Guitarists - question on home studio setup.

Makavelli · 4 Aug 2006 at 00:40

Guys i need your help. I know there are quite a lot of experienced muscians like dmpoole, andelusion etc. What i was looking for was some ideas/opinions on the best rig for silent practice? My problem is when the missus goes to bed i have to be quiet, no problem as i have a headphone out on my Korg AX1500 so i can listen to the guitar that way but i want some way of being able to hear GuitarPro through headphones as well. I have been looking at the line 6 Guitar Port as it has guitar in, stereo in, headphone out however as it is usb would i be right in thinking that my guitar playing won't synchronise with GuitarPro as there will be some lag? I am using onboard sound if i get something like an audiophile 2496 card would that stream in realtime? Any other suggestions as to how i could do this? I was wondering if it could be done through a small mixer say 4 channel or the like Channel 1 = guitar > AX1500G > mixer. Channel 2 = Line out comp > line in mixer ? I presume the mixer would have a headphone out? Might be able to pick up a mixer cheaper than guitarport on fleabay.

Just seen this

electro harmonix mini mixer

Anyone used one of these?

Andelusion · 4 Aug 2006 at 00:53

Does your Korg have a line out? You might be able to just plug that into the line in on your soundcard and use the headphone out on your soundcard to listen to yourself and guitar pro.

Makavelli · 4 Aug 2006 at 01:06

No it only has headphone out. Wouldn't i need a pretty decent sound card for everything to sync up? Have seen some behringer mini mixers as well that look a bit better than the electro ones, quite reasonable to.

SexyGreyFox · 4 Aug 2006 at 07:05

The headphone out should be fine and all you'll need to buy is a lead with two mini stereo jacks on the end. Buy a lead and see if you're happy with the sound.
If not then I can throughly recommend the Lineport although I'd probably opt for the Toneport now.

riddlermarc · 4 Aug 2006 at 10:20

I use an old rackmount pre-amp (Crate TDP) and run it into my soundcard's line in (you can also use the mic in socket).. from the soundcard's output socket I have a 2m extension cable so I don't have to fiddle round the back of the pc to swap headphones/speaker connections

One of the guys here at work has a Toneport, swears by it and I will probably end up getting one as/when funds are spare enough..

Docaroo · 4 Aug 2006 at 11:37

I dont think the MIC IN would be very good as it has a preamp built into the mic circuit, and so would boost the amp signal - it would sound carp!

A mixer is a pretty good idea although you must make sure there is a headphone out on it! Some cheaper ones might not have this....

I would plug the headphone out of the amp str8 into your soundcard first tho - it will sound boggin but it will be fine!

Dr.EM · 4 Aug 2006 at 11:46

The headphone output should be ok, slightly noisier usually than a master out, but not bad. Definately use the line in though! The mic input is mono (some effects settings will create stereo ambience) and also computer soundcard mic inputs have 5v present on the centre ring (to power the electret computer mics).

riddlermarc · 4 Aug 2006 at 12:24

Docaroo said:
I dont think the MIC IN would be very good as it has a preamp built into the mic circuit, and so would boost the amp signal - it would sound carp!

I thought you could disable the dB boost on the mic channel in Windows though..? Never used the mic channel myself but thought that was the case..

Makavelli · 4 Aug 2006 at 13:25

Thanks for your input. I have run a lead from the headphone out on my Korg AX1500 to the line-in on my computer, works a treat although it is a bit fiddly trying to get the levels right. Have some money in paypal so it's a tossup between getting a mixer/guitarport or upgrading to A64 (currently still running a barton 2800) :confused:

SexyGreyFox · 4 Aug 2006 at 17:40

Makavelli said:
Thanks for your input. I have run a lead from the headphone out on my Korg AX1500 to the line-in on my computer, works a treat although it is a bit fiddly trying to get the levels right.

Keep the master volume level on the Korg to about 3 or 4 or else you will/could overdrive the inputs on the soundcard. Start off low and bring up to suit.
You should be able to have the mixer volume on your PC up to 100% as long as you keep the Korg low.

I would say that at this point in time you will be able to acheive what you originally wanted to do (play your guitar along with Guitar Pro while wearing headphones) and you can go for the A64.

cleanbluesky · 4 Aug 2006 at 18:21

Makavelli said:
I have been looking at the line 6 Guitar Port as it has guitar in, stereo in, headphone out however as it is usb would i be right in thinking that my guitar playing won't synchronise with GuitarPro as there will be some lag?

I have a Toneport and I must say that it's much better than I could have imagined. Very simple to use, although there sometimes seems to be some low level distortion on it.