Audio interface instead of an amp?

[light kindle]

So i’m planning to get an electric guitar in a few months time.
I’m a student who’s going to be traveling and probably moving.
So instead of an amp i’m thinking to get an interface instead.
Does this work or will i still need an amp?

Thanks

[stray rose]

especially when you're planning on traveling it's a no-brainer ... get an interface and a good set of headphones (with a 6.3 adapter or plug)

[light kindle]

are IEMs a good choice or headphones?

[stray rose]

i like overears more but for travel I get the appeal of IEMs

[light kindle]

i mean i won’t be traveling THAT much, just planning ahead if i ever move apartments or rooms, it’s basically just two suitcases full of clothes

which is better irrespective?

because where i am now i get IEMs for dirt cheap

[stray rose]

I personally don't like earbuds for playing guitar,

[stray rose]

Over so ...moving with an amp is way more hassle and if you get something very small and compact it will never sound as good as digital amps

[light kindle]

alright then,
thanks a lot!

any recommendations on audio interfaces?
Should i get the big scarlett ones or the small one (Guitar Go something)

if i’m going to be using plugin effects will it matter?

dumb question but worth an ask

[spare jolt]

The "proper" ones are still compact enough. My EVO 4 isn't that big of a box. I'd rather take that and have the extra inputs just in case (and also the speaker outputs)

[little elm]

@light kindle I would recommend a headphone amp since it also doubles as an interface.
Bonus is you already have a bunch of effects + Tuner + Drum machine + Metronome built in. You won't have that with a regular interface.

Right now I have a Nux Mighty Plug Pro + Sennheiser IE 100 Pro IEM's for daily practice, and It's one of the most versatile setups with fantastic sound for on the go situations.
Can highly recommend this setup since it has all the benefits of an interface PLUS you also get a whole bunch of extras which are essential for practice, and it's pretty much the same price as just an intterface.

[stray rose]

It's cool but not the best interface there is ... I'd still prefer a regular interface from focusrite, behringer, audient etc

[little elm]

If there's a LOT of home recording, for sure. For on the go jamming and recording, however....

[stray rose]

Depends on your budget ... A 2i2 will do the thing, a 202HD too ... Evo4, quantum es2

[stray rose]

I recently revisited the mp2 I have and I do agree that it's super capable and jamming through a small bt speaker was actually pretty nice

The recording was okay in both the amp tones as the direct option

[little elm]

It's actually very capable if you connect it to studio monitors as well. Of course that's a scenario most players won't use it for, but for recording in a pinch, it works great.

Also the fact you can do Re-amping with it, and it accepts 3rd party IRs makes it a very nice recording unit.
As far as sound-quality of the recordins, with a bit of tinkering, I find it on par with a scarlet solo.

[stray rose]

I'm kinda eying the gp5 too ... But will definitely keep the mp2 in my gigbag when we move so I know I have something for jamming at all times

[little elm]

Yes, I'm kinda eyeing the GP5 as well.... Certainly don't need another pedal at this moment, but it does look pretty damn nice.

[light kindle]

Thanks alot for all the input!
I think i’ll go with a normal audio interface for now,
the guitar amp though a good idea, i feel is limiting because with a normal one ig i can plug in a microphone or something if i want?
But ill definitely reach out again and let you guys know,
thanks again!

[paper widget]

So you're going to be mostly living at one place? Maybe switching apartments a couple of times? If so then I don't feel like that should have any impact on your choice

Maybe you think that an amp is this huge heavy thing that is a problematic thing to move? Like a piano? Well it isn't, I lug it with me to every rehearsal, and sometimes some social gatherings

I would personally recommend an amp, all you need with is a power cable and you're good to go, it also probably has a much better speaker than your PC/laptop does, which is where sound would be coming from if you'd use a interface

With an interface you need to connect to your PC and put on a plugin, not the worst thing but it's a little less lite or portable.
But some like the sound choices you get with a interface (practically infinity) though many cost a lot regardless.
And most crucially you can also use an interface for recording

I say just buy an amp, and get interface down the line for recording, but that's just my opinion

[paper widget]

I think the amp will sound a lot better unless you have a good set of speakers

[stray rose]

or any regular headphones

[paper widget]

I suppose so, if you like playing with headphones

[stray rose]

for tracking I find headphones better for sure ... if I want some room volume I turn on my speakers, simple powered bookshelf speakers

[light kindle]

yeah well i’ll be in germany so i can’t really play an amp without getting the cops called on me,
which is also a big reason why im hesitant on getting the amp.

