Using the Mac as a Guitar Workstation

I popped into an Apple store on the weekend and was intrigued to see a MacBook Pro setup, connected to a guitar with a built in USB interface.  I unsuccessfully tried to get it working in-store with GarageBand, but to satisfy my curiosity, I Googled it and found that it was none other than the Behringer iAXE393 USB guitar.  This $100 Stratocaster copy comes with a software pack from Native Instruments, with multi-track recording and editing, and amp simulations.

For those after a more conventional approach, Ben from Fyngyrz writes about using his Mac as a guitar workstation, which involves a laptop, stereo amp, a couple of speakers and an additional outlay of around $160 for the USB interface and software.  This consists of the M-Audio JAMLAB USB guitar interface, and the Flying Haggis software from DB Audioware, for stompbox, amplifier and speaker cabinet emulations.  Says Ben:

I am deliriously happy with this setup. I play jazz, blues, rock, metal, classical and folk; everything I want is right at my fingertips. Perfect. I just drag my laptop, a stereo amp, and a couple speakers out, and I’m good. Aside from the Mac, amp and speakers, the outlay is about $160 in total, which is a screaming bargain for what you get. I highly, totally, ultimately and without quibbling recommend this setup. If it weren’t for the copy protection, I’d rate it stone perfect.

Anyway, these are just a couple of ways in which you can integrate a Mac into your guitar setup.  In case you’ve missed it, we’ve also previously featured a Macworld article on recording acoustic and electric guitar into your Mac.