How to Plug a Guitar Into a Laptop

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Edited 19 weeks ago

If you don't have the budget (yet) for a pre-amp, microphone, and other necessary sound-recording equipment, then a simpler, more straightforward solution is needed. Plugging your guitar straight into your laptop may not produce the best recorded sound, but it's definitely clearer and less mangled than holding your guitar up to the laptop microphone and playing it that way.

Method 1 of 2: Setting Up

1
Decide whether you want a pedal with a digital out or software emulated equipment. Digital pedals sound better than software emulated equipment, but they can get very pricey. There is free software out on the internet to emulate the sounds of guitar amps and pedals.

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2
Buy a quarter-inch jack to 3.5mm jack (or USB) cable. This will allow you to plug your guitar straight into your computer. If you have a pedal with a digital out, plug your guitar into the pedal, then plug the pedal's digital out into the computer.
3
Buy a monitor. You will need either a speaker or headphones to be able to hear yourself playing.
4
Download recording software. If you are on a Mac, you can use Garageband. Otherwise, unless you have purchased other software, you can use a plethora of freeware programs such as Audacity.

Method 2 of 2: Recording

1
Plug your headphones / speakers in the output jack of your computer and set your recording software up to monitor the instrument sound back out to the headphones / speakers. From here, you will need to consult your software's documentation to set this up.
2
Adjust the volume recording level of your sound input. Make sure your guitar isn't clipping. Most programs will indicate if you are clipping by turning the volume bars red once they have reached clipping point. This must be adjusted at the operating system level.
3
Find a good guitar sound. Unless you are very familiar with the pedal / software you are using, it will take time to find a good tone that you are comfortable playing and recording with.
4
Press record and play! For best results, count yourself in before playing.
5
Consider the next step. Now that you've taken your first steps into recording, you may want to start planning the next pieces of equipment that you wish to invest in.