As far as plugins are concerned i have ableton 12 suite, it has plenty effects + purchasable ones that i can manage from somewhere ig.
Thanks nevertheless!

but i can still plug it through my phone tho right?
Garageband seems to work and have a few free effects on it.
(thanks)

[paper widget]

It seems like you have your mind made up on getting an audio interface. Great! You know what you want, now just need to decide which one.
Many choose the focusrite 2i2, gets the job done, you could also go for the solo if you really don't think you'd need the additional inst input or the seprerate volume control for speakers and headphones

The solo is also a smaller size than the 2i2

[heady solar]

I bought the fun spark amp with my first guitar.
Then I bought focusrite rite solo with ableton lite included + bayerdynamics dt 770pro+ neural dsp. It's an another world!!!

[stray rose]

@light kindle you can also buy a cheap modeler, most of them function as an interface too and can be used with headphones without being attached to a pc

[little elm]

☝️ ☝️ Yep, that's the way I'd go as well... It's a lot less hassle than having to make sure all your plug-ins, etc. are updated on the PC.
With a modeler, you just plug it into the outlet, plug in your guitar and headphones (or connect to whatever speakers you have), turn it on, and that's it!!

No PC needed if you don't want to, and it has tactile feedback and most of the time real knobs to turn, which for some is a huge bonus.

For recording, just connect it to pc via USB, (if needed), run the included software, and you can record.

And, once you get some gigs or you have band-practice, you can just take the modeler easily and still have the same sound without much tweaking when you get to the venue.

[lunar venture]

Have to agree on the modeller.

Don’t have one myself put having to turn on my PC etc is enough for me to not play if I’m not overly in the mood.

[stray rose]

I just never turn off my PC 😉

[light kindle]

oh?
my friend has one with the pedal and multi effects

didn’t know you could plug it in

ah no worries thanks for trying

i’m going to look into modeler sounds like a great option,
i wasn’t aware of the fact that you could plug it into your laptop or wtv.

Thanks alot (and ofc i’ll reach back :))

so now it all comes down to pricing apparently,
the modeler + a good pair of headphones

and ofc the guitar itself

[light kindle]

Is the Mooer Pe100/Ge100 a good choice?
(cheap ik)

[stray rose]

Bit outdated ... Mg30 from Nux, Ampero stuff from Hotone would be nice

[light kindle]

ah i see,
gonna have to stretch my budget for them

well i wanted to try using tonebridge

[stray rose]

that's the phone app right ?

[light kindle]

but what exactly makes it outdated ? out of curiousity

[light kindle]

yes!

which you can apparently link with garageband as well

or use it solely

[stray rose]

fuck that shit ... your phone is for texting and watching porn while you take a dump ... not for music production

[light kindle]

lmaoo

true that

so is mooer a bad idea ?

[stray rose]

the software/engine ... Mooer hasn;t updated it in ages ... while the Nux stuff got a pretty significant update recently ... the Hotone stuff got a firmware update recently that added their version of capturing

[stray rose]

not the worst but there's better for less

like the GP5 from Valeton

or even the Matribox from Sonicake

or the GE150 Pro from Mooer

that costs about the same as a good interface

[little elm]

☝️ Yes!! So many good options out there.
If you're going to get a modeler, and if you like turning physical knobs, go with the Nux MG-30, or the Valeton GP-200 series.
The GP 5 is very good, but very few physical control options, so if you want to switch effects quickly, probably better to go with one of the bigger modelers mentioned above..
On a budget it seems to be fantastic though.

You can get one of the two modelers mentioned above that for under 300 Euro - even less if you buy used.

[light kindle]

so many inputs 😱 this is amazing

i’m gonna check and get back

[little elm]

🤘

[light kindle]

ok so rn

i like the looks of gp5

rest i’m sorry but it’s over budget
im thinking of getting a used squier for around 200-250€

i can maybe stretch in 100 tops

what about lower like gp100

but let’s see if i can get used ones. Haven’t gone to the store yet so i don’t know

thankss

[little elm]

Ok, so let's look at some possible scenarios...
Scenario 1

• Squier - 250 Euro
• Valeton GP-100 - 118 Euro
  Total: 368 Euro
  Benefits: NAM Profiles
  Drawbacks: still need to buy a guitar cable (About 15 - 30 Euro depending)

Scenario 2

• Squier - 250 Euro
• Nux Mighty Plug Pro - 89 Euro
  Total: 339 Euro
  Benefits: Portability; and you don't need to buy anything else. Just charge up the unit, plug it into your guitar, plug headphones into the unit for monitoring, download and connect to the app on your smartphone, and you're good. So this is the easiest and overall cheapest option.

