iBook G4 Garage Band

Alright, I want to patch my guitar directly into Garage Band using an iBook G4. Is it even possible to do this? If so, how?

Really depends on how serious you are about sound and your budget. There are several methods...

a) This is from Apple's website:

http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:WnMk9mShppUJ:www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/garageband/gb2-2.html+plugging+guitar+into+garageband&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&client=safari

b) You could plug your guitar, keyboard, microphone etc. directly into the Mac audio in port(using a cheap converter cable). You will find that you don't have much control over the sound quality, the levels and the number of inputs. There is likely to be quite a bit of hum and the need to boost low levels in GarageBand will cause noise and distortion. What you need is an audio interface.

http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technology-GarageBand-Guitar-Cable/dp/B0002VRP8C

c) I personally use an Alto mixing console:

http://www.audiomidi.com/S-6-Mixing-Console-P7206.aspx

d) You could put a microphone on the speaker of a guitar amp and play through that.

e) You can use a Griffin iMic:

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/

f) You can us an external amp simulator:

http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:nXijrV1KAZMJ:www.macworld.com/2006/09/reviews/blkbox/index.php+external+amp+simulator+for+mac+os+x&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&client=safari

You need a decent audio interface to get the best possible sound quality. Something like an M-Audio USB would do you just fine. You can pick them up for less than £45 if you look hard!

PLEASE don't plug your guitar into the 'line in' on the laptop; you'll kill it. For starters, your guitar is not amplified, hence is not line level signal. You're really going to need an interface, or at least a small mixer (Spirit Folio?) that has a high impedance input for popping a guitar jack cable into.

Hope this helps some!