GarageBand records itself with iRig

[mkbest]

I wanted to record some guitar on MacBook Air (2014) and since it has only one audio port, I'm using iRig (which is said to be compatible). The only problem is that GarageBand doesn't record sound straight from the guitar, but it records... all the audio. It means it re-records drums, metronome and even volume changing bleeps. It also results in massive feedback and screeching noise. It doesn't help to turn monitoring off - it always records everything. I tried to change audio input/output settings, but there's only one option - built-in mic and built-in audio out (which is speakers and/or headphones, I think).
The same happens on the iPad (it records drums instead of just the guitar). Is that how iRig works?

Can I manually change the input/output settings so that GarageBand records only the mic/guitar? Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[ChrisA]

I wanted to record some guitar on MacBook Air (2014) and since it has only one audio port, I'm using iRig (which is said to be compatible). The only problem is that GarageBand doesn't record sound straight from the guitar, but it records... all the audio. It means it re-records drums, metronome and even volume changing bleeps. It also results in massive feedback and screeching noise. It doesn't help to turn monitoring off - it always records everything. I tried to change audio input/output settings, but there's only one option - built-in mic and built-in audio out (which is speakers and/or headphones, I think).
The same happens on the iPad (it records drums instead of just the guitar). Is that how iRig works?

Can I manually change the input/output settings so that GarageBand records only the mic/guitar? Thanks for your help in advance!

Which iRig are you using? It sounds like you are using the original one that is just a passive adaptor cable that conveys the guitar's 1/4" TS to a 1/8th TRRS headset jack.

The advantage of this iRig is that it's way-cheap. Can't say much more about it. Like I said, it's just a passive adaptor.


What you need is a real multi-channel audio interface. One with gain controls knobs on all the inputs that connects with USB to the computer.

 

[mkbest]

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I'm using the original iRig. And you're right - I got a reply from iRig's tech support and they say that there's a certain amount of crosstalk between input and output signals on the original iRig model. It's negligible in most cases but they couldn't overcome this issue while maintaining the device's low price. Well, I guess it's good enough for my amateur home recording purposes. I just have to be careful with distorted and lead guitar effects which make a lot of noise.