How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar?

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Dantarez
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2014/01/08 12:36:10 (permalink)

How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar?

Hi guys
Im sorry for being such a noob... but if you would be kind enough to help Me I would completely apreciate it ^^'
 
The thing is, i know -nothing- about this kind of program, Music Creator 6 is my 1st try
What i want to know (for now) is - can i connect my guitar on my notebook, add some kind of amp to it, and then play it while hearing it real time on music creator 6? Just like if i plugged it on a normal amp you know?
And if that is possible, how do i do that?
 
 
Thanks guys! ^^'
See ya
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spacealf
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/08 12:57:50 (permalink)
Ah, not enough information. But generally, you need an audio/interface, you plug the guitar into a high-impedence input on the audio/iinterface, Music Creator 6 sees the interface because of drivers you got with the audio/interface, you set a track in Music Creator 6 to record the input that has the guitar plugged into it by setting the input and output of the track to the audio/interface and when recorded after arming the track (pressing record and after done playing stopping the track) rewinding the track to beginning (like a tape recorder graphics icons) and then playing the track back and if ASIO drivers (which you need with the audio/interface) and output set to the audio/interface and adjusting the volume and setting that up in Windows (OS of the computer) you can hear it and record another track and add tracks as many as the Music Creator will allow. You can record in stereo if you have both left and right inputs in two tracks recording on both say if you have like a Fender Amp that has the low impedence outputs but going into low impedence inputs then on the audio/interface and set up Music Creator for the inputs and outputs or straight like posted above in an high impedence input made for guitar into the computer into Music Creator and back out through Music Creator (MC after this) and hearing it through headphones or to powered monitor speaker, computer speakers, stereo amp with speakers, or how you have it all hooked up.
 
Example of audio/interface, one of many that are sold:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Babyface/
 
Example of a guitar amp that record through headphone output or line level outputs:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Mustang3V2/
 
Example of guitar:
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/guitars/electric-guitars/
 
Well, whatever you use!
 
The audio/interface may have different inputs and outputs and Windows OS has to be set also for that audio/interface.
In fact after that, all music goes through the audio/interface, a sound card usually is not used as it has not the proper inputs and does not do as good a job.
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/computer-audio/audio_interfaces/
 
and the equipment used is up to you. Then there is other equipment like Channel Strips, Microphones, whatever that can also be used or not.
Then the effects included with MC6 or however you end up recording and outputting the music and all of that.
Look in my signature for examples done with equipment.
 
 
post edited by spacealf - 2014/01/08 13:02:10

 
 
#2
Dantarez
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/08 13:11:42 (permalink)
Thanks for the answer ^^
 
So, i need that interface wich will connect my instrument to my notebook right?
And for it to work properly i need the right drivers
?
 
So it is not possible to do a direct connection like using a usb adaptador on my guitar?
its not like a keyboard wich might already have a usb support?

#3
spacealf
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/08 14:03:25 (permalink)
Well, that is the new way and yes it should work when you use the USB into a USB port. I have not tried it so I can not comment on it, but if it is not working, then I am not sure but MC would have to see it also as an input and output then you would set MC to that instead of an audio/interface, so perhaps someone else that has used that kind of connection can help. All I know is sometimes it seems from comments and posts here, that it may or may not work.
All you can do is try it out, but since I already bought the stuff I am using that is what I have gotten used to. Sometimes the USB port is only to download stuff like from my synth and perhaps upload it back with a program used to edit sounds on a synth, but still with others they say you can record with the USB.
I just have not tried it, and I suppose you can try it if you have it, but MC would also have to probably see it and you would set it up as an input and output in MC then just like an audio/interface.
 
Same way with my guitar boxes or box (Digitech and Boss modeling boxes) is that there are presets for sounds on the guitar and effects and uploading to the computer usually can be done by the USB so the presets can be changed and then downloaded again into the box to have instead of the factory default presets by a program downloaded from the manufacturer's website.
Or else it can also be done on the box its self like the Boss ME25 or Digitech R255 whatever box.
 
Also it may be that the guitar is not loud enough to input into the computer and you need to add a preamp (a box or amp) to get it to go loud enough to record.
Since I do not know and have no experience with any of that except for sound synth changing or changing presets on a computer for the guitar box (I have not done that yet I just do it with the box) then all you can do is try it.
I think you still need a drivers sometimes for that also perhaps, but if not then Windows will install generic drivers of their own and that is why it may not work either sometimes.
Can't give you a definitive answer on that USB stuff. I have my audio/interface hooked up by USB and that all works, because I got drivers with it and ASIO drivers (Windows drivers cause latency) so with mine that all works. The other way I have not tried yet.
 
 
post edited by spacealf - 2014/01/08 14:10:10

 
 
#4
scook
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/08 14:26:40 (permalink)
A 1/4" to USB adapter only provides at most 1/2 the solution, getting data into the DAW. The problem is playback. Relying on the internal sound chip usually results in unacceptably high latency. IOW, there will be a substantial delay between a string being struck on the guitar and when it is heard. Enough delay to make real-time monitoring unusable; the stated goal of the original post. An external audio interface designed for DAW use solves the problem of data capture and playback. Of course, speakers or headphones will need to be attached to the external interface.
post edited by scook - 2014/01/08 14:28:12
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spacealf
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/08 14:29:25 (permalink)
There are other DAWs (recording programs)that may see such an interface as straight USB into the computer if MC does not. There is Reaper, and Audacity, others I can not think of right now, but in the end if you want anything else used to record, like a synth or microphone, or MIDI, then usually an audio/interface has all those connections to aid that.
Well, there are other threads I think in this forum that you can look at and seek an answer on that USB type connection also.
 
