Griffin Technology GarageBand Guitar Cable 3101-GTR
If you've ever tried to connect your guitar to your computer, you'll appreciate the simplicity of the GarageBand Guitar Cable. This high quality, magnetically shielded cable eliminates the need for additional adapters - just plug one end into your Mac and the other end to your axe. The Griffin GarageBand Guitar Cable makes using a guitar with GarageBand a snap. GarageBand already includes amazing effects and amps built in that can make any electric guitar sound like almost anything. The problem is that electric guitars use 1/4" size instrument cables, and the Mac input is 1/8" mini-jack headphone. The GarageBand Guitar Cable uses both connection types and splits the mono guitar signal into the stereo mini-jack - all in one beautiful, sturdy, 10 foot cable.
With the advent of Apple's GarageBand recording software, music fans can make beautiful music with nothing more than an iMac and a creative spirit. But it sounds much cooler when you can add a real guitar to the mix, and this GarageBand guitar cable from Griffin makes it happen. Unlike traditional guitar cords, which feature 1/4-inch terminations on both ends, the Griffin cable includes a 1/4-inch connector for the guitar and a 1/8-inch mini-plug that fits into a computer's input jack. Because of the cord, guitarists won't need to hassle with awkward adapters and multiple cords that might degrade the signal. In exchange, users receive an easy-to-use, magnetically shielded cord that delivers great sound for an affordable price. Features and Performance
The GarageBand cord is as straightforward as can be--simply plug it in and play. Anyone whose computer doesn't include a 1/8-inch audio input will need a sound card such as Griffin's iMic, which requires Mac users to fiddle with the Sound and Speech Preference panels. But once it's up and running, the cord functions well, converting the mono signal into stereo sound for GarageBand and other recording applications. Because it's magnetically shielded, the cord won't interfere with your monitor's performance. In addition, the connections--while not as robust as those that come with professional cords--are certainly durable enough for the price. Our one quibble is with the cord's length. While 10 feet isn't short by any means, it's not terribly long either, especially for guitarists who wear shoulder straps and tend to wander between takes. Overall, though, the GarageBand cord is a great value, and is a perfect fit for amateur guitarists and home recording enthusiasts. --Rivers Janssen Pros
- Connects guitar directly to computer for recording
- Plugs conveniently into 1/8-inch audio input jack
- Converts mono signal into stereo and requires no setup
- Magnetically shielded with solid connectors
Cons
- Computers without 1/8-inch audio inputs will need sound cards
- A little short for a guitar cord
What's in the Box
GarageBand cord.
Griffin Technology GarageBand Guitar Cable 3101-GTR Accessories
 GRIFFIN TECHNOLOGY GarageBand Microphone Cable 3105-XLR
Griffin iMic / USB Audio Interface
GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual
GarageBand for Dummies
iMic USB Audio Interface
Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Bundle
Apple Training Series: GarageBand 3 (Apple Training)
Apple Garageband Jam Pack: Rhythm Section
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Student and Teacher [OLD VERSION]
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition
Griffin Technology GarageBand Guitar Cable 3101-GTR Reviews
It was definitely worth the money. It works with both acoustical and electric guitar, but works better with an electric. This guitar cable works extremely well with garageband, which is what I use.
There is nothing wrong with this cable - it is good quality, albeit a tad overpriced. However, you must be made aware that for you to get any decent sound using the 'min in' and this cable - you have to get a preamp. With that being said - a 30$ ART Tube MP and this cable is still cheaper than a decent USB/Firewire solution and works just fine.
A lot of people seem to have experienced difficulty figuring out how to select the input source, but I'm a Mac noob and found it very straightforward. Just go into system preferences->Sound and select line input. In GarageBand add a "real instrument" track and select the "monitor on" option. You can run iTunes or a DVD at the same time and play along simultaneously in GarageBand. You're all set.
It's about 6 inches long and one end plugs into the guitar, an amp cable plugs into the other end. Sometimes i get it to stop but i am trying hit or miss solutions and don't really know what it is that gets it to go away. I've had problems with the GB sound settings, find it complicated and hard to remember what steps i used between uses, and i often get a very annoying amount of latency (delay or lag of the sound after hitting the string). More portable if there are amp cables where you are going when you travel. Previously i'd been using a Tascam US 122 interface for recording. I mainly got it to be able to plug into my MacBook Pro and noodle around the house, and do a little recording.
About the same price. If i travel, i don't have to bring an amp, i can just bring my laptopjust for playing by myself for fun or in small social settings. I love the US 122 because it's quiet, bus powered, light weight and works well, but as simple as it is, it's more complicated than the GB Griffin cable, and it's another thing to carry around and plug in. It works just like the Griffin cable but with a regular amp cable. For very simple uses, playing through my computer with this cable is fun and convenient.
Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. I also have a Monster iStudioLink adapter cable that i bought at the local Apple store when i got the MBP in May, but i dont' see them on the online Apple store.
I tried the corrections in the Help section and didnt' get results. This is of course, not the cable's fault. [.].
I also use it with Sound Studio for recording. But the effect is intermittent.
When you're set up properly, however, this cable does exactly what it's meant to do. Highly recommended. It's not the cable's fault. turn your Mac into a thousand different amps. It's fantastic. If you're using one of the new Intel Macs, you have to go into the preferences for GarageBand (not the general system sound prefs), and make sure that your sound input is set to Line-in, instead of built-in microphone. Without that setting, you're going to get nothing but feedback. I just got this cable today, and experienced the same problems some of the other reviewers had with getting sound out of the guitar.
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