EVERY BEGINNER GUITARIST SHOULD OWN AN AUDIO INTERFACE
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- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2024
- In this video I'll tell you why I think that every beginner guitarist should buy an audio interface.
We'll go over what an audio interface is, what are the 3 main reasons why you as an aspiring guitar player would wanna own one, how to use it, and which one is the right one for you (It's the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2).
I'll show you how recording your guitar playing can be a much better way of practicing, than simply using a metronome. I'll show you what an amp sim is, and why you might wanna use one. I'll also in the end reveal the most common reason why musicians buy audio interfaces and set up home studios.
I really hope you enjoy the video and learn something from it!
⏰Timestamps:
0:00 WARNING
0:10 INTRO
0:29 TO RECORD YOUR GUITAR PLAYING
3:19 IT LET'S YOU USE AMP SIMULATIONS
4:36 IT LET'S YOU MAKE SONGS
5:21 OUTRO
#GuitarBeginner #AudioInterface #GuitarGear #HomeRecording 
Видеоклипы
Hello, this is someone who's very tech savvy commenting on the latency topic when talking about using your computer to practice (or record) guitar. If you own a Mac, disregard this. Mac's have Core Audio which is the native audio architecture on macOS, and it provides low-latency audio processing. If you're a Windows user, hello.
While it's true more processing power improves performance of any application, your latency issue most likely isn't because you have 4 cores instead of 6. The audio that gets processed in your DAW goes through Windows audio drivers. All your audio when using your PC does. This introduces latency no matter how powerful your computer is. For instance, I have a pretty impressive desktop with 8 cores running at over 4 ghz but I still get *very* noticeable latency when using the default Windows audio drivers to direct my guitar sound into my DAW. Most audio interfaces and sound cards come with an audio driver called an ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output). ASIO drivers are designed to provide low-latency, high-fidelity audio streaming capabilities between software applications and audio interfaces or sound cards. They were created to address the limitations of standard Windows audio drivers, which can introduce latency (delay) in audio processing, making real-time recording and monitoring challenging. You need to select the correct ASIO driver in your application to ensure low latency recording. These drivers even allow you to control the buffer sample length to play with latency/fidelity. Even if your interface doesn't come with an ASIO driver, there's one called ASIO4ALL which is free and great. This is all to say, if you have a slower or older PC please don't think your latency issue is purely, if at all, based on that factor. This is why people with 10 year old Intel based iMac's are still just using those in their home studios or recording on seemingly old windows laptops. OK thanks for reading my essay and happy recording.
I'm attempting to prevent people from assuming because they don't have the M1 Mac or the 6 core Windows computer, that they shouldn't attempt recording guitar on their computers. ❤
Hey! Yes I agree that everybody should start recording on what they already have. Also thanks for the info about MAC’s CoreAudio. And yes, not mentioning drivers is a mistake on my part. But even with focusrite’s proprietary drivers I experienced latency issues on my old windows laptop, when using newer plugins like the neural dsp stuff. Especially in a project with lots of tracks. Thanks for the comment!
@@AlexGichevMusic Thanks for the video! I recently discovered using my PC as a way to simulate hundreds of pedals and im really enthusiastic about it haha. This video is what I wish I could make but don't have nearly the editing and overall production skills you have!
Perfect timing. I just got a Scarlett 2i2 and can't wait to try out different amp sims.
Niiice! My personal favourites are probably (almost) all of the NeuralDSP stuff, and definitely the ML Soundlab series. The Archetype Cory Wong for funky stuff, the Plini for dreamy cleans and the ML Burger for high gain are just 👌👌👌
I got this one, but its gathering the dust, as i cant get rid off delay.
Great video and 100% true. I bought the Scarlet 2i2 studio and it was very simple to learn how to use. Hardest part is learning the DAW, it can be pretty overwhelming at first. But that's what youtube is for :)
Thanks, dude! Yea, audio interfaces these days are pretty much a plug and play typa deal. Learning a DAW I think can be done pretty easily, just by trial and error and a ton of googling. It definitely takes time tho.
This is great advice, I cannot express how much my abilities improved since using an interface and daw. I went from 10 to 100 in skill. I started with a presonus anniversary bundle. Now I am learning to mix. I would say this is the best tool I have ever bought, it is indispensable. This guy is giving you critical advice if your serious about music you need do this.
Thanks for the kind words, man! Good luck on your mixing journey!