Yes, you get drivers with the audio/interface and make sure they will update it for future OSes also or duration of how long the audio/interface will work before it becomes well obsolete.
 
All that stuff has to be considered before perhaps buying anything, or "Let the Consumer Beware".
You can read up on all of that on the Internet. Whether MC works with anything I do not know, it may decide that an audio/interface would just be better to record music on, and by the way, although a notebook can be used, it is not probably the best computer to use either depending on if you use a lot of soft synths (drum parts) or other parts to add to the recording.
 
Yes, it can be expensive, but it can be done somewhat cheaply to start off with also, but like anything that is a hobby or maybe even professional, usually some money will have to be spent on it to begin with.
 
check other threads here in the different forum part.
 
You can also listen to a sound card (Creative) that was sort of made for games but could also record music also, because Creative Labs (Soundblaster type sound card) had ASIO drivers that allowed the signal recorded to play at the same time as another recording input being done or track with multiple track recordings, and all done, but the quality is such that I would not want to do that way forever and did not and bought a real audio/interface in the end.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELBdIiPmfSk
 
I did not say I was great or anything, just done with the song for the time being. Of course I have learned other things also now along the way, mostly from this cakewalk forum.
 
Before it was done just to fool around, I may still just be doing that but a little better nowadays.
First you would have to have equipment that allows it to be done. And just a USB connection input may not do it.
 
 And like Scook stated, you may only have half the interface and will have to see if it works with what you have.
 
 
post edited by spacealf - 2014/01/08 14:54:04

 
 
#6
57Gregy
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/08 16:24:09 (permalink)
Welcome to the forum.
You can plug the guitar directly into the line input of your computer's sound card, but you would not be able to monitor it without latency, as scook wrote.
Using a guitar-to-USB adapter will be no better in that respect.
There are guitar amp simulators that you can add to your guitar track and it will sound just like a real amp. But you would need an audio interface to be able to hear it in real time (without latency).

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RobertB
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/08 23:23:48 (permalink)
All of the above.
The Babyface may be a little rich though (lol, spacealf).
Something like this would be more than adequate:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2
You do need to have Windows 7 or 8. The drivers don't support older Windows versions.
TH2(included with MC6) is an amp sim, and should be fine for getting started.
The keyboards that have USB connections transmit MIDI data, not sound. Because the sound is actually created in a softsynth in MC6, you would still experience the same delay that the guys mentioned.
The interface takes over the sound management from your built-in sound card, and allows you to play and hear your guitar or keyboard performance in very near real time. In other words, there will always be some delay, but a proper interface can make it so small that it is imperceptible.
I do what you are asking on a daily basis, and the interface is the key.
MC6 is quite capable. The processing power of the notebook may be a factor, but you should be ok.
You will have a learning curve. Take your time, and don't let it frustrate you.
You can do a lot with a modest setup if you take the time to learn how to use it.

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#8
Guitarhacker
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/09 08:37:43 (permalink)
The answers and solution above are good and accurate.  You should, however,  be able to plug directly in to the computer and monitor without latency if you do not attempt to use an amp sim. If you have something like a POD guitar processor or similar  gear, you should be able to hear it in real time..... because it's simply straight up audio.
 
The latency, seriously bad latency, comes in when using the amp sims (just like synths) in a system running the factory soundcard MME drivers.   Depending on the interface and DAW specs, you may still have some latency evident due to the various natures of the different amp sims and how heavy their processing requirements are.
 
 

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#9
gcolbert
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Re: How to use Music Creator 6 to play with my guitar? 2014/01/12 20:13:48 (permalink)
Dantarez - It sounds like your original question was can you use your computer as an amplifier.  The answer is YES, but you will want some other hardware to make things work properly.
 
The information that most of the guys here are giving you goes pretty far beyond just playing the guitar.  The software you might want to be looking at could be Amplitube.  With this and a proper interface (one that connects your guitar USB to the computer and outputs sound from your computer to headphones or an amp/stereo)  and you are all set up.  A Behringer UCG102 might be all you need.  Possibly a bigger question is what are you going to do once you can play your guitar through your computer?
 
Music Creator is about recording your music, all the parts that you need to make a song, adding bass, drums, and other instruments with the goal being a completed MP3 or wave file with your song in it.  If you are just trying to play guitar, get a UCG102 and download the free Amplitube.  If you want to record songs, ask us about hardware that will work best with Music Creator 6.
 
Glen
 

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