. I love it. It's inexpensive, too.
I also have a USB DAC to connect my computer (a Mac Mini) to my hi-fi.

[GuitarMooseMusic]

I already knew how I wanted to connect to my computer but you cleared up some questions I still had. Early on I was going to go with the focus rite but I found one that comes with a DAW, a keyboard, interface and monitors. It fits in my savings budget or my payment plan allowance amount that I give myself. Keep making the videos they help more than you know. 🤘🏻🎸👍🏻😎

[davitholke]

Excellent video bro, thank you very much. I have been planning to go back with the guitar and this was extremely helpful, thank you so much. We really need more people like you doing videos, for real !

[sledge]

If Carlsberg did Guitar to Computer videos this would be it. Everything I needed to know expolained in full and completely idiot proof. Brilliant video man.

[kahvipaputyyppi]

This was an excellent video for a noob like me! Clear instructions that don't assume I know anything.

[MiketheNerdRanger]

This is great; I don't have space to store a big ass amp.

[jakebaker]

Ive been using my old rocksmith adapter, the latency is a bit weird but it does work

[shadofist]

Man, I wish I had this video when I was a teenager. I was plugging in my bass via the line-via which fed into Audacity!

[EAT_SLEEP_DJ]

Directly to the point and Very good presentation makes it easy to follow.

[ricktheexplorer]

Consider this: I have a MIDI guitar. The MIDI component goes into the computer through USB, the Guitar amp is plugged into the computer through a USB interface. They both have latency.

So you can't record in time with the song. There is no knob that makes them in sync, there is no buffer setting which makes this better; it's just out of time with the song. There is no cure for it.

Recording live instruments on the computer doesn't work, because we don't have the technology yet.

[DanielVerberne]

Hello Aaron. I'm glad I've found your channel and this video in particular. I'm a guitarist with decades of playing as an amateur, but embarrassingly I've been mostly bereft of any understanding of how best to record my playing. I'm off to get myself an audio interface! Thank you.