Recording From Guitar Amp To Audacity On MacBook

[glenelkins]

Hello

Tearing my hair out here! I have a 2016 MacBook that only has 1 jack on the side which I believe it and input and output port. So I bought one a TRRS cable (one with 3 rings). When I plug it into the port and then into my iPhone my Mac picks it up as an external microphone and sound goes in from my phone to the Mac.

So here are things I don't understand:

1) The Mac still thinks the port is also headphones so any sound coming in the port doesn't come out the Mac speakers
2) When I plug my guitar amp into it rather than my iPhone and try to record playing in Audacity no sound is coming through.

Perhaps I am not understanding how this port works, but I could do with some suggestions on how I can use my MacBook to record my playing without using the laptops built in microphone (crap quality)

 

[Fishrrman]

I could be mistaken, but I believe the headphone jack on the 2016 MacBook is "headphone only" with one exception (when you use a "headset" with headphones and integrated mic).

If you want to record music with the Mac (desktop or laptop), you really need an audio interface.
Be sure to get an interface with TWO inputs, not just one. Sooner or later, you're going to want the second input.

Something like the Focusrite 2i2 has what you need.
Be sure to get one of the more-recent models.

 

[glenelkins]

I could be mistaken, but I believe the headphone jack on the 2016 MacBook is "headphone only" with one exception (when you use a "headset" with headphones and integrated mic).

If you want to record music with the Mac (desktop or laptop), you really need an audio interface.
Be sure to get an interface with TWO inputs, not just one. Sooner or later, you're going to want the second input.

Something like the Focusrite 2i2 has what you need.
Be sure to get one of the more-recent models.

Thanks for your answer. I had a look at the interface you mentioned (2nd gen) and just wondered how this works, would I plug my guitar into the interface and then into my amp? And could also use usb output at the same time? What I want is to play through the amp and record at the same time.

 

[Fishrrman]

I play and record acoustic instruments only.
Nothing electric.

I believe the 2i2 interface has "dual" XLR inputs.
You can use either an XLR connector (mic) or instrument input (line).

Does your amp have a "line out" by any chance?
I believe you would connect that to the "line in" input on the 2i2.

Otherwise, skip the amp and go directly into the 2i2.

Here's a link to the 2i2 SECOND GENERATION on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA

I suggest you go there and "Read up" -- both the user reviews and Q&A's...

 

[glenelkins]

I play and record acoustic instruments only.
Nothing electric.

I believe the 2i2 interface has "dual" XLR inputs.
You can use either an XLR connector (mic) or instrument input (line).

Does your amp have a "line out" by any chance?
I believe you would connect that to the "line in" input on the 2i2.

Otherwise, skip the amp and go directly into the 2i2.

Here's a link to the 2i2 SECOND GENERATION on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA

I suggest you go there and "Read up" -- both the user reviews and Q&A's...

Hi

Yes all my amps have line out on them, I have a few different ones for different purposes. Ideally I want to be able to play so I can hear it from the amp but also record at the same time, which isn't really possible. Once the line is in the out port on the amp all sound goes from there, I do have a splitter to use headphones at the same time but due to the split it actually looses output in both ports. I wonder, if I had the interface and connected the guitar directly to it then into the Mac and had the Mac connected out into my stereo amp that would work?

 

[mcpryon2]

With electric guitar the ol' standby method is to mic the amp. You can get a Shure SM57 for around $100 and plug that into your interface. That's an easy way if you're using Audacity.

If you want to get in deeper you might want to check out Reaper, which is an open source DAW and you can dive into amp modeling, which would let you plug your guitar straight into an interface.

We use Audacity for our audio production class, since the students can get it for free, but you'll probably outgrow it pretty quickly when you get serious about recording and mixing.

 

[glenelkins]

With electric guitar the ol' standby method is to mic the amp. You can get a Shure SM57 for around $100 and plug that into your interface. That's an easy way if you're using Audacity.

If you want to get in deeper you might want to check out Reaper, which is an open source DAW and you can dive into amp modeling, which would let you plug your guitar straight into an interface.

We use Audacity for our audio production class, since the students can get it for free, but you'll probably outgrow it pretty quickly when you get serious about recording and mixing.

Brilliant, I didn’t realise you could get mics especially for recording instruments, I think I will go for the interface and one of those mics.

For now I’m just wanting to record new things I practice so I can listen back and pick out where I lost control, lost tune, pitch etc . I play a lot of blues and some new licks I practice can turn out quite horrible in the begging so it’s always helpful to analyse my playing.

 

[mcpryon2]

Brilliant, I didn’t realise you could get mics especially for recording instruments, I think I will go for the interface and one of those mics.

For now I’m just wanting to record new things I practice so I can listen back and pick out where I lost control, lost tune, pitch etc . I play a lot of blues and some new licks I practice can turn out quite horrible in the begging so it’s always helpful to analyse my playing.

I'd suggest reading up on mics and recording, just be careful to not lose your mind because it's a rabbit hole. The Shure SM57 I mentioned is a classic dynamic mic used for instruments. It's a variation of the SM58, which is the mic that most people think of when they think of a singer. They're workhorses and not that expensive.

And the Focusrite 2i2 that another person mentioned is a solid, good-bang-for-the-buck interface.

At some point you'll find yourself on the forum at gearslutz.com, which is a collection of hardcore gearheads, as well as people looking for advice. There's a lot of great information to be found there since it's dedicated to audio.

And as always you can learn pretty much anything on YouTube, too.

Good luck!

 

[BrianBaughn]

I agree you should do a bit of research. I have an older M-Audio USB audio device (M-Track Plus) that has its own headphone jack as well as the regular outputs that go to my speakers. Additionally, there's a knob to mix what you're "inputting" with what your computer is "outputting".

 

[Fishrrman]

All audio interfaces have headphone jacks for direct monitoring.

You can plug the guitar right into the interface, put on headphones, and hear yourself.

 

[BrianBaughn]

All audio interfaces have headphone jacks for direct monitoring.

You can plug the guitar right into the interface, put on headphones, and hear yourself.

Clarification: The headphone jack on some inexpensive USB audio devices is the output of the computer and not a direct signal of the input of the device.

 

[Mareake]

Hello

Tearing my hair out here! I have a 2016 MacBook that only has 1 jack on the side which I believe it and input and output port. So I bought one a TRRS cable (one with 3 rings). When I plug it into the port and then into my iPhone my Mac picks it up as an external microphone and sound goes in from my phone to the Mac.

So here are things I don't understand:

1) The Mac still thinks the port is also headphones so any sound coming in the port doesn't come out the Mac speakers
2) When I plug my guitar amp into it rather than my iPhone and try to record playing in Audacity no sound is coming through.

Perhaps I am not understanding how this port works, but I could do with some suggestions on how I can use my MacBook to record my playing without using the laptops built in microphone (crap quality)

Do you check audacity guides? You can find there the solution of you sound recording problem.