Guitar/computer

[steveswider1]

Can someone give me detailed instructions on how to download electric guitar freeware such as amp modelers, sound effects, virtual stompboxes etc... I have a windows 98 dell. I have a guitar to midi cable, and I would like to be able to play output audio on my small guitar amp rather than computer speakers/earphones. I have read up alot on the web, but do not understand the sequence and details of instructions. Basically want to be able to plug guitar in to computer, and make different sound effects, etc. Not interested in recording yet if that simplifies your directions. Also wanting to use freeware to keep this low cost until I am confident enough to buy pro software. Thanks in advance.

[Greg]

I don't know if a win98 computer is gonna work out well for ya with the available freeware I am aware of. I use audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/). Oops, it does appear to work with win98. Cool.

As for pluggins, there should be links on the audacity site.

Output from the computer is as easy as tapping the line out.

Input to the computer with a guitar could be done a lot of ways however. In your case likely though line in and not USB because of drivers. But ya usually can't plug the guitar in direct.

Have you ever checked out Jam Session (http://www.jsguitarforum.com/forum/index.php)? It's a cool guitar forum and this is a hot topic over there where a bunch of folks have a lot of experience. You might want to check it out.

[Zero Tolerance]

Why not just buy a MEU (multi effects unit) pedal and a cable that is 1/8" to 1/4" adapter cable. Depending on the MEU...you can run stereo or mono...but the 1/8" needs to be stereo no matter.

I have done this before and it works fine because most all MEU's have a preamp built in...so you can power the signal pre-route and get sound from the speakers.

I have a Yamaha Magic Stomp that the above suggestion would work fine with. But I am sure that Alesis, ART, Line6 among others work the same way.

I have a digital TASCAM board connected to my PC via PCI-822 interface and it would be my opinion that you would not like the result of trying to "emulate" an effect unit on a machine as old as yours. For 100 bucks or less the MEU and a patch cable would be the way to go. If you go with a Magic Stomp...you can plug it into your PC and create custom user programs to chain multiple effects together at the same time for your own unique sound/effect. But Greg makes a point with USB and Win95...you may or may not be able to do anything in that area.

Goodluck!