AmpliTube is a digital effects processor for electric guitars. Unlike most effects processors, AmpliTube is a program that runs on a computer. This is a convenient arrangement for computers that operate as a digital audio workstation, which records audio using a virtual mixing board. AmpliTube allows you to simulate various classic guitar amplifiers and microphone arrangements, giving your guitar a very authentic sound. You can also add effects, like reverb, delay and distortion. Before you start doing any of this, you must configure AmpliTube so that it recognizes your guitar.
Things You'll Need:
- Electric Guitar
- 1/4-Inch-To-1/8-Inch Audio Adapter
- Guitar Cable
- Computer With Sound Card
Plug one end of your guitar cable into your electric guitar.
Plug the other end of the guitar cable into the 1/4-inch-to-1/8-inch audio adapter. This is necessary to connect the guitar to most sound cards, which use 1/8 inch plugs. Guitar cables uses 1/4 inch plugs. Some sound cards have 1/4 inch plugs, and are designed specifically for digital audio workstations. If you have such a card, you do not need the audio adapter.
Plug the 1/8 inch end of the audio adapter into the microphone input on the sound card.
Click the “AmpliTube” program icon. The program loads.
Click on “Settings” from the main toolbar. Select “MIDI Settings” from the list of items in the “Settings” menu. An audio configuration window appears.
Click the first text box and select either “ASIO” or “DirectX” from the drop-down menu. The default setting is “ASIO,” since it has improved performance over “DirectX.” However, your sound card might not support “ASIO.” Refer to your sound card documentation to see if “ASIO” is supported. If it isn’t supported, select “DirectX.”
Click the second text box, which is labeled “Channel 1.” Select the name of your sound card from the drop-down menu. The sound card will have either “Input” or “Microphone” next to its name.
Click the text box labeled “Outputs” and select your sound card again. This time, the word “Output” will be by its name.
Click the text box below the “Outputs” box and select the number that you would like to route your audio to. Most sound cards will only have one output here, which corresponds to its speaker connection.
Click the text box labeled “Sample Rate” and choose a value. A higher value produces better overall sound quality, but this also requires more processing power from your sound card. Most modern sound cards should be capable of sampling at 48,000 samples per second.
Click the text box labeled “Buffer” to set the audio buffer. If the buffer is set to a low value, then the time between strumming a note and hearing that note played back through “AmpliTube” is minimized. This time is called latency. A high latency can negatively impact your guitar playing experience. However, a low latency requires a high-quality sound card. If you hear clicks and pops when you play your guitar, try increasing the “Buffer” until they go away. A value between 128 and 256 is recommended by the “AmpliTube” manual.
Click the “OK” button to save the configuration changes. You are now ready to start playing the guitar. Try strumming a note. You should hear it through your computer speakers and the level readings on the main page of “AmpliTube” should increase.
Writer Bio
Mike Wallace began writing professionally in 2009. He is currently employed as a software engineer who designs, develops and tests software systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering and a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering from California State University, Chico.
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