Scenario 3

• Squier - 250 Euro
• Valeton GP-5 - 79 Euro
  Total: 329 Euro
  Benefits: Newest Unit. Small Size
  Drawbacks: still need to buy a guitar cable, no headphone out (afaik), so you need to either run it through your computer or some other output medium.

Scenario 4

• Squier - 250 Euro
• Sonicake Pocket Master - 50 Euro
  Total: 300 Euro
  Benefits: overall decent package
  Drawbacks: you'll need a converter to connect headphones, since it has 1/4" jack for headphone out. Don't know if you can connect Headphones via USB to this unit, so maybe that's an option as well.
  Also, you'll need a guitar cable, so that's another 15 Euro or so + 1/8" to 1/4" converter maybe 5 Euro
  So overall it would be somewhere around 320 Euro.

So you see, all of these are pretty similar. The only odd one out is the GP-5 since I'm not sure how to get audio out of that unless you connect it to your computer. I think it's more of a unit that's part of a Pedal Board, or used as an extra to an existing set-up.

Your best, cheapest, and most convenient option is the Mighty Plug Pro since you don't need any extra cables (except a USB-C cable for recording)... and you're ready to go out of the box

[light kindle]

so with the nux i can still use effects?

or maybe for starting out i can get that, save up and get a good modeler after

thanks btw that’s an amazing list you made

[stray rose]

Scenario 4 :

• Cort G110 : 190 euro
• Mooer SD30i : 190 euro
  total : 380

you have an amp with a direct recording option and lots of tonal options and a better guitars than a Squier

[light kindle]

that’s interesting as well. Will look into it thanks

i heard squiers have poor tune stability ?

alternatively they have a Jet HSS Strat in Blue with roasted maple neck for 229 €

i’m not sure if this is all they have because i’ve only been contacting them through email.
I’ll have to visit and check once i arrive there

[little elm]

Yes, of course. The Mighty Plug Pro has many effects built in, and you can switch between them easily.

Certainly you can get that now to get started and upgrade to a better modeler later, or keep it as a super-convenient practice tool on the go, since it fits easily into your gig-bag.

[light kindle]

ah i see
seeing the tutorials i can’t use tonebridge can i?
i basically want to use the tone of solos im learning.
Trains by Porcupine tree for example

well

it’s an acoustic solo

but still

or let’s say

hotel california for example

[little elm]

I've not tried it with tonebridge yet, but technically you can use any software with it, since it's a full-fledged interface as well.

That being said, it's very easy to get the same sounds as tonebridge since there's a sound repository you can easily get the basics for just about any song from.

There's even acoustic guitar simulation built into the unit as well, and a bunch of acoustic simulation patches for it.

https://www.mightypatches.com/devices/nux-mighty-plug-pro-patches/

You just have to open the app on your phone and then you can scan these sounds in. Of course they're made with different guitars, so you ALWAYS have to fine-tune each patch to your own liking with your own gear... but they're a great starting point.

[light kindle]

that’s cool to know, thanks alot thinking about getting it now

[stray rose]

You can do that with about any modeler

Tonebridge is so gimmicky and really doesn't work all that well ... Tons of latency and getting the average interface to work on a phone is a challenge

[light kindle]

oh i see, so are there websites or something that give presets for the app? (Tones, etc)

[stray rose]

for which app ?

[little elm]

I sent you the site with all the patches above. Just cklick the link. 😉

[light kindle]

i don’t know how i overlooked that thanksss

[light kindle]

for the mighty plug pro

ok thats interesting

anyone has any experience with gear4music or musikshop axel ?

[stray rose]

yes there is

[light kindle]

well ill be playing alot of porcupine tree and the patches will mostly be third party im assuming, can i import them or only the ones from the website mentioned?

[stray rose]

a patch is just a preset .. you can make them yourself

and it's just a file you import... can come from anywhere

[little elm]

Yes, as @stray rose mentioned, there are probably hundreds of websites with patches somewhere. You can even use ChatGPT to get a general idea of the sound and create your own patch from that.

[light kindle]

ohh that make sense