How to Record Guitar Using Your iPhone/iPad
Make Pro Recordings for as Little as $75
By Dan Cross, About.com Guide
Do you own an iPhone or iPad? Do you also play guitar? Did you know that
for as little as $75, you can use your iPhone or iPad to make
professional-quality recordings of your guitar playing, complete with
effects, keyboard and drum tracks? The following feature outlines the
tools you'll need to make recording your guitar playing on your Apple
device a snap.
iPhone/iPad Recording Gear Cheat Sheet
Here is a quick overview of the tools you need to begin recording on your iPhone. More information on each product is available below.iPhone 4/4s:
- Electric instruments only - Apogee Jam Guitar Interface, Garage Band (app)
- Electric/Acoustic/Vocals - Apogee Jam Guitar Interface, Blue Mikey, Garage Band (app)
iPhone 5 (and even newer models):
- Electric instruments only - Apogee Jam Guitar Interface, Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter, Garage Band (app)
- Electric/Acoustic/Vocals - Apogee Jam Guitar Interface, Blue Mikey, Garage Band (app)
-
iPad (1st generation, iPad2, 3rd generation)
- Electric instruments only - Apple Camera Connection Kit, Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 USB Interface, Garage Band (app)
- Electric/Acoustic/Vocals - Apple Camera Connection Kit, Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 USB Interface, Blue USB Microphone, Garage Band (app)
iPad (4th generation, iPad Mini, and even newer models)
- Electric instruments only - Apple Camera Connection Kit, Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 USB Interface, Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter, Garage Band (app)
- Electric/Acoustic/Vocals - Apple Camera Connection Kit, Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 USB Interface, Blue USB Microphone, Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter, Garage Band (app)
Hardware/Software for Recording Guitar on your iPhone/iPad:
Apple Camera Connection Kit (iPad users only)
Plugging
this simple little Apple connector into your iPad (the unit does not
work with iPhones) provides you with a USB input, into which you can
plug a myriad of different devices. Some of these (microphones with USB
out, guitar inputs) are listed here, but there are hundreds of others
available. My daughter's electric keyboard, for example, can interface
with the iPad using this kit. Note that although the Camera Connection
Kit (often referred to as CCK) does work on iPads with lightning
connectors, you'll need to have a "Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter".
Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 USB Interface (iPad users)
Requires
the Apple Camera Connection Kit. A simple little device that converts
your analog electric guitar signal to USB, which can then be plugged
into your iPad. Just run your standard 1/4" guitar cable directly from
your instrument into the UCG102, and you can plug that into your iPad
(via the Camera Connection Kit). The device features a high/low gain
switch and a clip warning light.
Blue USB Microphone (iPad users only)
Requires
the Apple Camera Connection Kit. I love this odd-looking and relatively
inexpensive little microphone for quickly and easily recording acoustic
instruments. You simply plug a USB cable from the microphone into your
iPad (via the CCK) and you are ready to record. I've used the Blue for
recording acoustic guitar, full bands, spoken audio, and some lead
vocals, and have been impressed with the capture quality. A three-stop
setting on the microphone allows you to control gain.
Apogee Jam Guitar Interface (iPhone/iPad users)
The
first generations of devices designed to allow you to record electric
guitars through your iPhone shared a common flaw - they used the analog
audio-in via the phone's headphone jack. This resulted in low-quality
recordings plagued by "crosstalk" and other technical issues. The tiny
Apogee Jam, although slightly more expensive than some of these cheaper
options, uses the iPhone/iPad's 30-pin dock connector for a much higher
quality data transfer. In simple terms, this allows for a much higher
quality recording. With the Apogee Jam, you can plug your electric
instrument in to one end of the unit via a standard connect 1/4" cable,
and into the other end plug your iPhone/iPad, using the provided 30-pin
connector (if you have an iPhone/iPad you'll need the Lightning to
30-Pin Adapter). And, as simple as that, you're rigged to record on your
iPhone.
Blue Mikey (iPhone)
Full
disclosure - I haven't tried the Blue Mikey. But the microphone does
look promising - it interacts with the iPhone's 30-pin digital port,
rather than the inferior analog audio-in accessible through the iPhone's
headphone jack (which is what allows Apple to include a microphone in
their headphones). Using this microhpone, you'll be able to record any
analog sound on your iPhone - acoustic guitars or other instruments,
vocals, etc. Note that iPhone owners with lightning connectors will need
to own one of Apple's "Lightning to 30-Pin Adapters".
Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter (iPhone 5/iPad 4th generation/iPad mini users)
If
you have a newer iPad or iPhone with a "lightning" connector instead of
the older 30-pin connectors, you'll need this adapter to interface with
many of the items listed here.
App: GarageBand (iPhone/iPad users)
Once only available for desktops, Apple's GarageBand is now available for the iPhone and iPad. The functionality they've packed into this low-priced app is truly impressive - for $5 you get multi-track recording, effects pedals, "smart" drum and keyboard tracks, and much more.App: Audiobus (iPhone/iPad users)
Although not an essential purchase for those just getting their feet wet in recording on their iDevice, Audiobus is a handy tool that allows different audio apps to interact with each other... for example allowing you to record the guitar sound you've dialed in via the AmpliTube app using the GarageBand app.App: Guitar Tuner (iPhone/iPad users)
Here is a straightforward, free app that allows guitarists to tune their instruments via their iPhone. Pretty handy stuff.Source: http://guitar.about.com/od/recording/tp/How-To-Record-Guitar-Using-Your-Iphone-ipad.htm?nl=1