Great video, subscribed. Hoping for more
More to come!
Great video - I'm sold. I started looking into mics last week (my mac recordings of myself soundwise are terrible even if I'm in time) - then the audio interface (motu m2) - but your point regarding the metronome which I'm married to makes so much sense. I constantly record myself - but I don't analyze it to the degree you mentioned - I just listen and think - man when I play I sound great - but when I play back I'm clearly off. Anyhow great tip.
Glad I can help, man!
I like this video - thank you 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it!
Can also do this with a looper like the boss RC5 . I was shocked how far off my timing was when I started looping. But I also have many audio interfaces and use Ableton with push 2 for looping. I love the Helix native plugin. I would say looping and hearing back your own playing has been the number 1 method for improving my playing. Its amazing how you can really think you nailed then listen back and its like night and day difference to the perception of what you played. Also Ableton is free for first 3 months. then just buy a MPK mini or similar to get a free version of Ableton lite
Yea, looping is pretty sick two. I got a small ditto looper that i use quite a lot
awesome video man! i just got a scarlet 4i4 and it's so confusing to set up :( would you happen to have any videos on how to set it up, what programs you use and setting up different amp sounds? All these small buttons on the programs confuse the heck out of me :(
Great Video
I am looking to buy the 4i4
Subscribed
Thanks for the sub! Great choice of interface!
Ive never used a metronome and I can play guitar just fine.
Hey! Ye, using a metronome might not be for everyone, but if you wanna record yourself and do the whole “one man band” thing, it’s definitely worth using one. Do you usually play with some sort of drum/backing track to keep time? Thanks for writing!
Something tells me you don’t play just fine lol
Congrats on passing the speed speaking course! Just think of all the time you save!
Good video. This ain't your first rodeo here is it? I've done a few and know how much work went into this.
Also, my wife just got me an M-Audio interface. Before, I had guitar >> amp >> soundcard >> DAW >> pc speakers. Maybe 100ms or so for the DACs and DAW to do their thing. Very painful.
With the interfaces, the delay is almost gone. And what's more is that the signal coming in is dead flat when I'm not playing.
I spent the last few days setting up my DAW and getting some basic QWERTY to MIDI keyboard control stuff to work. I watched this vid and went and laid down my first track on the new equipment. Came back to post this and say thanks for making the video. Very worthy of a l/s.
Nah, I have 4 year old channel around the same topics in my native language that really taught me a lot. Congrats on the new setup, dude! Hope you love it! I’d recommend getting a MIDI keyboard next. I have an arturia minilab mk2, and I’m pretty happy with it. They’re fairly cheap and are a big upgrade from using the regular keyboard. Have a great day and thanks for the encouragement!
Just got my ESI a week back .. the thing I enjoy the most is the quality of sound I get.
I’ve never tried one myself, but I’ve heard good things! Hope you love it!
Voice sounds like Guga
Thanks..hopefully you can guide me with running my IPAD out to the focusrite 2i4-- I tried using a cable with 2 pin mini out to 1/4" stereo from ipad to front jack on 2i4 and could not hear it. My goal is to mix a mic and sound efx from the ipad
Hi! Connecting a usb audio interface to an ipad can be pretty frustrating, since they're not meant to be used like that. I'm pretty sure it's possible if you use a usb c hub for your ipad though. If that doesn't work, I'd recommend buying a mobile specific audio interface, like an iRig for example. Hope this helps!
Nice video, question:
What’s the point of an interface if I already have an amp and DAW? I plug my guitar into the amp then amp into my Mac. I use Garage Band(or Logic) for all the amp sims, I can record my playing. If I want I can plug in headphones to keep it quiet. Is there something I’m missing?
Hi! Well, in your specific case the only point of having an interface would be to record more or different instruments like a vocal, a drum set, etc. Also another reason might be to use studio monitors. If you want to produce/mix a song you’ll have hard time hearing the stuff you need to hear from an amp’s speaker. And most amps don’t have dedicated L/R outputs for studio monitors. Also an interface is usually more compact and provides better sound quality of the DI signal going in. What amp do you have btw? Thanks for writing!
@@AlexGichevMusic I have a Fender Mustang 1 v2 amp. After some research I see the interface is good for sound, latency, multiple inputs etc.
I have my amp connected to my computer with a cable so probably wont need an audio interface, right?
