How to Record Guitar on a PC With an Audio Interface
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To record guitar on a PC, plug the guitar into the Hi-Z instrument input on an audio interface, connect the interface to your computer by USB, select it in your recording software, arm a track, set the input gain so it does not clip, and choose how you will monitor. The steps below cover each part. For background on connection options, see can you plug a guitar into a computer.
What You Need
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Guitar and instrument cable | Sends the guitar signal to the interface |
| Audio interface with a Hi-Z input | Converts the guitar signal to digital audio |
| USB cable | Connects the interface to the PC |
| DAW software | Records and plays back audio. DAW stands for digital audio workstation |
| Headphones | Lets you hear yourself without feedback or spill |
Step 1: Use the Hi-Z Input
Hi-Z means high impedance. A Hi-Z input is designed for the signal from a guitar’s passive pickups. On many interfaces it is a dedicated jack or a switch labeled Inst or Hi-Z. Plugging a guitar into a standard line input often sounds thin or dull, so use the instrument input or turn on the switch.
The Hi-Z input exists because a guitar pickup sends a high impedance signal. The same idea explains why a DI box is used for acoustic guitar. A DI box converts that signal into a low impedance balanced signal for a mixer or interface. If you work on a Mac, choosing the instrument input works the same way when you record guitar in GarageBand.
Step 2: Connect and Install the Driver
Connect the interface to the PC by USB. On Windows, install the driver from the interface maker if one is provided. Many makers offer an ASIO driver, which is a driver type DAWs commonly use for lower latency. Support depends on the specific interface and DAW, so it is not guaranteed. Check the maker’s documentation for your model.
Step 3: Set Up the DAW
In your DAW’s audio settings, select the interface as the audio device, using its ASIO driver if available. Then:
- Create a mono audio track.
- Set the track input to the interface input your guitar is plugged into.
- Arm the track for recording.
Menu names differ between DAWs, so look in the program’s help pages if an option is hard to find.
Step 4: Set the Gain
Play as hard as you will during the take and turn up the input gain on the interface. Watch the interface clip light and the DAW track meter. Keep the loudest peaks clearly below the top of the meter. Clipping happens when the signal is too loud for the input, and that distortion is recorded into the file and the original unclipped waveform cannot be reliably recovered later. Leaving some headroom is safer than recording as loud as possible.
Step 5: Choose Your Monitoring
| Method | What you hear | Latency |
|---|---|---|
| Direct monitoring | The input passed straight through the interface hardware, usually the dry, clean guitar | Very low |
| Software monitoring | The signal after it goes through the DAW, so you can hear amp plugins and effects | Depends on buffer size |
Latency is the delay between playing a note and hearing it. With software monitoring, a smaller buffer size lowers latency but puts more load on the computer, which can cause clicks or dropouts. A common approach is a small buffer while recording and a larger one while mixing.
Do not run direct and software monitoring at the same time. You will hear two copies of your guitar slightly out of time, which sounds hollow or phasey.
Headphones and Feedback
Use headphones while recording. If you monitor through speakers near a microphone or a guitar with high gain settings, the sound can loop back into the input and cause feedback. Turn the monitor volume down before arming a track, then bring it up slowly.
Worked Example
You want a crunchy rhythm part using an amp plugin. Plug into the Hi-Z input, select the ASIO driver, arm a mono track and set gain so your hardest strums peak well below clipping. Turn direct monitoring off, put the amp plugin on the track, and lower the buffer until the delay no longer bothers you. If the track records the interface input before its plugin effects, the DAW saves the clean signal so you can change the amp sound later. Check your DAW’s recording routing. If you plan to add delay effects afterward, see our delay calculator.