TL;DR; beginner guitarists should stay away from PC which is distracting. Pedals (drive, delay, looper) are essential. Interfaces are good for high-quality recording (not necessarily the DI sound, for mic to cab you'll need interface too) but for beginner high-quality recording and audio-interfaces are absolutely unnecessary! Beginner guitarist can still make demo tracks with voice recorder or just with the looper pedal.
Longer response:
As someone who was playing and recording guitars for more than 15 years I disagree, beginner guitarist needs no audio-interface, it could be useless and even harmful to him. On the other hand, a guitarist that has experience with real gear may understand plug-ins quickly, evaluate them accordingly (understand what sound is good, what is not, what to look for) and benefit from them in certain way.
I think what beginner needs is some ease of starting playing and limited but essential tone options. For that, he'll need couple of pedals, an amp (really any amp could work) and a real guitar speaker or even some random but large (8"+) speaker. Combo-amp is an ok choice too (just need to avoid crappy combo-amps with small speakers).
So instead of starting the PC, loading DAW, adjusting interface knobs, using mouse to set up plug-ins etc, all he does is flicking a switch on an amp, stomping with his foot on a pedal (pedals can be kept powered) and STRUM! Quick and not too much options to be lost in.
To practice the feel of rhythm and even to record demos the best choice is a looper pedal. With a single foot-switch you control every stage of recording or looping (looping isn't just "recording" it is a whole new world), no need to use mouse/keyboard. Some looper pedals allow uploading of backing tracks and have multiple recording slots, but beginner can live without that.
Btw, even few pedals is more fun compared to DAWs and multi-fx with presets. I mean just 3 pedals: Overdrive, Distortion and Delay would already provide a universe of tones and possible settings, still limiting the amount of distraction which is beneficial to the development of guitar playing skills.
And the Delay pedal will help with practising beat syncing too, in an effortless and fun way.
Interfaces & DAWs are useful mostly for recording. And DI + plugins is not the only way of recording. The classical and still used way is a mic close to guitar speaker. That is what you hear on all that rock and metal records! During such recording you can still capture DI but in parallel, using DI box. Using that signal later you can re-amp using another amp, different mic placement or even plugin. But the reference track (what guitarist heard from the amp, the amount of gain, sustain that he had during the play) is very important.
Anyway, beginner guitarist has a long road to the point where HQ recording is necessary and it's better to leave that to pros who have more experience in recording guitars. To be focused on guitar playing and real gear, not distracting to software stuff will help you to become better guitarist and later you would understand amp-sims and evaluate their tone much easier.
For a really low-budget options there are usb-to-guitar cables (or even just 1/4 to 1/8 adapters if PC has line-in: you install ASIO4ALL to manage the latency and you can use amp-sims, maybe with more noise and muffled tone but good enough for beginners).
Interesting thing about latency: stand 2 meters from the speaker and you've added 5.8 ms to your audible latency (google "speed of sound"). Want to hear it with almost zero latency, turn the volume down, raise the speaker up to ear-level (put on a shelf) and stand close to it.
15 years guitarist - no audio interface - planning on buying one and start recording and add other instruments. My struggle now is to which DAW i should get? i dont want to spend the money now, what are you using in your video? also i want to make lo-fi beats + guitar and other electronic sounds, which one is the easiest to get into for someone who is not great with computers
Hi! I personally use Ableton live, which you see in the video. It's definitely my favorite one, and I think it's gonna be great for what you want to do. It is not cheap and has a pretty steep learning curve though. So maybe try starting out with something like garage band if your on a mac, or maybe ableton's LITE version. Hope I was helpful!
@AlexGichevMusic thank you. I believe it comes with focusrite so I will practice it. Does it also have beats and such?
By beats, I assume you mean drum loops, which it does. It also has a lot of samples of individual drum hits like snares, kicks, shakers, hihats etc., which you can use to create your own beats.
Start with Reaper. It's got a 60 day free trial period which changes to guiltware after that and it's only $60 to purchase (non-profit or profit up to $20K). There are tons of good free plugins and some that are only available for Reaper. There's also a great community and lots of good YT videos too.
Which DAW are you using or recommend?
I’m using and can recommend abletin live. It can do EVERYTHING amd once you learn it it’s awsome. Steap learning curve tho, and it’s not the prettiest. For a beginner Reaper is also a pretty solid option
It better have linux support the audio interface
I hate the digital antichrist
Ughh.. when we say “a couple” of thousand dollars that means $2,000. Hence, a couple = two *of something* 🤓